HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0118.023 2018-2020 i
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COMM. 118. I f
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From: Kevin McLaughlin C-SUNTY OF E l AWA
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony supporting Comm. 118.11(Me 3 un 2 S i Meeting
Date: Tuesday,June 04,2019 9:17:27 AM �� }
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To: Hawaii County Council et al
Re: Comm. 118.11 (Memo No. 3) at June 5, 2019 Special Meeting
Aloha. My name is Kevin McLaughlin and I live in Waikoloa Village. I am also a member of
the South Kohala Community Development Plan Action Committee and I am a member of the
Board of Directors of the Waikoloa Village Association (the HOA for Waikoloa Village with
over 3000 members). Although I sit on those groups, I am representing only myself and
making my own comments.
I am strongly in favor of Council Member Richards' proposal to appropriate funds to make
needed safety improvements at the Waikoloa Rd/Paniolo Ave/Pua Melia St intersection.
As a Waikoloa Village Association Board member, I personally receive frequent feedback
from residents in Waikoloa Village that driving through the intersection is dangerous; and
pedestrians and cyclists feel unsafe and report having"close calls" with vehicles. I have had a
many conversations with Waikoloa Village residents about the intersection in the last two to
three years and they state or agree in every case that it needs improvements.
Tourists regularly misunderstand the intersection and stop inappropriately, causing dangerous
conditions at the intersection. This is frequently mentioned by other Waikoloa Village
residents and I see it myself multiple times every week.
Waikoloa Rd is a major traffic route for trucks, military convoys, tourists, students (especially
high school), and commuters, and traffic is increasing. Local developments, including the
Waikoloa Plaza shopping center and Kaiaulu o Waikoloa affordable housing located across
Waikoloa Rd from most of Waikoloa Village, residential housing development in Waikoloa
Village, and affordable housing development in Waikoloa Village at Kamakoa Nui will
continue to increase vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic through the intersection. It is also
worth noting that the Post Office for Waikoloa Village is located on Pua Melia St across
Waikoloa Rd from most of Waikoloa Village.
The County recognized decades ago that the intersection would need safety and capacity
improvements and added requirements to three developers' rezoning ordinances in the area,
but this has not worked out. The developers have not made any steps to develop their lands,
which would trigger their requirements to improve the intersection, and they show no signs of
doing anything in the future. One developer, Waikoloa Highlands, has even had their rezoning
revoked due to inactivity. Relying on developers didn't work in this case and the County needs
to take action. As a side note, for other projects in the future the County should explore of
other ways to get contributions from developers, such as putting funds in escrow accounts at
the beginning or at specific time milestones, regardless of development activity.
Moving on to implementation matters, I would like to make two brief suggestions. First, have
traffic engineering professionals do a study/survey of the intersection and give guidance on the
best solution (i.e. roundabout vs traffic signal). Then, if building a roundabout, plese ensure
there is provision for individuals with vision disabilities to cross safely, as, based on my
Comm. o ii
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Ref. To: S•AA
Ref. Date Ol3--
research on roundabouts; that is the main disadvantage of roundabouts vs traffic signals.
Mahalo and aloha.
Kevin McLaughlin