COM 0687.076 2004-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Honorable Pete Hoffittann, Councilman May 31, 2006 Page 3 of 4 field, together with necessary parking and zestroom facilities. We cannot agree to an open-enfled commitment on improvements for the entire 20 acres. Regional Road Improvemeuta (old Condition X) Requiring that Ililuhilu provide a grade separated interchange `5~n conformance with State Deparhnent of Transportation plaus for a new airport access road network" will jeopardize project financing and the connmunity benefits that the project will provide. As discussed in prior Committee proceedings, the Highways Division and the Airports Division do not have any firm plans for this interchange. If such plans were available quickly and funding obtained so that the interchange (with necessary collector roads) was built, Hiluhilu would be able to participate in its cost. However, we do aot think that such an expedited schedule is realistic. We also believe the cost of the grade-separated interchange will be substantially higher than Hiluihilu alone can absorb. The interchange will be a significant regional improvement and Hiluhilu's fair share of ifs cost of this improvement would amount to a small fraction of that cost. If the grade-separaud interchange is not constructed in a timely fashion, Hiluhilu must proceed with a surface connection. Our traffic engineers completed a traffic study on current and proj acted traffic itn the area, and studied alternatives for access to and from Palamanui. After extensive analysis and discussion with the Highways Division, our engineers anfl the Highways Division agreed the better solution from a traffic flow standpoint would be to create a new intersection at Palamanui rather than adding to the existing airport intersection. The recommendation approved by the Highways Division required that the new intersection include traffic signalization. Anon-signalized intersection for access to Palamanui from the highway would be hazardous. Until and woless a grade separated interchange is available, the plan approved by the Highways Division is the optimum solution. Road 4 Condition. Draft 2 removes the $8 million limit and the l0 year time limit and requires Hiluhilu to initiate a Community Facilities District (CFD) to pay for the cost of this mad. Acceptance of this condition will make the project impossible to finance. Hiluhilu has spent considerable time in reviewing the proposed connector road to Mamalahoa Highway, in cogiunction with the County Planning Depattate~, Department of Public Works, State DLNR and with Lynch Investments representatives. We involved our traffic engineers in this process so that we would have a realistic focus on what can be done. We also studied the impact of the native forest on the land to the north of Palamanui. As a result, we worked with. the Planning Department to develop a routing that would avoid endangered trees and other plant specimens. The result is what is now shown as Road "4" A large part of our difficulty has been that, while Hiluhilu will do its part in making tlris mad a reality, the right of way that is feasible extends into State lands and