2017-04-10 Letter to Gordon Heit re Waianuenue Avenue Improvements (Rainbow Drive to Akolea Road)

Home

,;MtY OFq , .�P,••�_ ,'• Wil Okabe • tt ,��'• • Managing Director Harry Kim + q rk �s\,'1:+ Mayor _- .,,ems, • :..<•. *4. ' Barbara J.Kossow M�•+•".••�` • Deputy Managing Director ••, ' .TE•OF NF's • outtffirf othn`t Offirr of filo Atavor 25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo,Hawai`i 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy.,Bldg.C • Kailua-Kona,Hawaii 96740 (808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440 April 10, 2017 Mr. Gordon Heit Hawai`i District Land Agent Department of Land and Natural Resources, Land Division 75 Aupuni Street, Room 204 Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 Subject: Waianuenue Avenue Improvements (Rainbow Drive to Akolea Road) COH Job No. E-3802 Tax Map Key: (3) 2-3-030:002, 2-3-031:005 & 006 Pi`ihonua, South Hilo, Hawai`i Dear Mr. Heit: The County of Hawai`i (County)requests the set aside of 30 foot wide roadway parcels fronting Waianuenue Avenue along the subject parcels. The existing roadway currently encroaches up to seven(7) feet onto State lands along sections of Waianuenue Avenue. The roadway encroachment prevents the County from cutting trees back from the roadway to provide a safe clear zone. The roadway is narrow with drop offs along the road's edge, yet the growing trees and brush must be maintained. Our Department of Public Works is not able to safely maintain the large trees on this busy roadway without entering upon the State lands. The set aside of the 30 foot roadway parcels will also facilitate a future roadway safety improvement project along Waianuenue Avenue. The future project could improve sight distance at the Ka`ahumanu intersection, widen the roadway and install road shoulders. The project would have required additional land along the same State parcels. An Environmental Assessment is currently planned for the project. The County appreciates your assistance to set aside the 30 foot roadway strips along tax map keys (3) 2-3-030:002, 2-3-031:005 & 006 for roadway purposes. Attached maps showing the approximate location of the 30 foot strips along the subject parcels are included for your reference as Exhibits A and B. The County appreciates any assistance possible to expedite this request together with the inclusion of a Management and Construction Right-of-Entry to allow the County of Hawaii to proceed with the tree trimming and future planning. County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.