HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0362.023 2004-2006 February 13, 2006
TESTIMONY -PLANNING COMMITTEE Hawaii County Council -
(Communication 362)
Bill 123
TMK 7-5-009-023
KPC Villages, LLC
Submitted by:
Robert Ward
77-6526 Ho'olaupa'i St
Kailua Kona, HI 96740
Increasing the allowable residential density by more than 33 percent and
permitting commercial and retail operations in the proposed development
may be suitable for the area, but only if critically needed infrastructure
precedes construction. There are three crucial road improvements that
should be required:
FIRST: The most vital road improvement is the completion of a new
connector road in Pua'a extending from Kuakini Highway along the south
property line of the development with a roundabout on Ali'i Drive.
This connector road is absolutely necessary because it will provide:
1. Vital access to the development site to avoid an adverse impact on Ali'i
Drive during construction of the development.
2. Permanent by-pass around the Ali'i Drive pedestrian area, enhancing
safety and taking advantage of the County's current and future
investments in Kuakini Highway.
3. A critical emergency route for police, fire, and medical services that
would be otherwise delayed on Ali'i Drive.
4. A vital evacuation route from ahigh-density area that experiences
routine congestion.
5. A detour that will expedite the construction improvements contemplated
for the Oneo Bay project.
A compact urban roundabout will provide several benefits:
1. Facilitate the use of "right-in/right-out" and "no left turn" accesses
along Ali'i Drive to improve traffic flow.
2. Provide a significantly safer environment for pedestrians crossing the
street (since they cross behind vehicles preparing to turn).
3. Act as atraffic-calming device that does not impede traffic flow while
forcing drivers to maintain a safe speed.
4. Improve Level of Service at intersections since delays are reduced by
not requiring all vehicles to stop unnecessarily.
5. Work in conjunction with a second compact urban roundabout at the ,Z~
intersection with Hualalai Road and Ali'i Drive. b.~-
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To be absolutely sure that this connection will be completed before
construction commences on the development it will be necessary for the
developer to share in the financial commitment. This must be considered
whenever the existing infrastructure cannot safely support the combination
of the current population and the new development. There are a couple of
ways that this can easily be accomplished without the developer bearing
the entire financial obligation,
Enterprise Funding: The County partners with the developer by
forgiving property tax obligations for up to10 years on the improvements.
This permits the developer to finance the road construction through a
combination of improved cash flow on rental operations and higher selling
prices that the purchasers offset with no tax payments. This method frees
the County to allocate funding and pursue other areas of infrastructure
deficiencies where partnerships are not available. The County, developer
and purchasers share the cost and the benefits, but most importantly, the
road will be built!
Turnkey base: The developer provides the County with a complete
right-of-way ready for construction of the connecting road. The developer
provides the County with the approvals, EA or EIS, design plans, deeds
and bid documents. The County assists with its power of eminent domain
and engineering expertise, then uses its allocated $1.5million to complete
construction. If the developer only provides the County with a triangular
scrap of land, there is no assurance that the road will be built. The
developer must deliver all of these elements, to assure that the road will be
built!
SECOND: The timing for the Transportation Enhancement (TE)
project for Oneo Bay must be addressed. The TE project may not be the
most critical element to mitigate the safety and capacity issues created by
the development, but the development should not proceed until the TE
project is operationally complete. Simultaneous construction would place
an unnecessary burden on an already over-stressed Ali'i Drive.
The developer's financial obligation to the TE project fronting Oneo
Bay should be limited. It would be reasonable to confine the developer's
fiscal participation to the portion that fronts the development.
THIRD: The proposed development has the potential to eliminate
several parking spaces used by the public. It can be beneficial to eliminate
the on street parking along Ali'i Drive to improve the safety and access of
pedestrians and cyclists, but the need to address the reduction in parking
remains. The developer should provide additional parking in the
development or off site in the vicinity.
Mahalo for your consideration,
Robert Ward