HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PWC 291 11/21/1988 1984-1988 REPORT CF THE
AITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS ,
DATE: November 21 , 1988
PLACE : Councilroom
TIME: 9 : 00 a.m .
Chairman and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo , Hawaii 96720
•
Your Committee on Public Works to which was referred Communication
'No . 1861 and its attached Bill No . 688 , reports as follows :
Bill No . 688 proposes to amend Chapter 24, Article 10 of the Hawaii
County Code 1983 by adding a new item to Section 24-271 , Schedule 19 ,
relating to prohibited left turn areas . The purpose of the bill is
to prohibit left turns on Kaiwi Street between Luhia Street and Queen
Kaahumanu Highway in the Kona Industrial Subdivision .
Your Committee on Public Works has reviewed Communication No . 1861
from the Chief Engineer , which states that vehicles going downhill on
Kaiwi Street from Queen Kaahumanu Highway may not be able to come to
a complete stop in time to avoid cars turning left into or out of
driveways on Kaiwi Street . To eliminate this unnecessary hazard , he
requests the prohibition of left turns on Kaiwi Street for one block
between the highway and Luhia Street .
A Committee member stated that the County should defer the bill until
the people in the surrounding area have time to give input and see
what is best for everyone . Another Committee member was concerned
that driveway entrance approval was a County liability .
Your Committee heard testimony from Mr . Steven Lim, attorney at Case
and Lynch, representing Banfe and Matheson , the developers of
Kaahumanu Plaza I , and the tenants in Kaahumanu Plaza I . Mr . Lim
stated that the developers plan to make the first block of Kaiwi
Street four lanes with left turn pockets in and out of the Kaahumanu
Plaza I project . He requested deferral of Bill No . 688 on the basis
that it might not be required in light of the planned improvements
for Kaiwi Street .
PWC REPORT 291
rtDOPT`D : DEC 19 1988
PWC-291 Page 2 November 21 , 1988
Your Committee heard testimony from Deputy Chief Engineer Bruce
McClure recommending approval of Bill No . 688 to authorize
enforcement of the present no left turn signs on Kaiwi Street and to
facilitate the issuing of citations by the police for people who are
daily driving over the post delineators on the raised pavement area
in the center of Kaiwi Street before and after the shopping center
driveway . He testified that the road is not safe for those left turn
movements because the first block of Kaiwi Street goes downhill and
the shopping center driveway is too close to Queen Kaahumanu
Highway. He estimated that the time for completion of the planned
road improvements would be from one to one and a half years and until
completion, the liability can be resolved by the County ' s restriction
of movements at the driveways to right in and right out .
Your Committee heard testimony as follows from the Chief Engineer :
1 . The County is experiencing something new in traffic
congestion.
2 . The Department of Public Works did not expect so many in and
out movements at commercial driveways near corners , but will
be able to prevent reoccurrences of such problems .
3 . The first block of Kaiwi Street is adequately signed.
Your Committee members noted that through access to Queen Kaahumanu
Highway was not originally planned ; six to eight businesses are
generating the traffic in the area; and the County, not the tenants ,
is liable for the conditions which permit conflicting movement
without adequate sight distance .
Your Committee concurred with the Deputy Chief Engineer ' s
recommendation to approve Bill No . 688 .
Your Committee on Public Works is in accord with the intent and
purpose of Bill No . 688 and recommends its passage on first reading
by the County Council .
MERLE K. AIRWOMAN
4 • • f.
'USSELL S . KO BUN, VICE CHR. FRANK DE LUZ III, MEMBER
A
TAK ' SHI DOMINGO MEMBER SHERWOOD R. H. GREENWELL, MEMBER
LA/ W