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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0101.002 1998-2000)untry -Iction of ents and Hawai`i's -aftsmen. J in HQUi0l'i aily 9 to 5, w Jl k0l4t ticerts! )rvice, Call and People dor An Alii Parkway by Sandra Scarr and Josephine Kelliplo n a 1998 report, First Hawaiian Bank la- beled residents opposed to Hawaii State and County development initiatives CAVE people—Citizens Against Virtually Everything. This commentary is from other CAVE people— Citizens Advocating a Viable Economy—rep- resenting the views of many West Hawaii resi- dents. Rather than advocate growth -regardless - of -cost to our quality of life, we favor sustain- able development that respects all stakehold- ers, including residents, businesses, visitors, and our unique culture. We believe that successful businesses value the interests of the commu- nity they hope to attract as customers. We support the construction of an Alii Park- way that links Alii Drive to mauka roads and promotes responsible, easy -moving traffic flow from the south of Kailua Village. A properly conceived and designed Ali `i Parkway will im- prove travel within and between the neighbor- hoods, add attractive landscaping, and provide access to Kona attractions for residents and visi- tors alike. We support a two-lane roadway with land- scaped median and pedestrian and bicycle paths along the landscaped sides of the 100 -foot right- ol-way. We support many mauka-makai connecting streets to ease travel within Kailua neighbor- hoods and to increase the safety of residents along Alii Drive, who are presently at risk from _: -J .,, Inc . IESH BROWN IS TORS OF rnge Chicken range Turku To Slice Deli Meats Jude: Pastrami, , No Salt, Hare, RECEIVE By - --------------- Date_.,....--_--------------- ---- ---.._.._., county cou cil the arterial to a four -lane highway t as n = -' modate the County's optimistic development projections. Although the May 1998 Hawaii Long -Range Land Transportation Plan (HLLTP) justified a four -lane highway, the Citizen's Advisory Com- mittee (CAC) objected strongly to the HLLTP. The CAC majority called it a "Car Transporta- tion Plan," not a "Land Transportation Plan,' because it failed to address other transportation options or to include new ideas on community development. According to CAC member Ann Peterson, HLLTP was based on incorrectly pro- jected population and traffic figures for West Hawaii. The HLLTP was co-authored by William Moore, a planner who works for a private de- veloper (Towne -Kona Development) and who ?irripo`rtanf'Hawairarr historical/cultural-sites along its path, with appropriate markers to tell residents and visitors about the sites. We envi- sion Alii Parkway as a valuable asset to the economic well-being of our Island and Kona community. As currently planned, Alii Highway will move traffic rapidly from Keauhou to Kailua, skirting the most important cultural and histori- cal sites along the way. Due to its flat and fairly straight design, it will handle speeds up to 60 mph, despite lower posted limits. The County's answer to improving South -North transporta- tion is to zip traffic through an historically sig- nificant area and to divide Kailtia neighbor- hoods with a four -lane speedway. Long stretches of 13 -foot concrete walls with chain link fences are planned to reduce noise and to eliminate pedestrians and bicycles. Nar- row shoulders that remain after paving most of the 100 -foot right-of-way will permit only mini- mal landscaping along an asphalt runway. Residents along Alii Drive will not gain es- cape routes. Mauka-makai connections "Iden - is used by the County as its expert to plan the highway. Towne needs the highway to get per- mits for its 400 -home project. Conflict of inter- est in HLLTP projections is a real question. Nev- ertheless, on August 20, Hawaii County Plan- ning Commission gave its blessing to construct a four -land, 4.6 mile Alii Highway. County planners believe that access to 80°16 federal funding of the highway depends on con- structing a four -land road. This is a misconcep- tion. Richelle Suzuki, Transportation Engineer at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), told us on September 211 "FHWA �" participates`iti )financing t'$ns�d`'` YFedeial=aid highways... that are not functionally classified as local or rural minor collectors. Re- gardless of the number of lanes of Alii High- way, as long as it functions as an arterial, it is eligible for Federal aid." New federal legislation can shape the Alii Highway into a community -friendly parkway. The 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21 st Century (TFA21) recognizes past mistakes and sets aside 40% of all transportation spending toward "transportation enhancements," which include bike and pedestrian lanes, landscaping, and other community -friendly improvements to roadways. We still have an opportunity to de- sign an Alii Parkway that reflects the community's lifestyle. Future residents of Kona will come for the same natural beauty and peaceful lifestyle that brought many of us. We need to convey to County planners a vision of economic develop- ment in harmony with the land. Preservation of' Kona's seaside environment and its unique cul- ture is good for business and our quality of life. The strongest force to protect our environment 11 is you—informed citizens. To have maximal 040.02 s' A r.d .noon i rs? it lot? land Wide Service, Call 8.82-7295 Mc -Waste Inc." ig Island oultry Inc . Producers of ISLAND FRESH BROWN MILE EGGS ,LE DISTRIBUTORS OF: /White Eggs zen Eggs ntibiotic-Free I{auge Chicken antibiotic Free Hanle Turkey y Cookcd ficady'I'o Slice Deli Meats cey Varieties Include: Pastrami, ey, Herb. Cajun, No Salt, Ham, er, Peppered,Salami, and Bologna 4 Lean Cluckenjurkev Products rsagcs. 