2007-07-20 TD-Bar - Laserfiche WebLink

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YUEN:Well, the Cultural Resource Management Plan that’s called for in the ordinance, that’s the question that I have. The cultural impact statement, they do not need. WATANABE:Okay, thank you. Okay, we have four more testifiers on this application; and so maybe I can call up several of you at a time, at least two of you, let’s say. I see Mr. Gimpel is there and I believe there’s Mr. Rollin Frost. Is he still here? Yes, okay. Would you come up, please? As you’ve heard earlier, we’re accepting your testimony, but this application is going to be continued, yeah, to some later date. However, may I swear you in? Would you raise your right hands? Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth now before the Hawai`i County Planning Commission? TESTIFIERS:I do, yes. WATANABE:Okay, which one of you is going to go first? GIMPEL:I’ll go. WATANABE:Okay. Mr. Gimpel, could you state your name and address for the record, please? GIMPEL:Sure. My name is Joel Gimpel. I live at 73-4686 Hinalani Street here in Kailua-Kona, and I’m here as the Public Affairs Chair of the Kona Traffic Safety Committee. Like Mr. Tyler, the Kona Traffic Safety Committee is not necessarily opposed to this SMA. We do have a number of comments, and suggestions, and concerns that I’d like to relate to you today. First, as we’ve noted with respect to other SMA applications, we believe that the effect of the increased traffic volume on the shoreline access must be considered in evaluating these applications. In that respect, the TIAR predicts that the development will generate 130 vehicle trips per day during the peak hours, and that the large increase in ambient traffic forecast for Ali`i Drive would cause a one-step decrease in the Level of Service to C in the morning and D in the afternoon. Now, although those levels may be considered “acceptable,” we believe that the project’s 120 housing units would generate far more than 130 vehicle trips, and that the forecast of ambient traffic growth may be low, given the many new developments being proposed along Ali`i Drive. Accordingly, shoreline access via Ali`i Drive may be severely compromised, and this proposal doesn’t provide adequate attention to recreational access and facilities. The plans are unclear as to what will happen to the existing parking spaces within the 50-foot paved area at the entrance. We have a few comments: Level of service D is not acceptable for Ali`i Drive, which should be maintained as a “showplace” oceanfront roadway; and while zoning requires that a turn lane EXHIBIT C 18