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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0455.003 2002-2004 ~ONI? ~RAFFfC ~ETY ~OYWT'fEE TESTIMONY Of The KONA TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE Presented By JOEL GIMPEL Public Aftairs Committee Chair 73-4686 Hina Lani Street Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Before The HAWAII COUNTY PLANNING COMMITTEE Regarding LEHUA LANI, LLC March 8, 2004 RtCErv~~[b Date Sa'^~' Goundl P/P c'-PN Comm. No. ~~.3 Ref. To: P? Ref. Date, Aloha. I'm Joel Gimpel, Public Affairs chair for the Kona Traffic Safety Committee. Our comments and concerns regarding this project, which were presented to the Planning Department last October and are part of the record, noted several issues that must be carefully addressed and thoroughly questioned: project density; pedestrian safety; effect on Alii Drive and mauka-makai traffic; emergency and service vehicle access; and school transportation. Consideration and resolution of those issues has taken on even greater urgency in light of recent events, including the tragic death of a pedestrian on Alii Drive last month, and the filing of applications for rezoning and a special management azea permit for a proposed 100 unit condo development a few yards south of the subject property. I'll merely summarize the major points. Project Density Project density will, of course, affect traffic; the more homes, the more vehicles. The applicant proposes 58 home sites ranging from 4000 to 6000+ square feet per site. (Page 6). Multiplying 58 by an average of 5000 square feet per site results in a total unit area of 290,000 square feet, leaving approximately 150,000 square feet for streets and open space. The RS-7.5 zone, however, requires at least 7500 square feet for each unit. We see no compelling reason for permitting greater density than that permitted by law. Accordingly, we urge that the County require the developer to comply with the density permitted in the RS-7.5 zone while retaining the 150,000 square feet of open space, and to limit the number of units to 39 (290,000 divided by 7500). Pedestrian Safety While the inclusion of grassed swales, trees and flowering shrubs within the road rights- of-way is commendable and desirable, the KTSC is concerned that the contemplated multiple functions, namely jogging/walking paths, vehicles and overflow pazking, will compete and be unsafe. We therefore suggest that to create a "pedestrian-oriented streetscape," the developer be required to designate jogging/walking paths that are separate from overflow parking and vehicular traffic lanes. Effect on Alii Drive and Mauka-Makai Traffic The application cites a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) that concluded that the levels of service at the Alii Drive/Royal Poinciana and Alii Drive/Lunapule intersections "are not significantly impacted by this development," and that "a left turn lane from Alii Drive to the project was not needed." Our review of the TIA disclosed that it failed to adequately take into account the likelihood that additional development on presently vacant land in the area would contribute more traffic on Alii Drive and the two closest mauka-makai streets, which are amile-and-a-half apart. Although some Alii Drive traffic may eventually be diverted to the proposed Alii Parkway, we don't anticipate its completion for some time. Moreover, access to the Parkway will be limited, so residents and visitors of Lehua Lani and other Alii Drive developments will still use Alii Drive. Furthermore, the TIA did not address the problem of emergency evacuation in case of tsunami that will be exacerbated by this development. At present, only two mauka-makai streets, one of which has been fitted with speed humps, are available to move evacuation traffic to safe ground. A third route, the Lako Street extension to Alii Drive, has been planned but its design and the timing of its completion remain uncertain, and its junction with Alii Drive will be located well south of Royal Poinciana. The KTSC therefore recommends that the county plan another mauka-makai connector along the sewer line road to Kahakai Estates that abuts the Alii Lani subdivision. A roundabout is planned for the Alii Pazkway/Sewer Line Road junction, and our tax dollars should be spent on a traffic-calming feature that can maximize its use for the public good. We also recommend that area developers contribute to the cost of the needed mauka-makai connector road. Although the absence of a left-turn lane from Alii Drive into the property may not "appreciably improve" the flow of traffic on Alii Drive, it poses a safety concern because southbound drivers, moving at the posted speed or, as is often the case, somewhat faster, might not anticipate suddenly having to stop while vehicles in front of them wait to execute a left turn. Therefore, we strongly recommend that alert-turn lane from Alii Drive into the development be required. We aze surprised that a project of this size without turn lanes would even be considered. Emergency and Service Vehicle Access Although the proposed 20 foot-wide primary road pavement might satisfy legal requirements, the t 8 foot pavement for the rear access lanes will not be adequate to handle large emergency and service vehicles such as fire trucks, ambulances, and garbage trucks. We therefore urge that the rear access lanes also have 20-foot pavements. School Transportation The nature of the development and the size of its homes indicate that there will likely be many families with school-age children. Although the Kahakai Elementary School is only 500 feet southeast of the site, it is 2/3 of a mile away when walking along streets, and the nearest public intermediate and high schools are many miles away. Accordingly, school bus transportation will be required. Students, however, will have to cross Alii Drive at least once a day to board or exit the bus, which can be hazardous. It would therefore be appropriate to require that the applicant fund button-activated crosswalk lights for intermediate and high school students using the bus, and installation of a direct pedestrian link between the development and Kahakai Elementary School or, if that is physically impossible, the construction of a sidewalk on the mauka side of Alii Drive so that elementary school students and other pedestrians will have a safe place to walk. We thank you for the opportunity to comment, and will be pleased to answer any questions you may have.