2024-09-26 PL-INT-2024-008832 GP 2045 Draft Comments - B. Yuhnke

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WILDFIRE SAFETY WSAW Comments-General Plan 2045 4q, ADVOCATES Sep 26,2024 WAIKOLOA - HAWAII CONTACT: In addition the Hawai'l County Deputy Fire Chief acknowledged the need for a second access road to ensure that the crew and equipment based at the Puako Fire Station will have access to the Village to protect lives and property during wildfire events while residents are seeking to evacuate the Village. A second access route would become critically important as the only access route if Waikoloa Road is blocked by fire, or if fire penetrates the Village to block fire truck access to sections of the Village north of the fire. But despite the broad acknowledgement among residents, elected officials and decision-makers that such a facility has been needed for two decades, no action has been taken by the County to assure its completion. Now new residential development in the Village has been approved, including both affordable multiple dwelling unit and single family housing totaling about 1200 units, that is expected to increase the population of the Village by about 3500 residents, or 50%, during this decade. Nearly all of this development is planned for the north end of the Village, furthest from Waikoloa Road, and most at-risk of being trapped during a wildfire emergency. This additional population, including young families with children in the affordable housing development, will be put in harms way if additional road access to the north end of the Village is not made available concurrent with other development in the area. This development increases the urgent need for action to ensure that an additional arterial road is open to traffic this decade. Policies. Commenters support the three policies aimed at addressing this situation in the draft General 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). The draft plan includes seven road projects for the Waikoloa area between Waikoloa Road and Kawaihae Road. Only three of the seven projects mapped for the Waikoloa area satisfy the first two policies: the Hulu widening and upgrade, the Kamakoa Drive extension to Queen Ka'ahumanu, and the extension of Paniolo Drive to Kawaihae Road. But the Plan does not implement the policy to "prioritize hazard mitigation projects" for the CIP. It should. 2