Comm. No. 2018-03 Pre-Consultation for Draft Environmental Assessment for the Pahoa Library Site Selection

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Comm. No. 2018-03 G70 925 Bethel Street January 5, 2018 5th Floor Honolulu, HI 96813 808.523.5866 Subject: Pre -Consultation for Draft Environmental Assessment www.gMdesign Pahoa Public Library Site Selection (Puna, Island of Hawai'i, Hawai'i) Dear Participant: On behalf of the State of Hawai'i Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS), G70 is currently undertaking the preparation of a Draft Environmental Assessment for the Pahoa Public Library Site Selection. Currently, the Puna region is served by three libraries, the Kea'au Public and School Library, the Mountain View Public and School Library, and the Pahoa Public and School Library. All three of these libraries are located in school complexes on State of Hawai'i Department of Education (DOE) land parcels due to a previous agreement between the Hawai'i State Public Library System (HSPLS) and the DOE. However, due to both the nature of school security issues, as well as the growing population in the Puna region, the HSPLS is looking to locate public libraries off of DOE campuses. The capital improvement project (CIP) budget for a new Puna District Regional Library was appropriated by Act 122, SLH 2014, in fiscal year 2014-2015. Three community focus group meetings were held in Kea'au, Mountain View, and Pahoa in October 2015 to gauge public input regarding desired uses and services to be provided by a new regional library. After meeting with community focus groups, HSPLS determined that two new libraries will better meet the needs of the Puna District instead of one regional library. One library will be located in Pahoa and the other will be located in Kea'au, in order to more adequately address the safety, environmental, and library use concerns of the Puna District. Based on the original request, the current CIP budget appropriation is allocated to the Pahoa area. HSPLS will be requesting additional funding to support the second library in Kea'au. Candidate Sites identified by the HSPLS were evaluated based on a range of criteria such as site characteristics, utilities, access, environment, planning and zoning, and community effects, in order to determine the most ideal site for the new Pahoa Public Library. Three finalist sites listed below were selected as a result of the evaluation process, with Site 1 being the preferred site (Refer to Figure 1.1 of the attachment). Site 1 - Pahoa Fire Station/Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Site 2 - Pahoa District Park Site 3 — Highway 130 Mauka (DLNR) Once a site has been selected, the new Pahoa Public Library is expected to be completed in one phase with approximately 9,000 square feet of enclosed and semi -enclosed building area and 30 parking stalls. This initial consultation process is being conducted to engage agencies and interested parties in the environmental review process of the three finalist sites. Enclosed, for your review and comment, is a handout providing a project information summary and overview of the proposed action. Please provide comments via email, fax, or U.S. Mail regarding the scope of the environmental assessment. We would like to receive these comments no later than February 5, 2018. Comments received subsequent to this deadline will still be considered. ARCHITECTURE ; CIVIL ENGINEERING /i INTERIOR DESIGN /i PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT