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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0106.005 2004-2006 ~~4_ ~OMA ~RAFFK SAFETY ~O~AI?~ITTEE 75-344 Nani Kailua Dr. Kailua-Kona, Hl 96740 808!331-0441 TESTIMONY Of The Kona Traffic Safety Committee Presented By JOEL GIMPEL Chair, Public Affairs 73-4686 Hina Lani St. Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Before the HAWAII COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION Regarding Puaa Development LLC (SLU 04-009, and REZ 04-025) And Suffolk Investment LLC (SLU 04-010, and REZ 04-024) March 15, 2005 Comm. ' F Ref. To: r Ref. Dote 2 In January, The Kona Traffic Safety Committee provided testimony on the applications filed by Puaa Development and Suffolk Investment to the Planning Commission, and copies of that testimony are in the record In the interest of time, I'll merely summarize that testimony this afternoon. With respect to Puaa Development, we understand that the applicant now proposes to develop a commercial shopping center with approximately 50,000 sq. ft. of retail and office space in the northern portion of the property, with the remaining 40,000 sq. ft. in the southern portion devoted to multi-family rental housing, all to be completed in 2008. Principal access from Rte 1 1 would be at the north end of the property, with a signalized and channelized intersection directly opposite the access to Pualani Estates. The applicant also proposes aright-in, right-out only access to Hwy 11 at the south end, and there would he a road with a b0-foot right-of-way through the project, connecting with the14.87 acre, 250-unit rental housing project makai of the subject property, proposed by Suffolk Investment, affording access to Kuakini Hwy. We have several concerns and suggestions regarding both projects, because both will significantly affect traffic in the same area. 1. Traffic- Rte 11 As recognized by the Puaa TZAR, the project will add 3614 trips per day to traffic on Kuakini Hwy and Rte 1 1, which is already operating at capacity. But the T[AR, while predicting no change in the level of service at the Pualani Subdivision/Rte 11 intersection, which should be signalized, failed to take into account the traffic to be added to that intersection by the 21-uniC Uluwehi Properties Development that has been approved by the County Council, and the 250-unit rental housing project proposed by Suffolk Investment. And, because the traffic counts used for the TIAR were taken before commercial delivery trucks were needed in the area, it also failed to account for the many delivery vehicles that will enter the development, especially in the morning peak hours. Furthermore, the proposed right-inJright-out driveway on Rte 11 is projected to operate at an unacceptable level of service during the PM peak hours. And, even with aright-turn acceleration lane, entering Rte 11 will be dangerous because the speed limit at that point is 55 mph. 2. Traffic -Kuakini Hwy Because ofthe existing and projected congestion on Rte 11, we believe (and the Puaa TIAR predicts) that many drivers will use Kuakini Hwy to access and leave the commercial project, which will invariably increase congestion on that two-lane road and result in increased traffic through the residential development proposed by Suffolk Investment. We also note that the Suffolk TIAR anticipates that the housing project, upon completion, will add ] 405 daily trips (118 during the AM peak hours, and 145 during the PM peak hours) to the roadway network, i.e., Kuakini Hwy and Rte 7 1, and that Rte 11 is 3 already at capacity. Furthermore, the Suffolk TIAR did not anticipate the service and delivery vehicles that will be entering and leaving the adjoining commercial complex proposed by Puaa Development. 3. Trip Leneth Reduction We understand and recognize that the proposed developments will somewhat reduce trip length for area residents to and from commercial and office uses, but they will, nevertheless, add significantly to the already congested traffic on Rte l l and Kuakini Hwy. 4. Other Safety Issues We are concerned that speeding on the 60-foot wide mauka-makai road to be constructed connecting Rte 11 and Kuakini Hwy will raise safety problems, especially as it traverses Suffolk Development's proposed 250-unit housing project. 5. Affordable Housine We appreciate that Suffolk proposes to provide much-needed rental housing in the Kailua-Kona area. Nothing in the application, however, describes the affordability of the rents to be charged. Because the shortage of affordable housing for low-income workers in the Kailua-Kona area contributes greatly to our traffic congestion, we urge that you require the developer to designate a substantial percentage (at least 30%) of the units on site for law-income households, that "in lieu of 'fees not be permitted, and that the developer also comply with other requirements for affordable housing that are in effect when construction begins. [n view of the above concerns, and of the Mayor's opposition to commercial development where supporting infrastructure is already operating at capacity, we urge that you carefully evaluate these traffic-related considerations and apparent shortcomings of the Puaa TIAR, and consider the following suggestions: I. Delay both projects until regional plans are in place. 2. Prohibit occupancy until the Pualani Estates/Rte 11 intersection is signalized and channelized; 3. Require Puaa Development to provide right-turn deceleration lanes from Rte 1 I into both access driveways, and aright-turn acceleration lane from the right- in/right-out driveway; 4 4. Reduce the speed limit on Rte 11 to 45 mph from Hualalai Rd south to the Kuakini Hwy/Rte I 1 intersection; 5. Require a left-turn pocket lane from Kuakini Hwy into the mauka-makai road, and right turn deceleration and acceleration lanes into and out of the mauka- makai road at its intersection with Kuakini Hwy, and a stoplight or button- activated crosswalk lights to facilitate safe pedestrian access from nearby subdivisions along Kuakini Hwy. 6. Limit speed on the mauka-makai road between Rte 1 1 and Kuakini Hwy to 25 mph, require atraffic-calming design, and provide sidewalks and bike paths. 7. Require Suffolk InvestmenC to restore the old Kailua-Keauhou Road (the "Middle Road" designated on page 10 of Appendix D-2) that runs mauka of the old Kuakini Hwy (the western boundary of the project), and designate it as a bicycle and walking path, which will benefit all area residents. Thank you for the opportunity to comment I'll be happy to answer your questions.