Controversial Koa Ridge development gets high court victory

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The Hawaii Supreme Court has paved the way for the Koa Ridge housing development in Central Oahu to finally move forward.

The project has been stalled for years because of litigation. Environmental groups had argued the Land Use Commission didn't follow the law in allowing the planned community to move forward on what was agricultural land.

In its 4-1 ruling Wednesday, the state Supreme Court said the LUC properly reclassified Castle & Cooke's property from agricultural to urban land use.

The Honolulu City Council has already given the development the green light.

The first phase of the Castle & Cooke Koa Ridge development, between Mililani and Waipio, will include up to 3,500 single-family and multi-family residences. The project will also include a town center.

Construction is slated to begin next year, and families could move into homes as early as 2018.

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