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Home My WebLink About2016-18.2 Ad Hoc Report 5-11-16Greggor Ilagan Council Member District 4 — Puna Makai HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawaii 96720 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Communication 2016-18.2 Office: (808) 965-2712 Fax: (808) 965-2707 Email: gilagan@hawaiicounty.gov The Ad Hoc Committee on Puna Connectivity recommends the acquisition of land or easements and the construction of five connections to improve transportation between subdivisions and to provide alternate routes in the event of a road closure or other emergency. These routes will only connect the subdivisions through staggered connectivity locations. It does not propose creating a single public roadway through the private subdivisions. The Committee also recommends adding two additional connections between the subdivisions and Highway 11. Memoranda of Understandings will need to be executed between the subdivisions to ensure that these connections remain open. The County will require land acquisition or easements prior to planning for construction. - t . �9=30'30 3"N- 755`03'24 1"W.19 5054, -1550567) r ele .00 OPop -� r{� � • r r r � �r� Ir 01 40 ff ■ . . + t , IL 2 km `,�a' Hawai `i County Is an Equal Opportunity Provider And Employer Ad Hoc Committee on Puna Connectivity May 11, 2016 Page 2of12 BACKGROUND AND REVIEW OF PAST ACTIVITIES The purpose of this committee was established in Chapter 4 of the Puna Community Development Plan (CDP), which states: "Most roads in Puna's nonconforming subdivisions are privately owned, often in poor physical condition and not designed for through traffic. There are many missing connections between the road networks of adjacent subdivisions. The present circulation network, combined with the district's sprawl development pattern, results in a number of problems: • There is a lack of alternative routes for emergency access, especially when highways are blocked by a traffic crash or downed utility pole, or when there is an natural disasters such as a hurricane, tsunami, lava flow or earthquake that requires evacuation; • Highways become more congested during peak periods due to the lack of alternative roadways • Highway intersections with substandard private streets are dangerous due to inadequate lighting or intersection controls, combined with high traffic speed along the highway; • It is difficult for the County's Mass Transit Agency (MTA) to operate an efficient Hele-On Bus service that offers a viable travel option for a large number of Puna residents, especially those in more remote areas; • There are few facilities for walking or bicycling, even in more built-up areas; and • It can be threatening to cross Highways 130 and I I on foot. This is particularly true for youth, the elderly and the disabled. The Puna Community Development Plan seeks to promote more efficient and environmentally responsible travel by limiting demand for commuting and other trips, promoting mass transit and alternative travel modes; and providing alternate routes to reduce trip lengths and travel time." The Puna CDP establishes the goal of "adequate emergency and evacuation routes and connectivity throughout Puna's roadway network (4.3.1.a) and recommends the creation of "connectivity alignments between the following subdivisions: Hawaiian Acres and Fern Acres, Fern Acres and Kopua Farm Lots, Eden Roc and Fern Forest, Orchidland and Hawaiian Acres, Nanawale and Hawaiian Shores, Hawaiian Beaches and HPP, Kea`au Agricultural Lots and a site adjacent to Kea`au Elementary School, `Ohi`a Estates and Royal Hawaiian Estates. These inter -subdivision roads should be staggered, low -impact, and multi -modal." (Puna CDP, 4.3.3.a.5). The Puna CDP identified areas where such alignments could be made but did not go into detail. The Puna CDP Action Committee was established to carry out the recommendations of the plan; and the committee further delegated some of its work to the Connectivity and Emergency Response Subcommittee (CERS). Under the guidance of CERS Chair Marlene Hapai, and in close cooperation with Hawaii County Civil Defense, the Committee planned and executed the first Puna Regional Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Fair on August 31, 2013. One of the purposes of this fair was to solicit input from the community to help identify alternative Ad Hoc Committee on Puna Connectivity May 11, 2016 Page 3of12 connectivity points between subdivisions. More than 