PD Background Report BWA LLC (PL-SPP-2023-033)

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I. Cultural Resources: According to the applicant, there is no evidence of valued cultural,historical or native resources nor evidence of any traditional and customary Native Hawaiian rights being practiced on the property. J. Public Access: There is no record of a designated public access to the shoreline or mountain areas traversing the property. K. Traffic: The applicant does not believe that the proposed development will create an increase in traffic on Highway 19 as visitors to the site will be the same visitors who visit Akaka Falls. According to the applicant,tour buses will be well prepared in advance to decelerate and negotiate the exit off of Highway 19 onto Leopolino Road and onto the site. In a letter dated June 2, 2004, the Department of Transportation recommended that the applicant prepare a Traffic Impact Analysis Report(TIAR) addressing the following: • an evaluation of intersection improvements at Leopolino Road and Hawaii Belt Road(Route 19)to include, but not be limited to, acceleration lanes, deceleration lanes, storage lanes, and other safety improvements. • an evaluation on how the full build-out(for 1,200 visitors)of the subject operation will impact the roadways in the area. The Department of Transportation finther recommends that the applicant be responsible for mitigating traffic impacts attributable to the proposed 1,200 daily visitors by providing the required roadway and intersection improvements whether as an interim, phaselincremental or permanent measures at the appropriate times matching the volume of business traffic during the growth of the applicant's operations. 8. PUBLIC UTILITIES AND SERVICES A. Access: Access to the project site is from Highway 19, travelling approximately 100 yards along Leopolino Road, a 21-foot wide,paved,single-lane roadway, and connecting onto the Old Goverment Road, a 14-foot wide paved single- lane County road. Applicant's representatives testified that the County has maintained Leopolino Road in recent years. The entrance to the site is approximately 100 yards from the road. There is a packed gravel parking area on the site adjacent to the shelter. After the construction of the visitor center, access is proposed directly off Leopolino Road onto a 30-foot wide paved driveway designated as "Palm Avenue", a former cane haul road lined with 50 palms approximately 40 feet tall. Visitors will exit the site by looping mauka within the site onto the Old Government Road.