1 -lot Dogs. Burgers, Lind Bacon eck ese Sausage Serving All Islands 1087 • Kapaau, HI 96755 5976 • FAX (808)889-5980 conceived and designeurtii i rutnway wui un- I travel within and between the neighbor- in u,cu uy un uu,u, . .,., ...,....:,-..... highway. Towne needs the hi d ay'to'get F lOs, add attractive landscaping, and provide Onits for its 400 -home project Conflict of int access to Kona attractions for residents and visa- est in HLLTP projections is a teal question N tors alike. eitheless, on August 20, Hawaii Count PI; We support a two-lane roadway with land- ning Commission gave its blessing to uunti scoped median and pedestrian and bicycle paths a four -land, 4.6 mile Alii Hil-hc, ay along the landscaped sides of the 100 -foot right- County planners believe th.ir :ace„ to 8( of -way, federal funding of the highsv.ry dcpciuh on c( We support many mauka-makai connecting structing a lour -and road This is a mnrunct streets to ease travel within Kailua neighbor- tion, Richelle Suzuki, Transponuuon b'u;me hoods and to increase the safety of residents at the Fedeial Hi,h«ko} AdnunisMiti( along Ah'i Drive, who are presentlyatrisk, from (FHWA), told us on September 21, "FHW�p tsunamis and major flooding. participates in financing the constructib# We support access from Alii Parkway to Federal -aid highways. .,thatarenot funcuona important Hawaiian historical/cultural sites classified as local or rural minor collectors.I along its path, with appropriate markers to tell gardless of the number of lanes of Alii Hi residents and visitors about the sites. We envi- way, ;is lung as it fune[ions as an siteiwl, i sion Alii Parkway as a valuable asset to the eligible for Federal aid." economic well-being of our Island and Kona New federal legislation can shape the A community. Highway into a community -friendly parka As currently planned, Ah'i Highway will The 1998Transportation EqunyAct loi the, move traffic rapidly from Keauhou to Kailua, Century (TFA21) recognizes pass mistakes skirting the most important cultural and histori- sets aside 40% of all transportation spend cal sites along the way. Due to its flat and fairly toward "transportation enhancement>," wt straight design, it will handle speeds up to 60 include bike and pedestrian lanes, landscap mph, despite lower posted limits. The County's and other communny-friendlvimprovement answer to improving South -North transporta- roadways. We still have an oppurtunin [o tion is to zip traffic through an historically sig- sign an Alii Parkway that rellects nificant area and to divide Kailda neighbor- community's lifestyle hoods with a four -lane speedway Future residents of Kona will come for Long stretches of 13 -foot concrete walls with same natural beauty and peaceful lilestyle chain link fences are planned to reduce noise brought many of us. We need to eunvey and to eliminate pedestrians and bicycles Nar- County planners a vision of ecunuinie level row shoulders that remain after paving most of ment in harmony with the land Prescrvano! the 100 -foot right-of-way will permit only mini- Kona's seaside environment and its unique c mal landscaping along an asphalt runway lure is good for business and our quality off Residents along Alii Drive will not gain es- The strongest force to protect our environn cape routes. Mauka-makai connections "iden- is you—informed citizens To have maxim tified" by the county, such as Lako Street, are impact on the Alii Highway plan, contact neither designed nor funded in the current plan Mayor and all members of the County Con Due to its four -lane width, this highway will to oppose approving the appruxmnetely S6 i slice into the mauka parking lot and restrict dis- lion required from the County to build it. abled access to the Kauhale Kahalu❑ State courage hiring consultants �� ho do not \wrl Housing complex. devclopcn and who undent,ind pant nine No sioplichi is planned at Kahakai Elcmcn- in hnLhway design Tell ,one ary School. A 3 -too[ high concrete barrier with mint approve the ullurauun o! ie ici.J hieh C1111111 link fencing is all that is des!gncd to pia- lands, to oppose (und!ng .in A!! i°I 11,11Wdy sect children walking to school will h;u m our community W!ih the L'n\ is Neatly 30 years ago, the County General Plan and detenrnnatiun of the Kon;. uun..ui!nt called for a two-lane arterial to divert tiuffic can have an Alii Parkway that will from Ah'i Drive. In 1988 the County upgraded live, and mike us proud ;