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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0704.004 1998-2000 fr e/ y 4-'•' '~4 Leningrad Elarionoff • : • Hilo Tel: (808) 961-8225 Councilman ?p'a.N~,./ Fax: (808) 961-8912 COUNTY COUNCIL County of Hawaii Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hi/o, Hawaii 96710 April 4, 2000 .,,t ' RECEIVED ' 71me_- - - - °Y - ~ r__,___ To :James Y. Arakaki, Chair & ~°t~---dun ~ Cou All Council Members a~ ndl/~' From :Leningrad Elario ff~ \ Council Member, District 9 Subject :Aina Lea (Bridge Puako) Enclosed is information that I am making available to you regazding Aina Lea (Bridge Puako) Project that you may not presently posses. From the beginning, my instructions to the developer and the people concemed were that I would rather see them settle on some form of negotiated agreement before it comes to council and avoid the possible trauma of having a decision being made for them Should you have any questions, please contact me. LE/pnb Enc. Meetings Open To The Public on the Aina Lea Project Materials Made Available to concemed Persons Letter to Developer from Frederick Omellas Traffic Impact Assessment Report for Timeshares at The Villages of Aina Lea Questions and Responses to Demands Made By Tom Mader's Protect Puako Comm. No. 70 ~ . O~ File No. ZNC9 DISTRICT 9 Rel. To: P~ PG Kohala, Waimea, Waikoloa, Kawaihae fig. TJate APR 1 81 2~..... MEETINGS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON THE AINA LEA PROJECT Meeting Description Where Date 1. Waikoloa Luncheon (]0 people) Officers and concerned residents Waikoloa 1-28-00 2. Mauna Lani Luncheon Officers of Residential Associations Mauna Lani 1-31-00 (7 people) 3. Planning Commission Hearing Mauna Lani 2-4-00 (100 people) 4. Puako Community (approx. 20 people) Puako 2-5-00 Annual Meeting 5. Puako Comm. Assoc. (approx. 25 people) Puako 2-7-00 Special meeting on Aina Lea 6. Mauna Lani-Open to public Mauna Lani 2-18-00 Officers of Resort, Association officers, Concerned residents (approx. 60 people) 7. Mauna Lani-Resort meeting Mauna Lani 2-18-00 Officers of Resort and consultants Admin. Offices (8 people) 8. Waikoloa Luncheon (10 people) Waikoloa 2-21-00 Officers, concerned residents, School Officials 9. Protect Puako Meeting Puako 2-22-00 Announced as a public meeting. McCain arrived but was told it was a "private" meeting. (approx. 15 people) 10. Waikoloa Village Assoc. (approx. 100 people) Waikoloa 2-26-00 Special Meeting at School 11. Planning Commission Hearing Kona Surf Hotel 3-3-00 All day hearing. Only 5 or 6 people From Puako. One representative from Mauna Lani residents. Mauna Lani Resort representatives. (approx. 20 people) Attended for Aina Lea hearing) No one from Waikoloa attended. Materials Made Available to Concerned Persons Summary of the Project detailing existing entitlements and the changes proposed. Provided to all people attending any of the meetings (3rd tlu7i 11th meetings on list above) 2. List of Demands of "Protect Puako" and responses to these. Provided to every resident in Puako. 3. Letter describing concessions the owner was willing to make if the neighboring communities would accept the changes proposed for the project. Provided to every resident in Puako, all Mauna Lani residents at any of the Mauna Lani meetings, and persons attending the ~Naikoloa meetings. 4. Peat Marwick KPMG Time Shaze Study Provided to Planning Conunission, Planning Department, Mauna Lani Resort, and 4Vaikoloa Community Association. 5. Pacific Planning Consultants Traffic Study on Time Share Impact on Traffic. Draft form only. Final Report due out in next few days. Provided to Planning Director, Councilman Elarionoff. Final Report hill be made available to all interested parties. ~AIKOLOA ~ILTAGE lib~1 iJ'1 Mha.h\ 5"I'11 Fh: 1' P,O lil)x 3(i.i~ I ry l1',\I6ULUA. 1 [~U14111 9G 75a ADhIrNIS'fR AiIpN Pi11'tiI M1rILI> faUA) flt15~~i2'L I,HOaI aH,1-012y1i March 23, 2000 Mr. Eugene McCain ROYAL COAST CONSULTING COMPANY P. O. Box 5043 Kukuihaele, HI 96727 Dear Mf. McCain: The Board of Directors of the Waikoloa Village Association are in receipt of a draft agreement between the Villages of Aina Le'a and 1~)aikoloa Village Association dated March 2, 2000 that we received from Mr. Peter Hoffmann, Chairman of our Governmental .AB~irs Committee. We regret to inform you that the Board is [arable to review this agreement at this time. I'm certain that Mr. Hoffmann told you that there is an Annual Meeting of the Association planned for this Saturday, March 25, and that two new Directors will be elected to the Board at that time. the Boazd was simply unable to find the time to complete all matters brought before it. The new Board will, I'm certain, be able to handle this issue in the very near future. While we were unable yet to execute the agreement, be assured that we are most gratified with the very positive proposals that Aioa Le'a has made to resolve the outstanding concerns of the Association's membership. We apprcciatc the opportunity to work with you in the resolution of these issues through this agreement process and would anticipate a favorable response shortly. Sincerely, ~~~i~ Frederick W Ornellas President ce Board of Directors fi qu o.l rien (l~u lr~ Gall r luh I'. 