HomeMy WebLinkAboutAC-Knopp Kuwahara DEA Comments-DRAFTApril 9, 2013
Mr. Graham Knopp
GK Environmental LLC
P.O. Box 1310
Honoka` a, Hawaii 96727
Subject:
■
B.T. Kuwahara Private Commercial Development <
Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA)
Related Use of State Land
Dear Mr. Knopp,
The Puna Community Development Plan (PCDP) ti n Committee offers the following
comments on the subject DEA for your considerati
Section 3.3. — raffic should include a discussion on the use of a modern roundabout at the
Kahakai Blvd. and Pahoa Village Rd. intersection as an alternative to the construction of a traffic
signal. The PCDP (Sec. 4.4.2) identifies the use of the use of roundabouts as the preferred
intersection improvement for improving safety and traffic flow.
Further discussion in Sec. 3.3.2 on page 29 states that concurrent construction of the SR 130
roundabout by HDOT and the proposed project intersection is not expected. Given that the
HDOT currently plans to begin construction of the SR 130 roundabout in the summer of 2013
and completed in the summer of 2014 which appears to coincide almost exactly the construction
time frame for the Kuwahara project.
As stated under Future Traffic Conditions Without Improvements on page 27, the TIAR assumes
a 1% annual traffic increase due to population increase, which appears to be roughly half of the
24.5% total population growth in the Puna between 2000 and 2010. Additionally, the Census
Bureau has recently reported that the Hawaii Island population grew an additional 2.2%
between 2010 and 2012 and we believe that Puna continues to account for a disproportionate
contribution to county's overall population growth.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the subject DEA and we look forward to your
response to our concerns and comments.
Sincerely,
Patti Pinto, Chair
Puna CDP Action Committee
xc
Pahoa, HI 96778
BJ Leithead Todd, Planning Director
Director
Office of Environmental Quality Control
235 South Beretania Street, Suite 702
Honolulu HI 96813