2024-09-25 PL-INT-2024-008787 GP 2045 Draft Comments - M. Konowicz

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DeVera, Ashley From: Michael Konowicz < Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2024 2:15 PM To: Planning General Plan Subject: Feedback on General Plan: Please Prioritize 2+ Roadways in South Kohala Aloha— The General Plan shows seven highway projects in the Waikoloa area; I ask that the County prioritize two of those routes as it evolves the plan for Planning Commission review. The following objectives are described in the Plan: 32.h. Establish, map and maintain alternative and emergency evacuation routes in each high risk hazard area. 32.k. Develop and/or improve secondary access roads for those communities with only one means of ingress/egress. 32.20 Prioritize hazard mitigation projects in the CIP(Capital improvement plan). Of the seven Waikoloa area Road projects,three could meet these objectives during emergencies: 1) upgrading to two lanes the Hutu emergency evacuation road, 2)extending Kamakoa Drive to connect with Queen K near Puako Road, and 3)extending Paniolo Drive north to connect with Kawaihae Road midway between Waimea and Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway. None of these three hazard mitigation projects are shown as a priority. We ask that at least two of these roadway projects be described in the General Plan as a Priority: the first, extending Paniolo Drive to the north to Kawaihae Road and/or to a future Waimea bypass,the other, extending Kamakoa Drive west to Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway. As the population grows in South Kohala with numerous residential projects planned for Waikoloa and Waimea, interconnectivity between the two communities is essential, as will other community complexes for a growing population such as a new high school complex, new library, new shelter(s), and new commercial area(s)come to life along it. By not prioritizing such a roadway now,there will be unprecedented growth into an area of equally unprecedented wildfire dangers with no way for the communities to quickly exit and/or travel through to each other in normal times and times of emergency.As such, one of the two priorities should be bringing a north/south bound road to life linking Waikoloa Village to Waimea. The second roadway project is being handled by private developers, in which several private property owners are in the process of building an emergency egress roadway through their parcels to connect Paniolo Drive to Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway. Whether or not that egress roadway becomes a reality and/or whether or not private developers bring that roadway up to county roadway standards for thru traffic, it should be a priority of the County to ensure this roadway is built before additional development is pursued in Waikoloa with or without private landowner cooperation. As such, one of the two priorities should be ensuring such a road be built before additional growth swells the region's population. The other road projects in the Plan should be prioritized in an action plan that identifies the most critical needs to be addressed first. Residents and stakeholders should be included in the decision-making 1