11v unuincn ud (:.pib'~d ~'1Ubhuu.e P,i.J ,v 'rr~~,v. ura., it:U'~t k~ I,~U nµo ~)U 9u ?d ~'~~i-. '911d!hL,: Ji:°: iH0Y.1 :~i1,+W~HN (HOf111111[.li-H 'H14p '.1):, pHl.l i i TRAFFIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR TIIdEBHAREB AT TILE VILL.AOEB OF AINA LE'A March 22, 2000 Puako. South Hohala, Hawaii Prepared for. 8rld~e Pualco LLC Prepared H~: PaciSc Planniad ac En~ineeriad, Inc. 1221 Kapiolanl Boule~srd. Suite PH-80 Honolnln, Hawaii 98814 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Pacific Planning & Engineering, Inc. (PP&E) was engaged to Identify and assess future trat~c impacts that would be caused by the proposed devciopment of timeshare units instead of residential units at the Villages of Aina Le'a located In South Kohala, Hawaii, Project Desodption Hridge Puako LLC is developing the Villages of Aina Le'a (formerly Signal Puako Property) located in Puako, South Kohala, Hawaii. This 3,000-acre parcel is situated across the Mauna Lani Drivc, mauka of queen Kaahutnanu Highway. The protect is located 1n two zoning districts, with about 1,000 acres in the Urban District and 2,000 acres 1n the Agricultural District. Bridgc Puako LLC currently hokls State and County development rights for two golf courses, 1,79b single family or multi-family residences and 30 acres of commercial use to the Urban District. The development rights for the paroel located In the Agricultural District includes 4 golf courses and 800 single-family resldenccs. Access to the protect is at two locations. The first and main access will be across Mauna Lani Drive. A second access will be located approximately 1.25 miles to the north on queen Kaahunianu Highway. Currently, Bridge Puako LLC [s only planning to develop the area within the Urban District. Bridge Puako LLC is also proposing to dcvclop 750 timeshare units instead of the allowed owner occupant residential units. The current development plans for the Urban District includes 1 750 timeshare units. 400 residential units, 30 acres of commercial area and two golf courses. The completion date for this phase is anticipated to be by the year 2015. Tire remaining development schedule of the Agricultural District is unccrtaln but is anticipated to be beyond the yeaz 2020. Methodology 'IYaffic analysts was conducted at the following study intersections to determine the relative traffic impact of the change from residential units to timeshare units: • Mauna Lani Drivc /South Protect Access Road with Queen ISaahumanu Highway and • Narth Protect Acccss Road with queen Kaahumanu Highway. f+Yxture traffic was forecasted for the study intensections by adding the following: • E~dsting traffic volumes at the study intersections, • The Increase in through-traffic along Queen Kaahumanu Highway based on the traffic growth rate from the Hawaii Long Range Land Transportation Plan, • '1kafIic generated by future residential developments at the Mauna Lani Drive, 2 Traffic generated by the Villages of Aina Le'a without the timeshare units and Traffic generated by the Villages of Alna Le'a with the timeshare units. This study assesses the Impact on each Intersection by determining and comparing the weekday commuter peak hour level-of-service (LOS) for existing tra8lc, year 2015 forecast without the timeshare project and year 2015 forecast with the timeshare project traffic conditions. Conclnsioas sad Recommendations The proposed timeshare units within the Villages of Aina lx'a, when completed to the year 2015, will have less of an impact on tratl'ic flow at the study intersections when compared with the original residential units. I The Villages of Aina Lc'a, with the proposed 750 timeshare units. would have about 309b and 209b less trips during the weekday morning and afternoon peak hour, respectively, when compared with the ~ previously approved residental units. Even with the reduction in trips due to the timeshare units, motorists at the study Intersections making left-turns onto Queen Kaahumanu Highway will stlll experience poor level-of-service (LOS) due to the growth in traffic on Queen Kaahumanu lfiighway over the next 15 years. Therefore, improvements along Queen Kaahumanu Highway will sttll be needed. 