The Schuler Division of D.R. Horton has hired land-use expert Dean Uchida as vice president for its Ho'opili project, a giant master-planned community proposed for the 'Ewa Plain.

Uchida, a former land division administrator for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, was most recently executive director of the Land Use Research Foundation of Hawai'i, a private, nonprofit research and trade organization representing large landowners and developers.

"Dean brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in land use and land development," said Mike Jones, Schuler Division president, in a statement. "His experience will greatly benefit the company — and ultimately the Ho'opili community — as we continue developing the long-term master plan and undergo the entire entitlement process."

Ho'opili is planned for 11,700 homes, five schools, parks and businesses on 1,600 acres partially bordering a stretch of the city's planned mass-transit line. The project is estimated to take 15 to 25 years to complete, with the first homes delivered in 2012 if government approvals can be obtained without undue delay.