PD Background Report New Hope-Waikoloa (PL-SPP-2023-042)

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and customary Hawaiian rights exercised in the permit area. 21. Public Access: There is no known public access to the mountains or the shoreline that runs through the permit area. PUBLIC SERVICES AND FACILITIES 22. Access/Traffic: Access to the subject parcel and permit area will be provided by a single driveway from Waikoloa Road, a County-owned and maintained roadway consisting of a pavement width of 24 feet within a 120-foot-wide right-of-way. Waikoloa Road is a major mauka—makai road, connecting Mamalahoa Highway and the Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway. The applicant estimates that the proposed use will generate between 25 — 50 vehicle trips on Sunday mornings and that weekday activities will not exceed 20 vehicle trips, typically occurring during evening hours or outside of peak-hour traffic. According to the South Kohala Traffic Safety Committee (SKTSC), while the intersection of Waikoloa Road and Paniolo Avenue is scheduled for improvements by the County of Hawaii, no improvements are proposed "to increase the capacity of Waikoloa Road or add additional safety features that would improve access to parcels along Waikoloa Road, including but not limited to center turning lanes." Further, SKTSC notes that while the applicant points to limited vehicle traffic due to off-peak-hour activities, safety features to limit congestion and improve ingress/egress maneuvers should be considered. As such, SKTSC requested the submittal of a Traffic Impact Analysis Report(TIAR) as part of the Special Permit application. In response to SKTSC, the applicant states a TIAR is unnecessary since they are presently conducting services and related activities at Highland Shopping Center within Waikoloa Village, that relocating to the proposed location will mitigate traffic congestion in the area and that traffic generated by Sunday services will not conflict with weekday commute times. The Department of Public Works, Engineering Division (DPW)notes that all driveway connections and construction within Waikoloa Road shall conform to Chapter 22, County Streets, of the Hawaii County Code, and that access to Waikoloa Road, including the provision of adequate sight distances, shall meet with DPW approval. A request for comment was forwarded to the Department of Public Works, Traffic Division, however no response has been received as of the date of this writing. 4