3 At the intersection of Queen Kaahumanu Highway with Mauna Lanl Drive/South Project Access Road, a preliminary traffic signal warrant analysis was conducted using the peak hour warrant as a criterion. The results show that the by the year 2015, the peak hour warrant is expected to be met. If signalized, the intersection is anticipated to operate at LOS `C' conditions or better during both pcak hours. However, a full warrant study should be conducted to determine if and when a tratlle signal should be installed. The Interstction of 9ueen Kaahumanu Highway with the North Projtct Access Road should be fully channelized with exclusive turn lanes. Additionally, the installation of a mtdian storage lane on Quern Kaahumanu Highway for westbound motorists turning left out of the North Project Access Road would improve the LOS. Provlsfon of a striped median storage lane on 9ueen Kaahumanu Highway would allow a slgnlflcant portion of motorists to cross the northbound approach and then to pause in tht median to wait for a gap on the southbound approach. Th1s tncreases the capacity and LOS of the movement since exJting motorists would only conlllct with one approach at a time. Queen Kaahumanu Htghway is a high-spetd facility. Therefore, acceleration and deetleration lance are recommtnded for motorist turning right onto the Project Access Roads from queen Kaahumanu Highway and far motorist taming right out of the Project Access Roads onto the highway. 4 QUFSTION5 AND RESPONSES TO DEMANDS MADE BY TOM MADER'S PROTECT PUAKO L Who is Protec# Pwko? Mr. Mader of Santa Cruz, California is foxating an organization called Protect Puako. He has hired an attorney and is using this organization to file legal aedons against the Aina Le'a developmenk Mr. Mader hae delivered to the owner of Aina Le'a a list of demands that must be met or legal action against the protect will continue. II. Who ara the membexs of Protect Puako7 Mr. Mader is the one who hired the attort?ey to B,it}tt the developmenk To date we have only been given one other name by Mr. er and his attorney, and that is Oliver "Ollie" Mitchell. A to Ollie , Mr. Mader asked him to also amt the 1 al dtion against the Aina I.daikveloprttent beaux Mr. Mader wasn't sure if he could »t it in on time before the last hearir~ from his home in Santa Cruz. Ollie has informed us that he did this act an acoatttmodatton to Tom Mader but that Ollie and his wife have "no intention of getting involved in a fight...we're passivists". We do not know if there are others who have leaded to participate m the legal fight Mr. Mader has started. No other name has been provided to us. III. What are their (Mr. Madela) demands? Mr. Mader teas given his attorney a list of demands that must be met or the will use the courts to litigate amst the developrnenk Below is a summary of his demands and some of Aina Le'a$a xesponsea to thox demexuis. 1. Perform a benchmark Study of the Puako Reef and Maxine Life. Mr. Mader is demactding flat a marine study be conducted. While there may be merit to this in light of the extreme damage that the raw sewage directly from Puako residents is doing to the reef, it is unclear how this will ever be have any benefit relative to the Aina T.e'a project. The existing agrcemeet between the development and the Puako Community Assodation calls for a strict monitoring program of soils and subsoils and water wells on an ongoing basis to detect any migration of chemicals into the subsoils two miles awayy from the reef. Any a,emical or foreign nutrient discovered leaching thru the soils will be withdrawn from use. This is the only way to assure that the project will not impact the tref and the sub surface waters. The massive impact of raw sewage being allowed to flow directly onto the reef Erom Puako home owners and the potential impacts of Mauna ICea's development and Mauna I,ani's development would prevent one from ever being able to determine impaets from Aina Le'a 2. Do another botanical survey eepott Studies have already been conducted and accepted by the County and State government. The current conditions for development call for development of plarw for protecting the Red Dims and the ophiogloeaum,vithin the project. Pmfesaional botanists will be used in this prcxese. As each increment is developed more detailed st»d[ee will be done. 3. Do another anthaeological