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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0687.001 2004-2006 March 21, 2006 TESTIMONY -PLANNING COMMITTEE Hawaii County Council - (Communication 387) Bill 224 TMK 72-005-001 Hiluhilu Development, LLC Submitted by: Robert Ward 77-6526 Ho'olaupa'i Kailua Kona We should not forget just how important development issues are. The concept of a major development that is located miles from the population center, with over 700 homes, golf course and amenities is not a new concept to residents of Kona. Please don't get me wrong. 1 appreciate a lot of the features that Hiluhilu Development is proposing for Palamanui. Education, health care, senior housing, collector roads without driveways are all beneficial. While prospects for a Community College may be waning, the need for a "Rehabilitation Campus" may be growing. The only problems are location, connectivity and imin . The proposal departs from many of the principals of sound planning and several tenets of smart growth. 1. The proposal places the mauka entrance 1.1 miles north of the Airport. This increases our urban sprawl by extending the mauka community an additional 1.6 miles (from Kaiminani Street). This route was not identified in the Environmental Impact Statement as the preferred alternative. 2. The proposal avoids infill by creating desirable destinations for recreation, education and Health care at the extreme edge of the community rather than closer to the center. 3. Requiring many users to travel further exacerbates several transportation issues related to capacity, efficiency and safety. Makai access along Queen Ka'ahumanu Hiahwav should be limited to the Airport Access Road (either the current one or future one arooosed in the Keahole Airport Master Planl. Comm. No. v Y7• Ref. To: ~f10~O°~ G S- ~~.4. c.. Terminating the central collector University Avenue at Makalei Estates will improve connectivity and emergency access for that subdivision, but only for Makalei Estates. 1. The road gradients in Makalei Estates are clearly unacceptable to serve as a major mauka-makai collector. (This is also true for existing upper Kaiminani, and Hina Lani.) 2. The existing Makalei Drive will not support conventional mass transit due to the steep grade. It does not meet ADA requirements and is inaccessible for many cyclists. It will deter even the most dedicated pedestrian. It will also be insurmountable to personal mobility vehicles. The County Standards are there for a reason. We must not compromise safety and access to the detriment of the entire community. 3. Extending University Avenue to Mamalahoa Highway will provide the most efficient connection for most Kona to Waimea or East Hawaii traffic. This is also true for traffic from North and East Hawaii bound for Keahole Airport. This could not only be a valuable bypass around the mauka Kona community, but could capitalize on the A-lanes of the largest DOT investment made in West Hawaii in a generation! Mauka access to Mamalahoa Hiahwav must make a direct connection that meets the County grade standards and does not run through Makalei Estates. The Queen Ka'ahumanu access is vital. The initial TZAR predicted only 50°k of generated traffic would be Kona bound on Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway. Perhaps the antiquated TlAR needs to be reevaluated. Our existing infrastructure can not support additional traffic up to 12,000 AADT. 1. A grade separation is needed. A simple rural diamond interchange could be the most efficient. An overhead structure with rock facing (much like the work of Stanley Abbott along the Blue Ridge Parkway) would be the least obtrusive. It may not be possible to specify the design parameters at this point without more geologic, hydraulic, topographic, traffic, and cost data. 2. A single separation at the Airport entrance may still make the most sense by (a) eliminating a new intersection 1.1 miles north of the Airport, (b) eliminating a signalized intersection at the Airport, and (c) reducing the left turns onto Kaiminani Street. (Other grade separation locations are possible, but at a higher cost.) 3. The cost sharing should be flexible. DOT still has obligations to provide safe and efficient facilities for the existing users. The County can assist with upfront financial support with tax incentives through Enterprise Funding, or through fair-share loans. A simple grade separation is needed at the Airport access Road to serve Keahole Airport. HELCO and Palamanui. The proposed Main Street extension is desirable, but it does not go far enough. Our transportation infrastructure can not support the impact of increased traffic. 1. Similar developments have been willing to construct extended roadways beyond their property to provide a secondary route for regional traffic. It would not be unreasonable to request the same here. 2. Conservative estimates from the TZAR would place another 6,000 daily vehicles on Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway between Palamanui and Kona, without increasing capacity. Extending Main Street/Kamanu Street to only Kaiminani Street does nothing to relieve traffic south of that point, where half of the generated traffic will go. 3. Combine the existing ROW between Palamanui and Kaiminani Street, various segments of State ROW, the segment of ROW that the County is planning on setting aside at Keahuolu, the segment of Kamanu that Honokohau Business Park will construct, existing segments of Kamanu stn3et (through Kaloko), Kealakehe Parkway and Keohokalole Highway. This would allow a complete a second route all the way between the Airport and Henry Street! This can be done quicker than DOT can add lanes and for less money than DOT will spend. (Because of the flat open terrain it can be done for less then what Hokuli'a will spend on the Mamalahoa Bypass.) Additional access mauka of Queen Ka'ahumanu must precede the development to connect it beyond Kaiminani to Kealakehe Parkway and on to Palani Road and Henrv Street. Thank you. Bob Ward