Committee backs residency‑preference language, adds Lahaina Community Land Trust example

The DRIP committee amended action 2.24 to direct staff to develop eligibility standards or incentives that prioritize long‑term Maui residents for affordable and workforce housing. Planning and the Department of Housing briefed members that the department has been working on residency preference policy countywide.

Members debated whether to include specific examples; the committee adopted a friendly amendment to cite local models, including the Lahaina Community Land Trust lottery preference as an example of a generational preference and Summit County, Colorado for workforce preference. Members emphasized that the action targets selection mechanisms—who gets priority—not ownership models.

The motion passed unanimously. Director of Housing Remy Mitchell said the department considers this a high priority and will pursue options countywide, while recognizing community‑level interest in South Maui. The committee also asked staff to make the linkage between the community plan action and the comprehensive affordable housing action plan explicit.