HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0239.000 2000-2002 os
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~ Dennis K. W. Lee
Harry Kim _
Mayor Director
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DEPARTMENT ®E PUBLIC V5~t7RKS
25 Aupuni Strcet, Room 202 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720-4252
(808)961-8321 Fas(808)961-8630
June 04, 2001
Mr. Don Pakele
117 Alapaki Place
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Mr. Herb Wegner
125 Alapaki Place
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
SUBJECT: LUANA GARDENS SUBDIVISI®N
Drainage Concerns
This is in response to your concerns surrounding the Luana Gardens Subdivision. Our responses
to your mitigating suggestions, as outlined in your letter report dated March 30, 2001, are as
follows:
1. Eliminate andlor reduce the flooding to Luana Gardens Subdivision and the overflowing
of the Alenaio Stream via Chong Street acrd Akolea floodwaters.
Right now, the Department of Public Works has no direct plans or projects to reduce the
flooding around this vicinity of the Alenaio Stream. However, the U. S. Army Corps of
~ ~ Engineers (COE) is doing a flood study along the Alenaio Stream (Waipahoehoe and
~ Kaluiki Branches) where it crosses Akolea Road, and ending just above Chong Street.
~ ~ This study is to identify, or more clearly define, the inundation areas within the
~ ~ ~ designated "A" Flood Zones.
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The Natural Resources Conservation Service (MRCS) was planning to redirect flood
waters away from the Chong Street (Alenaio Stream) drainage area like you mentioned.
~ ~ Diversion #4, as we knew it, redirects flood waters above Akolea Road, westerly into the
_ ~ Wailuku Stream, by way of the Piihonua Diversion Channel No. 4. For various reasons,
most concerning costs, this idea died. The NRCS is currently evaluating a less costly and
more effective alternative that they expect to be completed by the end of this year. If you
should have any questions concerning this study, please contact Mr. Dudley Kubo,
Watershed Planner, NRCS, at (808)541-2600 ext. 124.
Ltr. to Luana Gardens
June 4, 2001
Page 2 of 3
These studies may not address your immediate concerns on disallowing any future
developments above Luana Gardens Subdivision or the need to mitigate the flooding in
this area. For your information, our statewide policy for the County is to have
developments identify their rainfall runoff and to properly dispose of any additional
runoff that they create within their developmental area. It is the responsibility of a
developer and their design engineer to develop a suitable drainage plan and to provide
any provisions necessary to handle this additional runoff. We allow subdivision
designers to use a 10-yr. storm interval to calculate their rainfall runoff. For many
reasons, we do not have developments design fora 100-yr. storm interval.
The storm event in November was determined to be close to a 100-year storm interval
event. Could this be a reason you feel that this storm created an excessive amount of
runoff that impacted the Luana Gardens Subdivision?
With the present statewide policy, we believe that the rainfall runoff determinations for
the past, present, and future developments in the County of Hawaii will be adequately
addressed.
2. Cleanout and redirect (swale) waters away from Luana Gardens Subdivision in easement
D-3 and fill in holes along the sidewalks.
Easement D-3 is a private drainage easement, and therefore the responsibility to clean and
maintain it is with the private property owner on which it occurs.
We prefer not to do anything that would affect the Alenaio Stream watercourse. Altering
this watercourse would require extensive studies and planning, and a required submission
to FEMA for a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR).
Our inspection of the sidewalk areas within Luana Gardens revealed that we have already
filled the planter areas. Our Highway Maintenance Division crew has done this on the
fronting property owners' behalf. It may be of interest to you that according to Chapter
22, Section 22-58, of the Hawaii County Code, that the fronting property owner is
responsible for the proper maintenance and repair of this sidewalk area.
3. Repair and maintain and/or improve easements D-2 and D-1.
There is no evidence in our files that these drainage easements were dedicated to the
County of Hawaii. Your proof of this transfer is an unsigned document. As with #2
above, these are private drainage easements, and therefore the maintenance responsibility
of the private property owner on which it occurs.
Ltr. to Luana Gardens
June 4, 2001
Page 3 of 3
We also add that these types of drainage easements are not acceptable for dedication by
our Department. They are very difficult and costly to maintain due to the location and its
inaccessibility to our maintenance crew.
4. Cleanout, repair, maintain and/or improve culvert under road and streambed above lots
1 and 17 on Luana Way and relocate water meters where necessary.
We thank you for informing us about the need of maintenance for the roadside ditches
and culvert above Lots 1 and 17, more particularly the area fronting TMK: 2-5-12: 35 and
50. We have informed our Highway Maintenance Division to clean and regularly
maintain this area.
Regarding the matter concerning the water meters, we are deferring this to the
Department of Water Supply.
In closing, we hope that these responses satisfy your concerns. Should there be additional
questions concerning this matter, please feel free to contact me at 961-8327.
Galen M. Kuba, P.E.
Acting Deputy Director
Department of Public Works
CKY
copy: DPW (D. Lee)
Office of the Mayor
County Council
DWS (M. Pavao)
DPW-HWY