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Most of us who oppose this location for a KTA are realistic enough to know that population growth in Puna is a given. It's going to happen. What troubles me about this location is the door it will open for typical LA/Houston/Atlanta suburban sprawl along Highway 130. That road is already being expanded by a State DOT hell-bent on inflicting the Honolulu model of transportation development on us. IMHO, our only hope for minimizing the ill effects of such a transport model is to control the commercial development that will follow it.
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But now that we know the road expansion of Hwy 130 will not even start for several years (maybe as long as 2017)
http://ow.ly/4Fr88
..and considering how long the Honolulu model took to build with overruns....commercial development isn't going to wait for the road to be completed.
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Actually, having attended many Orchidland community association meetings in the past, I must admit, I thought the discussion of the KTA proposal was quite civilized and respectful. There was no time limit placed on the presenters, they made their case and asked for comments. They received comments (almost universally in opposition), but the comments were thoughtful and based on logical concerns. Several folks thanked KTA for recognizing the need for more stores down our way -- I think the general consensus was "good idea, bad location". But many of those who opposed the development also pushed to have a vote by the full membership (not just those attending the meeting) to ensure that any Board position reflect the entire community -- knowing full well that mainland owners might not be as sensitive to the concerns of local residents, and might vote in favor of the KTA plan (seeing it as something that might improve their property value).
The developers were aware of some of the concerns and noted that they have been monitoring the PunaWeb discussion about the issue. And maybe it was just my biased perspective, but I didn't get the sense that the developers and their consultant felt optimistic about the plan's chances even before they started their presentation. They noted that KTA would not proceed if they couldn't install a traffic light on 130 or if there was significant community opposition.
I understand KTA's concerns about the cost of infrastructure improvements that would be necessary to locate in any of the approved community centers within the developments, but it seems to me that they should pursue public/private partnerships (such as tax incentives, etc.) to offset these costs rather than trying to do an end-run around the existing CDP.
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If a signalised intersection was constructed and paid for by KTA and the store was located a block from 130 with a shopping center (Village Center) with proper infrastructure (roads,pavement,water,etc.) How would that be a bad thing?
Should all of the residents between Keeau and Pahoa have to drive to one or the other to shop? Try to imagine this when the lots are built-out, or even half built-out.
Dan
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Thanks for that insight, KeaauRich.
Certainly, the "good idea, bad location" rings true.
I've had a first look at the Application for a special use permit. Of several questions, I wondered about this statement (p14):
"The service area population is geared for 3,000 to 6,000 residents. While that is the focus, it should be noted that the project by its nature and location will also attract a wider population base;"
That number of residents -- 3,000 to 6,000 -- is half of what lives in HPP alone.
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quote:
There are plenty of NIMBY's who feel that now they have theirs that all growth should stop. How self-centered. Growth happens and steering growth is important and productive; resisting growth is not.
Again, as Rob and others have pointed out, it is not "self-centeredness" or "resisting growth" that is the issue for the people (that I know) who support the PCDP. The issue, as we have tried to explain, apparently unsuccessfully, is the location.
The PCDP goal was to create town, village and local centers that would preclude the strip-mallification of Highway 130. Auli'i is essentially a random corner on 130, not anything resembling a "center." If KTA is permitted to place their complex on the corner of Auli'i, even if it is landscaped, it's still a random corner of 130, touted by the owners who want to make money off of it. That's fine for them, but not for Puna. The complex will inevitably cause other developments to metastasize around it. This is not a village center or anything resembling a center.
And I really don't like stop lights on highways. Beyond the annoyance and waste of gas to go from 55 to stop and back up again, a highway stop light is a great place to be rear-ended. If KTA lands in a village center off 130, given the traffic it will generate, another roundabout like the one planned for Kahakai should be required.
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"If you think education is expensive, wait until you see how much stupid costs"
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quote:
Originally posted by DanielP
If a signalised intersection was constructed and paid for by KTA and the store was located a block from 130 with a shopping center (Village Center) with proper infrastructure (roads,pavement,water,etc.) How would that be a bad thing?
Should all of the residents between Keeau and Pahoa have to drive to one or the other to shop? Try to imagine this when the lots are built-out, or even half built-out.
If KTA was considering building in one of the designated village centers (such as the Orchidland Drive village center area) it wouldn't be a bad thing. But that's not what the developer is planning. He wants to create a new de facto village center on the main highway.
One concern is that if KTA is built at Auli'i and 130, then it and the developed area on Orchidland Drive would serve as bookends that would foster further commercialized development in between -- in effect creating a strip mall extending from Orchidland Drive to Auli'i. This is counter to what is envisioned by the CDP.
Many Orchidland residents are also concerned that we will be responsible for the increased road maintenance costs that will ensue from all the cars traveling into and through Orchidland to get to the KTA, which is a real concern since we are not able to properly maintain our roads as is. My understanding is that Auli'i is eventually envisioned to be a "right in, right out" only road, which means KTA shoppers wishing to head back towards Hilo would circle back behind the store onto 35th (a gravel road), and then down Orchidland. Until a light is installed at Orchidland Drive (in my lifetime? we'll see...), this means an increased backup of cars trying to thread the needle of cross traffic to enter 130. If you've tried to turn left from Orchidland to 130 recently, you know how difficult and dangerous this can be.
As I understand it, it is generally assumed that most/a significant percentage of the customer base for this store would be coming from HPP, so they would be crossing 130 and heading towards Pahoa, making it even more difficult to get out of Orchidland onto 130 (the KTA light would not be much help in this regard, since it it at the far end of Orchidland).
If KTA were to locate in one of the designated development areas (such as within HPP) many of these issues wouldn't be issues. But as the developer noted, this would entail a significant cost increase for construction, since a water main would need to be installed to bring county water into any site off the main highway. That's not something they are interested in at this point.
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Is a map available of PCDP village centers? And Connectivity?
Dan
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If you dig around at this site you will find what you are looking for:
http://www.hawaiicountycdp.info/puna-cdp
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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Pete and Rich both articulate, very well, key issues. Left turn across traffic are major causes of collisions and exactly what roundabouts take out of the equation.
About water in HPP: An onsite well is an option.
For what it is worth, because KTA is a locally-owned company, I hope they can work with the community to find an appropriate location (which, IMHO, Aulii and 130 is not). It would be worth looking at developing the commercial parcels in HPP exclusively with locally-owned businesses.
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