HIGHLIGHTS OF SEPTEMBER 5, 2007 HCDA MEETING

Following is a summary of actions taken and information presented at the September 5, 2007 meeting of the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA).

Life Safety Improvement Projects in Kalaeloa

The Authority approved the expenditure of $250,000 of Kalaeloa Capital Improvement Project funds to design and construct life safety improvement projects in the Kalaeloa Community Development District.  These improvements will address safety conditions that need immediate attention.  Since becoming open to the public, roadways, parks, beach areas, and other publicly accessible areas in Kalaeloa have fallen into disrepair resulting in vandalism, arson and motor vehicle accidents.  The improvements are necessary to respond to the need for maintenance and public safety especially since use of the area is increasing.  Appropriations designated by the 2007 State Legislature will be used to accomplish projects such as:

• Installing sidewalks to new City subdivision standards
• Improving/installing streetlights on Roosevelt Avenue, Renton Road Extension, and Coral Seas Road
• Installing pavement markers and signs on Coral Seas Road (along s-curve) and on Roosevelt Avenue (along curves along the Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant in Kalaeloa)
• Installing vehicle radar speed signs as traffic calming devices in the Roosevelt Avenue “Pride Field” area and on Coral Seas Road (before the S-curve).

^{(The plan is to erect a streetlight mechanism and other safety features at the S-Curve on Coral Seas Road.)}

^{(The installation of a streetlight mechanism and other safety features at Roosevelt Avenue and the Renton Road Extension is planned.)}

These initial projects are the first group of life safety needs identified for Kalaeloa by the Kalaeloa Public Safety (KPS) workgroup that was organized to focus on public safety issues in the District.  KPS consists of representatives from City and County agencies (Department of Transportation Services, Department of Facility Maintenance, Department of Design and Construction); State Department of Transportation; Hawaii Public Housing Authority; Navy Region Hawaii/Security; Honolulu Police Department, U. S. Coast Guard; Hawaii Army National Guard; Federal Fire Department, and Hawaii Community Development Authority.

Assigment of Lease for the John Dominis Site in Kaka’ako Makai

HCDA members deferred action on a request to authorize the Interim HCDA Executive Director to consent to the assignment of the lease for the John Dominis site in Kaka‘ako Makai from Basin Project, Inc. to Ocean Investments LLC, pending receipt of additional information.

Phase IV of the 404 Piikoi Planned Development Project

K2 Investors LLC, the developer of the final phase of the 404 Piikoi Planned Development Project, gave an informational presentation to the Authority as it works to formulate the design of the Phase IV project.  K2 presented preliminary design concepts to HCDA to generate discussion and obtain feedback from HCDA members.  The development permit for the 404 Piikoi development was originally approved by HCDA in 1984.  It allowed for a mixture of residential, commercial and industrial uses on 17.25 acres of land generally bounded by Waimanu Street, Piikoi Street and Ala Moana Boulevard.  Over the years, the permit has been amended and modified several times and the project has also been redesigned.  Three phases that have been completed include the Nauru Tower (1992), 1133 Waimanu (1996), Hawaiki Tower (1999) and Ko‘olani (2006).

According to the permit, the proposed Phase IV tower would be allowed to develop approximately 349,429 square feet of floor area and will include general design parameters such as:  approximately 20,454 square feet of open space along Waimanu Street, a podium which shares the Ko‘olani podium’s existing driveway, a tower of up to 400 feet in height, and reserved housing units.  The design of the Phase IV Tower site, including the tower location, massing, height, and the tower’s distance from Nauru Tower, Hawaiki Tower and Ko’olani, will comply with the requirements of the permit.  Preliminarily, the Phase IV Tower footprint would be approximately 12,000 square feet and the building height would be 400 feet.  Ultimately, the building footprint and the number of floors and units will depend upon the mix of the proposed elements that receive HCDA approval, but the profile of the tower will essentially remain the same. K2 is estimating the development of 295 market units for the project.  Amenities would include a fitness center, water feature and swimming pool/spa, cabanas, walking paths, business center, resident lounge and screening room.

K2 is proposing to provide the reserved units on a nearby “Reserved Housing” site which could provide more reserved units than would be provided on the Phase IV site alone.

^{Preliminary Site Plan for 404 Piikoi Phase IV}

After meetings with HCDA staff, the original design for a standard residential complex on this Reserved Housing Site has been modified into a “residential urban village”.  The reserved units would be located in a low-rise building.  On the ground level, retail space would be provided along Piikoi and portions of Kona Streets, open space would be provided along Waimanu Street, and a residential lobby would be located next to the parking/loading areas for the building.  One- and two-bedroom units would be sited above the commercial space and parking area. The reserved housing units would be developed as condominiums for sale to  “gap-group” buyers.

The developer has offered to provide $2 million of “in-kind” contribution to HCDA for the construction of the Queen Street Extension Parks in exchange for approximately 57,000 square feet of supplemental floor area for the Phase IV site.  This exchange would allow the developer to build additional floor area and would also provide approximately 11 more reserved units than would have been required without the exchange.

If both proposals for the Reserved Housing Site and supplemental floor area are approved, a total of approximately 64 reserved housing units could be built.

^{A preliminary perspective of the Reserved Housing component.}

Once the developer’s plans are finalized, HCDA will conduct a public hearing on proposed modifications of the Kaka’ako Plan rules that would be necessary for the project to proceed.  K2 would like to begin construction on Phase IV by the end of 2008.

Update on the Kaka’ako Makai Community Planning Advisory Council

Since its first meeting on April 10, 2007, the Kaka’ako Makai Community Planning Advisory Council (CPAC), formerly called the Kaka’ako Makai Advisory Working Group (AWG), has met several times to formulate its bylaws and make a recommendation on the selection of a facilitator for Phase II of the planning process.  (Click here for more information on CPAC.)  The overall goals of Phase II are to:

1. Continue the process of forming the advisory group;
2. Ensure that the advisory group share an understanding of Kaka‘ako Makai background, waterfront planning principles, its unique character, and a Hawaiian sense of place; and
3. Develop recommendations for HCDA on a shared vision for Kaka‘ako Makai, guiding principles to guide planning and decision making, and a proposed next steps and funding sources including what should be accomplished in Phase III.

Following are a listing of recent actions taken by CPAC participants:

• On July 25, 2007, members of the AWG  changed their name to CPAC.
• At its June 25 meeting, the CPAC Facilitator Selection Committee recommended the selection of the Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace at the University of Hawaii to serve as the facilitator for Phase II of the planning process.
• CPAC is proposing a budget of $52,800 for the facilitation work for Phase II, expected to last one year.  (The Authority will act on authorizing the contract with the Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace at its October 3, 2007 meeting.)