HAWAI'I KAI — Developers of a condominium project on Hawai'i Kai Drive are seeking city permission to build up to a height of 90 feet — about three floors higher than the property's current 60-foot limit.

While the developers, 21st Century Homes Inc. and Western Pacific Development LLC, have made several public presentations about the Hale Ali'i condominium project over the last two years, details about the proposed zoning change have not been discussed at a Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board meeting.

The board voted in September 2004 to support the developers' request for a height variance as long as the project is built as presented to the community in renderings: a 296-unit condominium complex with underground parking, an open courtyard in a stair-stepped design, with the tallest part of the buildings — 90 feet — at the base of Mariner's Ridge and away from the street. The tallest part of the building would be nearly level with the height of The Esplanade on Lunalilo Home Road.

Despite the board's backing of the renderings, Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board member Wayne Levy said he wants the chairman to call a special meeting so the community can hear specifics about the proposed zone change. The board, however, is not scheduled to hold a meeting before the city's Jan. 23 deadline to submit comments on the proposal.

"I would hope that the board could meet before the deadline," Levy said. "But with all the steps needed to be taken for the open meetings and Sunshine rules, I don't know if we can meet. I would favor a meeting to discuss this."

Mike Klein, 21st Century's president, said he has met the city's conditions for a public airing of the zoning proposal and sent out notices to neighbors within a 300-foot radius of the project.

"There's really no need for a community meeting," Klein said. "The neighborhood board already supported the project. We weren't trying to get this in without the neighborhood board." Still, he added, "We're happy to meet with anyone who wants us."

The project was initially submitted to the city on Sept. 29, Klein said. Its approval was delayed, though, because of wording on the legal description of the property. When the proposed zone change goes before the City Council, the public will again have an opportunity to comment on it.

Henry Eng, city Department of Planning and Permitting director, said, "We are as interested in questions or concerns raised by the (neighborhood) board as we are in whether the board as a whole supports or opposes the zone change." Eng added, "Our objective is to address all relevant questions and concerns in reviewing the application and in determining what recommendation we should make to the Planning Commission and the council regarding the proposed zone change."

Plans for the Hale Ali'i project also include an affordable-housing requirement, Eng said. The developers are required to build a total of 178 affordable-housing units, according to a unilateral agreement made in 2000. That agreement is a legal document attached to the deed on the property.

Klein has said that to make the project financially feasible, he wants to limit affordable housing to 100 units, as outlined in an amended agreement that has expired. In documents now before the city, 21st Century says it will designate 69 to 147 rental units or for-sale condominiums as affordable-housing dwellings. The units would be offered to senior citizens for a period of 10 years at fixed rates.

City Councilman Charles Djou wrote a letter last month in support of the project, citing concern for the need for more affordable housing.

To date, the developers, through another company, Hawaii Intergenerational Community Development Association, have built 31 units on the property that are offered for rent to senior citizens. These apartments are separate from Hale Ali'i.

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com.