survey Two extensive studies have been conducted on the 3000 acres. These studies have shown that the Aina Le'a site was an area little used by the Hawaiians due to the terrain. While Mr. Mader has referred to the misty burial sites found in the Hapuna area he fails to mention that the studies of Aina Le'a nitow that unlike Hapuna, Aine I.e'a was not iriltablted and little used. The one burial site and minimei otthheretgne of hsbdtations on the entire 3000 acres (which all will be protected) indicates to the archaeologists that this is not an area of significant archacological sites. The development ie rcquired to do additional field studies arui surveys pnor to development as well ae developing with archaeologists a mitigation and protection T~'- 4. Do another hydmlosy study An detailed hydrology study was condudad for the project for both potable and irtlgatlon water by the eminent hydrologist, Mr. Dan Lum. Mr. Lum was formerly the hydrologist for the State Water Commission which regulates all water use in the State of Hawaii. T ~pxoject does not "pin the entire hopes of a water supply'" on neaz by "disrnvery" Potable Water. The Ou1i well field half way up l:awaihae Road is one of the important new well fields already proven to have substantial and excellent water. One well capable of 1.4 million gallons ~ day (far snore titan needed for Aina Le'a over the next 10 years) has already been drilled and tested. Two other sites are available for backup well and new operational well if and when needed. Aina Le'a wiD need to test those future wells at the time of their development . The Department of Water Supply has provided a letter to the County of Hawaii Planning Department that the Aina Le'a project has a proven source of water for the Prg~- Irrigation Water. Aina Le'a has one brackish well already developed for irrigation water. This well has a capedty of one million gallons per day. Any future brackish water development will be one under the over view of the State Water Commission. Additional wells will be subject to monitoring to be sure of no impact on surrounding wells. 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These studies are called an Environmental Assessment (EA). Both the EA and the 6IS are information dacumenta for government agendes and other interested parties to review to better understand impacts of the project. Thty are both a compilation of studies together with summaries of the project. The EIS calls for additional reguLtions concerning hearings, notifications, and comments. Envlmtuuentai studies completed and accepted by the State and County The following are some of the many studies and reports akeady conducted for the Aire Le'a project which are included as part of the Environmental Asseesmerfk Botardcal Survey Report try Dr. Evangeline J. Funk Ph. q., 1991 Survey of the Avifauna and Feral Mammals by PhUlip L. Bruner, Assistant Professor of Biology, Museum of Netural History, 1991 Air Qualify Study by B. D Neal de Aesociatea.,1991 Archaeological SSuurrvveeyy and Evahiation by Mr. Alan Schilz and Ms. Kanalei Shin, 1991 Fertilizer and Peetiade Management Plan by,1991 Traffic Impact Analysis Report by M & E. Padfic, Ittc.,1991 Water Resources and Supply Hydrologist Mr. Daniel Lum,1991 Update on Traffic Studyy, M k Pac~Sc„ Inc., 1992 Drainage Study, by R M. Towill Corp.,199Z Update on Traffic by Pacific Plat~r>A, Inc.,1999 Update an water resources by Mr. fan Lum,1999 Time shah impacts, in process by KGMP Peat Marwick, in process 2000 Tune share traffic impacts, Padfle Plarming, Inc , in process 2000 Summary The Alva Lea project has done substantial environmental studies for the project and additional studies are underway. Based on the completed studies the development received its rezonings and peratits. The current plans project lower density. While the Aina Le'a is intradudng time share ownership, the actual density of total dwellings and golf courses are now reduced. The plans and schedule for development have been scaled back. Full build out of the entire Aina Le'a project is not expected for 20 to 30 years. The owner of Aina Lena is concerned that Mr. Mader is making demands, not for the rpose of assuring anyone of more careful attd higher quality development, but as a m~ethad of bloekuig the project. While the owner i6 willutg to consider additional studies or changes that would address real issues for community members, government officers and the public at large, the owner feels that these can be done in rnnjunction with the current epplicatlon9 proceeding,. not as part of a campaign to stop the development.