COM 0937.000 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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V ^ Honorable James Y. Arakaki, Chairman and Members of the County Council Page 3 The Hilo Community Development Plan (CDP), adopted by Planning Commission Resolution in 1975, is intended to provide short and middle range implementation strategies for the goals, policies and land use pattern presented in the General Plan. The Hilo Community Development Plan recommended the area between Waianuenue Avenue and Wailuku River for residential uses. Although the Hilo CDP also recommended that Komohana Street be extended in a northerly direction, the subject location for the proposed connection would not be feasible due to the cost of acquisition of land, condemnation or relocation of existing dwellings and families, and the costly improvements to construct a bridge over that portion of Wailuku River. The City of Hilo Zone Map was also adopted to reflect roadway networks and circulation systems. The City of Hilo Zone Map also delineates Akolea Road, Ainako Street and Kilauea Avenue as proposed 80-foot right-of-way secondary arterials. The existing Komohana Street was constructed in 1967 to provide transportation movement between the Kaumana and Waiakea Homesteads areas. Since then, residential subdivisions have been developing along Komohana Street, in the Kaumana and Piihonua areas, and in the upper Waiakea Homesteads areas. These regional growth on both sides of the City of Hilo has resulted in heavy traffic and at times traffic congestion on Komohana Street as well as at its major intersections with Waianuenue Avenue, Ponahawai Street, Mohouli Street, Puainako Street and Kawailani Street. Except for the State-owned properties and C. Brewer lands, all but one of seven properties affected by the proposed right-of-way have been developed with residences. The designation of a right-of-way on a parcel places building and other development restrictions on a property landowner which degree of impact varies depending on the amount and location of a right-of-way on the parcel. The proposed 80-foot right-of-way would reduce the width of the affected properties to at least 58 feet wide. It should be also noted that if the existing Komohana Street right-of-way were to extend in the same alignment, it will require acquisition/condemnation and relocation of several existing dwellings and/or families. Acquisition of land for the proposed right-of-way and the roadway construction along with a bridge across Wailuku River would be exorbitant in view of the built-up nature of the properties and the sloping topography along Wailuku River. The Department of Public Works indicated that an extremely rough estimate of $1.4 million will be needed for the land acquisition and other environmental assessment, and $20-35 million for the roadway construction, including a 500 to 1,000 foot bridge over Wailuku River. A cost-benefit and public benefit analysis would probably conclude that this proposed 80-foot right-of-way is of very low priority for the City of Hilo and for the County of Hawaii. At the same time, the private property owners have been