1,500 people participated in the event at Kea`au High School. The diligent work of the Subcommittee at the PREP Fair and at its meetings since then allowed for the gathering of public input and data to assist in resiliency efforts for the Puna District. The Subcommittee divided Puna into four broad regions — Volcano, Puna Uka, Puna Waena, and Puna Kai — and made a total of 48 options for road connectivity. This report was adopted by the Puna Community Development Plan on May 13, 2014. The connections, as well as the top three priorities for each region, were revealed to the public at the second PREP Fair, which was planned for August 30, 2014. The timing of this fair coincided with a disaster declaration as a result of the impact of Tropical Storm Iselle, and the district was days away from a second disaster declaration due to the approach of a lava flow from the June 27th outbreak. As a result, the second PREP Fair was well -attended by the public, and the Subcommittee received additional input to help it fine-tune suggestions and identify connections that were unfeasible or unwanted by residents. The County Council's Committee on Public Works and Parks and Recreation discussed, and approved on August 18, 2015, a request by Council Member Greggor Ilagan regarding the creation of the Ad Hoc Committee on Puna Connectivity. The members of this committee were identified as the council members who represented Districts 3, 4, 5, and 6, Puna CDP Action Committee Chair Patti Pinto, and Connectivity and Emergency Response Subcommittee Chair Marlene Hapai. The Ad Hoc Committee met on August 26, 2015, January 27, 2016, and May 11, 2016. In addition, the Committee made a field trip to selected sites along the Puna mauka subdivision corridor on October 30, 2015. DISCUSSION In reviewing the potential options for road connectivity in Puna, the Ad Hoc Committee decided to focus on connectivity among the subdivisions between Highways 11 and 130. Creation of these routes would improve circulation, ease burdens on the highway system, and achieve the goals of the Puna CDP. The Ad Hoc Committee further noted that the lava emergency of 2014- 2015 resulted in the creation of an unpaved emergency access route connecting Nanawale Estates to Hawaiian Shores, and Hawaiian Beaches to Hawaiian Paradise Park. This achieved the highest priority of the Puna Kai and Puna Mauka regions, and the access road will be available for use in future emergency situations. RECOMMENDATIONS The Ad Hoc Committee adopts and forwards to the Council the recommendations of the CERS dated May 3, 2016, as contained below: Ad Hoc Committee on Puna Connectivity May 11, 2016 Page 4 of 12 In order to create connections between the Upper Puna subdivisions, creating an alternate route from Volcano to Highway 130 that parallels Highway 11, we must acquire lots or easements at the borders of the subdivisions and/or develop road lots that belong to the subdivisions and establish Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) between the appropriate Community Associations. The MOUS are necessary to ensure that the road connections remain open and viable, regardless of the potential changing desires of the membership on Community Association boards. Property Acquisitions CL 914B This CL is an alternate to CL 14. It requires the purchase of Fern Acres lot TMK 9110380660000, assessed value of $20,000. Comps for this two acre lot in the area run $22,000 - $35,000. Ad Hoc Committee on Puna Connectivity May 11, 2016 Page 5 of 12 CL #4 This CL creates a connection between Fern Acres road lot Orchid Street and Hawaiian Acres lot TMK 4160180800000, assessed value of this 1.86 acres parcel is $24,700. Comps in Hawaiian Acres range from $18,000 to $35,000. Ad Hoc Committee on Puna Connectivity May 11, 2016 Page 6 of 12 CL #5 This CL creates a connection between Hawaiian Acres and Orchidland at Orchidland's Pohaku Drive. It requires the purchase of Hawaiian Acres lot TMK 9160580800000, assessed value of $16,000. Comps on three acre lots in Hawaiian Acres range from $20,000 to $40,000. Alternates to CL#5 Because of the seasonal flooding affecting CL#5, an alternate has been explored. At the most obvious connection at Orchidland Drive, the necessary properties all have structures. Two unbuilt up lots midway between cross streets could be purchased to create a connection between Hawaiian Acre's Pulelehua and Orchidland's Laniuma Dr. The first of these is TMK 4160600840000, a three acre lot in Hawaiian Acres, assessed value $16,000, comps ranging from $20,000 to $40,000. The second is TMK 9160120420000, assessed value of $26,000, Orchidland 3 acre comps ranging from $30,000 to $50,000. Ad Hoc Committee on Puna Connectivity May 11, 2016 Page 7 of 12 Easements and/or Property Acquisitions CL #2 This CL connects Eden Roc with Kopua Farm Lots at Eden Roc's Punahele Ave. It would require the purchase of the 20 acre parcel in Kopua, assessed value of $63,000. Comps in Kopua range from $90,000 to $130,000. If it is possible, we could seek an easement to cross the property to connect up with Aplele Road in Kopua Farmlots. The cost of this effort is unknown. Ad Hoc Committee on Puna Connectivity May 11, 2016 Page 8 of 12 CL #14 This is the preferred alternate to CL 93, which was considered unadvisable due to a refusal from the Kopua Farm Lot property owner. The advantage to CL 914 is that it is closer to Highway 11, thus making it easier to access and more importantly, it will create an additional exit route from Fern Acres. This CL requires an easement on the property lines of two large parcels. It would connect Kopua Road, a paved County Road with Puhala in Fern Acres. The cost of this project is unknown. Ad Hoc Committee on Puna Connectivity May 11, 2016 Page 9 of 12 CL 914B This CL is another alternate to CL 93 which proposed a connection between Kopua Farm Lots and Fern Acres at Kopua's Uahi Road. It will require an easement on the property lines of Kopua 20 acre parcels TMK # 111000440000 and TMK 9111000450000. The cost of this proposal is unknown. Memorandums of Understanding between Community Associations and Improvements to Existing Road Lots CL Al This CL will require improvement and maintenance of connections between Fern Forest and Eden Roc Estates utilizing the existing road lots belonging to their Community Associations. An MOU would be required between these two Associations as well as improvements to the road beds. Ad Hoc Committee on Puna Connectivity May 11, 2016 Page 10 of 12 CL #2 This CL will require improvement and maintenance of connections between Eden Roc and Kopua Farm Lots on the road lot belonging to Eden Roc, then connecting to an easement to cross the Kopua Farm Lot parcel (see CL 92 above). We would need an MOU between Eden Roc and Kopua Farm Lots. The cost of the road improvements both in Eden Roc and on the easement across the 20 acre parcel in Kopua is unknown. CL #14 This CL requires an MOU between the County of Hawaii and Fern Acres to open and improve the road lot of Puhala so it could connect up with the easement along the property lines of the two parcels fronting on Kopua Road. The cost of this improvement is unknown. CL #1413 The cost of creating a road bed along the easement of the two Kopua properties and across the Fern Acres lot is unknown. This connection to Pikake Street in Fern Acres would require an MOU between Kopua Farm Lots Community Association and Fern Acres Community Association. Ad Hoc Committee on Puna Connectivity May 11, 2016 Page 11 of 12 CL #4 This CL requires the improvement of Fern Acres Road Lot of Orchid Street, cost unknown and the creation of a road bed over the connecting Hawaiian Acres lot, cost unknown. An MOU between Fern Acres Community Association and Hawaiian Acres Community and Road Associations. �1 33 0 r.101 - CL #5 M al 1120-' This CL requires the creation of a road across the Hawaiian Acres lot to connect up to Orchidland's Pohaku Dr. The Pohaku Drive road lot would require improvement. The costs if these projects is unknown. An MOU between Hawaiian Acres and Orchidland Estates would be required. Alternate to CL 95 This project would require the creation of a road across these two lots from Hawaiian Acres to Orchidland Estates, cost unknown and an MOU between the two Community Associations. Ad Hoc Committee on Puna Connectivity May 11, 2016 Page 12 of 12 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Hawaii County Department of Public Works: Warren Lee, Neil Azevedo, Ben Ishii Hawaii County Planning Department: Hans Santiago Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency: Darryl Oliveira, Bill Hanson Hawaii County Mass Transit Agency: Tiffany Kai State of Hawaii Department of Transportation: Robert Taira Puna Community Development Plan Action Committee members Connectivity and Emergency Response Subcommittee members Council Members Greggor Eagan, Danny Paleka, Maile David, and Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, and their respective staff Concerned members of the public