HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0018.008 2002-2004 Gilbert M. Meyer
75-5936 Alii Drive
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
January 9, 2003 '
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Mr. James Y. Arakaki, Council Chair
and Council Members
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Re: Alii Cove Condominiums
TMK (3) 7-5-18:08 -
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Dear Chairman Arakaki and Council Members:
As a resident of a dome on Alii Drive near Lunapule Road in Kailua-Kona, I am requesting a
minor change to the conditions of approval of the Alii Cove Condominiums project scheduled for
hearing at the County offices on January 23, 2003.
I have a concern with one of the proposed conditions of approval relating to traffic mitigation at
the intersection of Lunapule Road and Alii Drive, as I understand they are now written. I am
proposing a minor modification to those conditions to solve my wife's and my worries and, I am
sure, mitigate the concerns of my neighbors if they were aware of the current proposal.
The presently drafted conditions of approval proposed for the new development seem to call for
the addition of STOP signs in both directions on Alii Drive at Lunapule. If such STOP signs were
installed, my ingress into my home and egress from it both via Lunapule and Alii would be
severely impaired. The center line of my driveway into my home is about 45 feet north of the
center line of Lunapule Street where it currently intersects with Alii Drive. The south edge of my
driveway will be approximately 20 feet north of the south edge of Lunapule when Lunapule is
widened pursuant to the current plan proposed by Phillip Rowell and Associates' traffic report. If a
STOP sign for southbound traffic were installed on Alii Drive, traffic would stop immediately in
front of my driveway and make my left turn ingress and egress extremely difficult and dangerous.
If the STOP sign were alternatively installed 75 to 100 feet north of the center line of Lunapule to
ease my ingress and egress problem, southbound drivers could not see westbound Lunapule
traffic, vVhich would be hidden behind a high retaining wall at the front of the Lunapule Kona
condominiums on the southeast corner of Lunapule and Alii. This would also create a dangerous
situation.
The high number of casual walkers, runners and bicyclists on Alii Drive would only exasperate
this danger.
In light of this condition, I propose that developers of Alii Cove Condominiums, as a condition of
the approval of their development, fund the County of Hawaii a fair estimate of the cost of the Alii
Drive STOP signs but not install those STOP signs at this time. If, in the future, the County deems
those STOP signs necessary, it can install the STOP signs at that time after proper notice and
discussion with surrounding residents. Comm. No.
File No. Z
Ref. To:
Ret. Hate JAN 1 4 200
Mr. James Y. Arakaki, Council Chair
and Council Members
January 9, 2003
Page Two
The STOP signs on Alii at Lunapule will probably never be necessary because, as Phillip Rowell
and Associates point out on Page 11 of their report, the new "Alii Parkway" and the new "Lako
Street Makai Extension"..."will provide an alternative to Lunapule Road...Both these projects will
result in less traffic using the roadways adjacent to the study project. The most significant impact
will be the reduction of traffic along Lunapule Street...Based on our experience with projects in
Kailua-Kona area, it is anticipated that through traffic along Alii Drive would be reduced by at least
25 percent".
My proposed minor modification to the County's conditions of approval of the Alii Cove
Condominiums will give the County the flexibility to manage traffic concerns along Alii Drive, if,
they actually occur, while providing my wife and me and my neighbors safe access for the
foreseeable future.
I have discussed this minor change with Councilman Curtis Tyler, with the developer's
representative, Greg Mooers, and with my own traffic consultant Harold Sugiyama of M & E
Pacific. Harold Sugiyama in turn discussed the issue with representatives of the County's Traffic
and Engineering Division and intends to touch base with the Planning Department when the right
contact returns from vacation. Everyone seems to agree with my proposed change, that is, the
omission of any condition in the Alii Cove Condominiums' approvals proposing the installation of
STOP signs in Alii Drive at this time.
I thank the entire County Council for your favorable consideration of my request.
Very truly yours,
Gilbert M. Meyer
GMM/clk
cc: Curtis Tyler
Greg Mooers
Harold Sugiyama