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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0136.034 2022-2024 p/ mic 1&3I bill 31 COMM. IN, Aloha City Council: , 7, l I'm writing about a proposed Public Works project, PW 29 Lako Street Extension to Ali'i Drive, that's listed in Bill 30 for the Capital Budget for FY 2023-2024. My issues with this proposal are listed below: 1. There is no project data sheet for PW 29 Lako Street Extension to Ali'i Drive like there are for other Public Works projects, such as islandwide drainage improvements or pavement rehabilitation, that have been identified in Bill 30. It would be helpful to understand the scope of the project for the Lako Street extension, and how the$1.5 million would be spent for this proposal. Is this for design work? Archeological studies? Coordination with state and private land owners in the immediate area? I ask that this specific Public Works project be removed from the proposed budget until the details of this proposal can be explained to and potentially discussed by the public. 2. I agree that more makai to mauka connections are needed for alleviating congestion on certain roads and at certain intersections in town, as well as providing additional roadways for emergency evacuations in the event of a tsunami. However, without knowing more about the details of PW29, it is difficult to understand what the public benefit of this proposal would be, and what it entails in terms of positive and negative impacts to the public at large. If PW 29 has been listed elsewhere in the proposed Budget, I'd ask that the Public Works provide me with the location and project data sheet for this item. 3. I understand that a similar project to extend Lako was considered by the County Counsel and rejected in 2020. The main reason was because of the continued desecration of the remains of Hawaiian Ali'i and Kapuna burial grounds. I'm confused by two things: 1) why there are repeated attempts to build roads or extend roads (albeit necessary and important in our lives)that have not been aligned or designed to avoid or significantly mitigate the destruction of important archeological remains; and 2) why the County doesn't perform its own cultural impact assessment, and other similar reports, to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of where these remains are, and how to avoid them. I know that nine (9) parcels are makai and north of any extension of Lako are privately owned. I also know that a municipality could engage with a private property owner to perform preliminary work to identify the scope, intensity and boundaries of ancient burial grounds. Additionally, the County has the ability to use its police power to take private land for public purposes through eminent domain. 4. The nine (9) parcels makai and north of Lako are owned by a Canadian hospitality company. These nine (9) parcels total 107.59 acres, with 1.12 acres of what appears to be roadway. If all of the roughly 106 acres were to be developed, at a density of five (5) units per acre, 530 new housing units would be developed. It's a little difficult to believe that a roadway extension, presumably meant to address traffic flow and emergency access for the residents of this part of Kailua Kona, could be undermined by the addition of more housing units that only add to the current traffic. That doesn't make sense. Add in the dire need for more affordable housing, and limiting out of state (or country) purchase of homes that are second or vacation homes, and the cumulative impact of the Lako Street extension doesn't feel appropriate or beneficial. 5. I'll end with two lingering concerns: 1) how this proposed extension intersects with any intended resurrection of the various names of the Ali'i Highway/Keauhou Parkway; and 2) private planning consultants representing this Canadian landowner for any future development proposals, and the appearance of the lack of transparency, and accountability with the current Planning Director. Any extension of Lako Street feels as if Comm. No. Ofc' Ref. To: PI OMNI Ref. Date MAY 1 6 2023 the next project to pursue, and find the money for, is the extension of Ali'i Highway. I'm opposed to this for many reasons, but would support a walking trail that could be built to provide emergency vehicle access for the Keauhou View Estates (KVE) and Ali'i Heights (AH) subdivision in the event of a tsunami. If I recall, the County's adopted Complete Streets plan provided schematic drawings of a walking trail that would use the dedicated area between Keauhou View Estates and Ali'i Heights. Thank you for providing the ability to provide comments on the proposed Lako Street extension. Elizabeth Dunn