Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunication Number 2019-03 Smith Second Access Report Communication No. 2019-03 Excerpts from Waikoloa Subcommittee Report to SKCDP - AC 1/28/19 nd Regarding Waikoloa Village: 2 Access Road, focusing on GROWTH in Waikoloa Al l of Waikoloa Village is connected to the rest of Hawaii island by a single road, Paniolo Avenue, which intersects with Waikoloa Road, about 6 miles mauka of the Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway intersection and about 7 miles makai of the Mamal ahoa Highway. Commuters and stud ents from Waikoloa Village travel in and out of the Village on Paniolo Ave every day, joining with tourists, trucks, military convoys, and other traffic traveling up and down Waikoloa Road. Th e single - channel access to Waikoloa Village has long been ident ified as an issue that needs to be addressed sooner or later. It was the Number #1 priority in the SKCDP for Waikoloa Village in 2008. S everal studies over the years that have investigated possible routes for additional roads into and out of Waikoloa Vill age. These routes include roads W est down to Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway, roads No rth connecting to Kawaihae Road , or E ast to the Mamalahoa Highway, and other connections to Waikoloa Road west of Paniolo Ave. Land owners, developers ’ commitments, and stakeholders have changed considerably over the past dozen years, and no real progress has been made. In emer gencies prior to 2005, all traffic passed through the Paniolo Ave -Waikoloa Rd intersection. During the 2005 wildfire in South Ko hala that threatened the eastern and southern areas of the Village, this intersection was significantly impacted and at times was completely impassable due to lack of visibility from the smoke. The debrief on that fire with the community and County officials afterwards was contentious with the community demanding action. Th e County responded in 2006 by designat ing an extension of Hulu Street to the Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway as an emergency evacuation road. This single - lane emergency road is for west -bound traffic only by those exiting the Village, and mostly unpaved. It could fulfil its role as an alternate evacuation route out of the Village, albeit slowly, if the Paniolo Ave/Waikoloa Road intersection is closed due to an emergency. (Estimated evacuation t ime: 5 hours.) There are no options for residents or visitors to evacuate to Waikoloa from the South Kohala coastal areas in case of emergency if the Waikoloa Road/Paniolo Avenue intersection is closed. Wai koloa’s Growth in Population & Housing & Commer cial Development T he 2020 US Census is one year away, so accurate data on Waikoloa Village’s population is not available; however, prior Census data shows that the Village’s population grew substantially over the past twenty years, and that the trend continues. July 2017 Census estimates indicate an 8% increase in Hawaii County’s population to 200, 381, up from 185,079 in the official 2010 Census. Conservative estimates are that the Village has grown into a town of over 7,000 people. Year Big Island Population Waikoloa Population % of Growth (actual or estimated) 1990 2,248 N/A 2000 148,677 4,806 113% 2010 185,079 6,362 32% 2020 estimated 200,381 7,000+ 8% - 10% or more Communication No. 2019-03 Waikoloa housing units also increased, as did population density per square mile. (Source, U.S. Census) Year Density/Sq. Mile Density/House Housing Units 2000 251 107 2057 2010 356 170 3042 A l is t of on- going housing developments includes : Kamakoa Nui (County Workforce Housing Project) [1,000 units] Wehilani (Castle & Cooke) [756 units] Kilohana Kei [230 units] th 17 Fairway [27 units] Sunset Ridge [120 units] Waikoloa Bluffs [ ] Pua Malia (affordable) [ ] Kaiaulu ‘O Waikoloa [62 units] S tate development in Waikoloa: FUTURE PUBLIC LIBRARY . The 2018 legislature approved $1.9 million of funds to purchase land in Waikoloa to build a public library. Friends of the Library of Waikoloa hopefully project access in 2022. The library will be loc ated on a site purchased from Meridian Pacific (See below.) Commercial developments : Waikoloa Plaza is being developed by Meridian Pacific, Ltd. on 15.7 acres of prime real estate in Waikoloa located in the southwest corner of the main Village intersection. Access by motor vehicles to the Plaza will be off of Pua Melia Street (the street on the south side of the intersection at Waikoloa Road and Paniolo Avenue) with another ingress/egress off of the Waikoloa Road just west of the main Its promotional materials state that “Waikoloa Plaza will have a distinctive blend of tenants to provide [residents and] visitors needed daily service s, speciality shopping, entertainment and eateries in the continuously growing Waikoloa Village community.” Listed as “Signed Tenants” are: Aloha Petroleum, Ace Hardware, Foodland, Jeans Warehouse, Waikoloa Hair Salon, Crossfit Allstar, Family Health and Wellness, Fitness Forever [Gym], Island Holistic Healing, and eateries including Balsimo’s Pizza, Banzos, Christy’s Kitchen, The Bodhi Tree, Chef TK, L&L Hawaiian BBQ, Pudgee Panda, Strato’s New York Pizzeria, & SusHi. Meridan Pacific is still seeking a Dr ug Store tenant. Community members express concerns that the proposed shopping center near Waikoloa Village will exacerbate traffic issue s on the only road and at the major intersection. *Projections @ resulting increase visitor traffic in Waikoloa will be shared in the full report.