2012-06-21 Leeward Exh A - Next Design

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GIFFIN: Okay. Ki. EMLER: Okay. Yes, I’ve had a chance to read the comment by the Kona Traffic Safety Committee. Yes, they are making a suggestion that in addition to the recommendation that Public Works made and was put into the conditions, the proposed conditions for the SMA permit; they are making the suggestion that a right-turn merge lane be established on Kuakini Highway. Haven’t really had a chance to give that much thought, but I don’t know that that is actually going to be workable because – I’ve already had a discussion with the designer on this – that is going to be a very difficult movement to make even the way it’s designed right now, given that you are going to have to make a 180-degree turn there to make the movement. And I’ve already discussed that with them. I don’t know if they are going to do something to try and -. As you can see, if you try to establish another lane on Kuakini Highway at that location, first of all we don’t have the width for that right now, and the other issue is I don’t think geometrically it’s feasible, given where their driveway location is on that illustration that’s on screen. GIFFIN: I see. I wasn’t, you know, I couldn’t even think that far in terms of geometrically, but I was thinking in terms of space and if we had enough room right there to allow for a right-turn merge lane. EMLER: Yeah, if anything, Public Works would like to have a right-turn lane on Kuakini at the intersection of Palani and Kuakini, and right now we haven’t gotten that established it’s possible because of the alignment of the lanes on the other side. And we haven’t widened that side of Kuakini yet. So at some point in time another through-lane that would probably be a combination through/right would be added there at minimum. And, you know, when we do that, again, that traffic movement from that driveway is going to be very difficult; you are going to end up encroaching in the, in the inside lane as I would put it, you would be encroaching across the makai lane into the next lane in order to make the movement. GIFFIN: Thank you, Ki. Can you just stay there for a minute? Commissioners, do you have any questions of Ki Emler from Public Works? None? Okay. The applicant, is there anything you would like to say in response to the Kona Traffic Safety Committee’s concern as stated on April 13? S. LEE: No. We are planning to comply with the right-turn egress only and not, no ingress from that driveway. And our engineer did, well, for a regular car, they can make the, basically a U-turn movement; we’ve, he’s done the calculations and that shows it can. But, again, if they do widen the highway, then I’m not sure what that will do to it. GIFFIN: Right, right, right. Okay. Mr. Gimpel, would you like to come forward? And there is only one microphone, so -. GIMPEL: Thank you. I yet just have one question of perhaps Public Works. How will a right-turn entrance be prevented on Kuakini? Somebody driving south on Kuakini, coming to that driveway, how will they be prevented from making a right turn into the driveway? GIFFIN: Yes, Ki. EMLER: This is design that was also being considered for the, in other words the right-turn out only was, I think, the same movement they were considering for the Kentucky Fried Chicken and, but I don’t recall whether the exact building layout was the same. There is, I believe, some 7 EXHIBIT A