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Voters Service ViewsRetention of the Waikiki Beach frontage in the Master Plan is currently the object of controversy at City Hall. Since this is a complex issue your Voters Service Committee this month reports only on the question of the Steiner property next to the Surfrider Hotel. Mr. Joseph Greenback, hotel owner from the mainland, has a request before the Building Department for a permit to build a hotel on this site. The city is faced with the question of whether to condemn the property now for purchase when the funds are available, or whether to permit the building to go up. No decisive action of any kind has been taken. However, the question has been discussed by the Public Works Committee and by the Board of Supervisors. The Public Works Committee of the Board composed of Messrs. Beamer, Apoliona, Asing and Kido recommended in a Committee report dated March 10, 1953 that a building permit be issued to Mr. Joseph Greenback. The Committee report was submitted to the Board of Supervisors and was adopted by the Board by a vote of 4 to 2. Messrs. Apoliona, Acing, Beamer and Kido voted for it, and Messrs. Takabli and Teves voted against it. Mr. Kauhane was absent due to illness. Then the Board recessed and held an informal discussion on the matter. Mayor Wilson who was opposed to the measure could not veto it because it was in the form of a Committee report and not a Resolution which had been adopted. Mr. Teves (R) and Mr. Takabuki (D)were in accord with the Mayor's position. Messrs. Apoliona, Acing and Beamer were still in favor of issuing the permit, and Mr. Kido modified his position. The City and County Attorney was asked for an opinion on the matter. The Attorney's office held that the City cannot restrict building simply because the Master Plan designates the proposed site for future public use, unless the City is willing to buy the property in question and pay the owner a fair value. The Mayor now wants to proceed with condemnation and is waiting for a legal decision as to whether or not a motion of the former Board of Supervisors gives this authority. Watch your newspapers for developments.
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