COM 0176.044 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Parker~Ranch eet. 1847 May 1S, 200 The Honorable Brenda Ford, Chair Committee on Public Works & Intergovernmental Affairs Hawaii County Council Councilroom Ben Franklin Building, 2°d Floor 333 Kilauea Avenue Hilo, HI 9620 Dear Chair Ford: RE: Bill 5i, An Ordinance Amending Chapter 2'], Flood Control, Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005 Edition), as Amended, Relating to Stormwater Management My name is Riley W. Smith, licensed professional engineer, former Deputy Chief Engineer of the Department of Public Works (1993 to 1995) and former State President of the Hawaii Society of Professional Engineers (2004). I am speaking on behalf of my employer, Parker Ranch, Inc. My concerns with the current version of Bi11 S1, is that although it was originally intended as a "housekeeping" effort, its scope has been broadened to its current state. It has over stepped its purpose and has the following problems: • Conflicts with existing law and rules; • Technical requirements based on ambiguous and undefined terms; • Pru~.'?~t*al inaccuracies; • Arbitrary design standards that are much more restrictive-than EPA requirements; and • Detrimental impacts to land use and development cost In its current form, it is likely that it will result in extensive additional development costs for new housing developments, including affordable housing, that will be passed on and result in price increases too high for most Hawaii County residents. This is especially true for those who are first-time home buyers. A case in point is the Waimea Town Center, or Parker 202o project (as envisioned by former Ranch owner, Richard Smart). In 1995, Parker Ranch contracted for the design and construction to redirect both Kamuela and Lanimaumau Streams. These waterways were FEMA designated flood zones and appeared on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps. They impacted the North Hawaii Community Hospital site, as well as portions of Parker Ranch Center and Pukalani Road. Federal requirements dictated that aloo-year flood recurrence interval be followed for this Soo-acre drainage basin. Based on the magnitude of a storm that could be expected once every loo years, a peak flow of 1Soo cfs was calculated. This flow required that a trapezoidal, earth-lined drain channel be Cnnctnirtarl.~t Wa,5.2.~' '12]IjP. i~+~ at an avafg'_-. ~lEd1Sa1Z1 l ACu•~~ tl.th~,a H~~ t~.- I:cuiuicl.~_ H.m..ni ~)r-~Y i {~1.: fBnRi ~~~_',l l • 11~c ~,{{)R1RRi-~hO? ~ ~~«~~.~_~rl.c:rrat7ch.c~mi 11[[ Comm. No. ~ ~ T Ref. Yo, Ref, Date ~ '