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Home My WebLink AboutAC-GK Environmental EA pre-comments-DRAFT William P. Kenoi BJ Leithead Todd Director Mayor Margaret Masunaga Deputy Director County of Hawai‘i PLANNING DEPARTMENT PUNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE  Aupuni Center 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720  Phone (808) 961-8288 Fax (808) 961-8742 November 13, 2012 Mr. Graham Knopp GK Environmental LLC P.O. Box 1310 Honoka`a, HI 96727 Dear Mr. Knopp: SUBJECT: Pre-Assessment Consultation for Pāhoa Village Shopping Center and Related Roadway Improvements Located at Pāhoa, Puna, Hawaii ‘ Tax Map Key: (3) 1-5-007:006, 069 & 070 This is in response to your letter dated July 19, 2012 requesting our comments regarding the Environmental Assessment (EA) being prepared for the proposed Pāhoa Village Road Shopping Center and the related roadway improvements over the portion of Pāhoa Village Road fronting the subject parcels and the State of Hawai`i owned roadway parcel (TMK 1-5-007:055) that will become the extension of Kahakai Boulevard. The Puna Community Development Plan (PCDP), as amended, was adopted by Ordinance No. 08-116 on September 10, 2008 and identifies “village centers” or “town centers” as the model on which Puna’s future land use pattern will be based. The PCDP designates Pāhoa as a Regional Town Center meant to provide a wide range of services and amenities to the communities in the region. The PCDP further stipulates that development of regional town centers should be guided by a plan “prepared through an inclusive community based process that involves major stakeholders, including landowners, community representatives, and public agencies.” At its February 14, 2012 meeting, the PCDP Action Committee voted to form a Pāhoa Plan Subcommittee that includes all members of the Pāhoa Community Plan Steering Committee (PPSC) as well as four Action Committee Members. The PPSC has been actively soliciting community input through an on-going survey of stakeholders since March 2012 and citizen-based working groups have organized to begin formulating recommendations for elements of the plan guided by that community input they have received. We understand that the applicant has requested input from the PPSC on the proposed project including suggestions for site layout and building design. Although design guidelines are expected to constitute Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Mr. Graham Knopp GK Environmental LLC November 13, 2012 Page 3 a significant element of the Pāhoa Plan, they are still in the process of being developed. Nevertheless, whether or not any design guidelines are actually adopted by the County by the time the subject project goes into actual design mode, consultation with the community via the PPSC is strongly recommended to help establish broad-based community support for the project. That being said the PCDP Action Committee applauds the proactive effort exhibited to date by the applicant and his agents in reaching out to the AC and the Pāhoa community. With regards to the specific Goals, Objectives and Actions of the Puna CDP we advise giving due consideration in the preparation of this EA to the following sections: Sec. 3.1.1.c. Services and community facilities are more accessible in village/town centers that are distributed throughout the region… Sec. 3.1.2.e. Target investments in public services and infrastructure to promote the development of village/town centers and, secondarily, to serve the peripheral subdivision areas. Sec. 4.3.1c. Roadways are pedestrian and bicycle friendly. Sec. 4.3.1.d. Traffic congestion and traffic-related health risks are reduced. Sec. 4.3.3.a.4) Include pedestrian and bicycling requirements in all projects. Sec. 4.5.1.d. Village/town centers incorporate walking and bicycling paths. Sec. 4.5.3.c. Invest in walkways, bicycle facilities, “park-once” lots, landscape improvements, themed signage programs and transit stops in approved village/town centers. Sec. 5.2.1 Zoning Designations …Future zone changes and State land use boundary amendments for the regional town centers and community village centers at Kea`au, Pāhoa, and Hawaiian Paradise Park shall be consistent with the LUPAG map designations of the General Plan… Sec. 5.2.3 Use and Design Standards Land uses, design themes and architectural and site design standards for each village/town center will be determined through the preparation of each regional town center or village plan and the rezoning approval process… Some existing locations are proposed for possible Special Design District treatment, as noted in Section 2.1.3, Action b. A Special Design District would provide more detailed design guidance on the development of village centers that exhibit historic development patterns that define a unique “sense of place.” The strongest canditates for Special Design District designation in Puna, in relative order are:  Volcano Village…  Pāhoa Town… Mr. Graham Knopp GK Environmental LLC November 13, 2012 Page 3 Thank you for the opportunity to provide these pre-consultation comments and we look forward to the opportunity to review and comment on the Draft EA when it is published. Should you have questions, please feel welcome to contact Larry Brown, PCDP Project Manager, at 961-8135 or lbrown@co.hawaii.hi.us. Sincerely, Dan Taylor, Chair PCDP Action Committee LMB: \\Coh33\planning\public\wpwin60\CDP\PUNA CDP\Action Committee\Communications\AC Correspondence\2012\AC-GK Environmental EA pre-comments-DRAFT.doc cc: Director, Office of Environmental Quality Control 235 South Beretania Street, Suite 702 Honolulu, HI 96813 BJ Leithead Todd, Planning Director Mr. Mark Hinshaw, Chair Pahoa Regional Town Center Plan Steering Committee RR 2, Box 4585 Pāhoa, HI 96778