Could 2014 be the year to resolve the conflict over land at Turtle Bay?

The well-known resort on Oahu’s North Shore has been fighting Hawaii residents over its expansion plans for years.

Now Gov. Neil Abercrombie is asking for $40 million in general obligation bonds to conserve undeveloped land at the resort.

Abercrombie explained the request during a press conference on his $24 billion supplemental budget proposal at the state Capitol today. (Check Civil Beat later for a complete story on the budget.)

“We’re ready to conclude a deal,” Abercrombie said. “It’s important to the whole state that the Turtle Bay situation be resolved.”

The resort is still negotiating the deal with the state through the governor’s working group on the issue.

Drew Stotesbury, CEO of Turtle Bay Resort, told Civil Beat that he is optimistic about the process but cautioned that the $40 million figure is preliminary.

He said that he thinks a decision could be reached within three to six months. The legislative session begins in January and will likely end in May.

Sen. Clayton Hee, who sponsored the legislation to create the governor’s working group, said the Legislature is going to make a real, concerted effort to resolve the Turtle Bay issue this session.

In addition to its proposal for two new hotels and luxury homes, the resort included a conservation alternative in its supplemental environmental statement completed earlier this year.

The conservation alternative suggests reducing the number of hotel rooms from 1,375 units to 940 units and conserving coastal land along Kawela Bay and at the eastern side of the resort.

But even if a deal is struck, that may not spell the end of the conflict.

An organization called Keep the North Shore Country just filed a lawsuit against the company, and the Defend Oahu Coalition is appealing the resort’s land designation before the state Land Use Commission.

The bay at Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu’s North Shore. (Courtesy of Scott McLeod via Flickr)

— Anita Hofschneider

Read Civil Beat’s past coverage of the issue:

City of Honolulu and Turtle Bay Resort Sued by Keep the North Shore Country

Hawaii Land Use Commission Puts Off Voting on Turtle Bay Land

Report: More Traffic Will Clog North Shore If Turtle Bay Expands

It’s a New Day at Turtle Bay

Justices Decline to Reconsider Turtle Bay

Implications of Turtle Bay Ruling Are Both Narrow and Wide