5.0 RELATIONSHIP TO LAND USE PLANS, POLICIES AND ... - Hawaii€¦ · Chapter 5 Keālia Mauka Homesites RELATIONSHIP TO LAND USE PLANS, POLICIES & CONTROLS Final Environmental Impact

Chapter 5 Keālia Mauka Homesites RELATIONSHIP TO LAND USE PLANS, POLICIES & CONTROLS Final Environmental Impact Statement

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5.0 RELATIONSHIP TO LAND USE PLANS, POLICIES AND CONTROLS

5.1 StateofHawai‘i

5.1.1 STATELANDUSELAW(CHAPTER205,HRS)

TheStateofHawai‘iLandUseLaw,Chapter205,HRS,isintendedtopreserve,protect,andencouragethedevelopmentoflandsintheStateforusesthatarebestsuitedtothepublichealthandwelfareofHawai‘i’speople.TheStateLandUseCommission(LUC)classifiesalllandsintofourlandusedistricts:Urban,Conservation,Agricultural,andRural.TheentirePetitionAreaisintheAgriculturalDistrict,asshowninFigure5‐1.

TheProposedActionwillrequireaStateLandUseDistrictBoundaryAmendmenttoreclassifylandsfromtheStateAgriculturalDistricttotheStateUrbanDistrict.ApetitionforLandUseDistrictBoundaryAmendment(DocketNo.A17‐803)hasbeenfiledwiththeStateLUConbehalfofKeāliaProperties,LLC(“Petitioner”).ThePetitionerisseekingtoreclassifyapproximately53.4acresoflandfromtheStateLandUseAgriculturalDistricttotheStateLandUseUrbanDistrict,todevelopapproximately235residentiallotsrangingfrom5,600SFto7,300SFforemptylotsales.ThisFEIShasbeenpreparedtosupportthispetition.

Theoff‐siteinfrastructureimprovementsarenotincludedintheLUCPetitionArea.ProposedimprovementstoKeāliaRoad,theroundaboutatKeāliaRoadandKūhiōHighway,andtheinstallationofasewerlineextensionarepermissibleuseswithintheStateAgriculturalDistrict(§205‐4.5(6),HRS).

TheStateLUC,inaccordancewithChapter15‐15HAR(LUCRules,2013),mustspecificallyconsidertheextenttowhichtheproposedreclassificationconformstotheapplicableDistrictstandards.ThestandardsfordeterminingtheboundariesfortheUrbanDistrictincludeeight(8)areaswhicharelistedbelow,anddiscussedforthe53.4‐acrePetitionArea.

(1)Itshallincludelandscharacterizedby"city‐like"concentrationsofpeople,structures,streets,urbanlevelofservicesandotherrelatedlanduses;

Discussion:TheProposedActionwillcreateapproximately235singlefamilyhouselotsservedbymunicipalandprivateutilitiesandinfrastructure,includingdrinkingwater,stormwater,drainage,wastewater,electricalpower,andtelecommunicationssystems.ThePetitionAreaislocatedadjacenttoexistingsinglefamilysubdivisionsonKa‘aoRoadandHopoeRoad.OnthemakaisideofKūhiōHighway,therearesinglefamilyresidencesalongKamoleRoad.TheoceanfrontKeāliaKaisubdivisionisalsolocatedonthemakaisideofthehighway.


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(2) It shall take into consideration the following specific factors:

(A)Proximitytocentersoftradingandemploymentexceptwherethedevelopmentwouldgeneratenewcentersoftradingandemployment;(B)Availabilityofbasicservicessuchasschools,parks,wastewatersystems,solidwastedisposal,drainage,water,transportationsystems,publicutilities,andpoliceandfireprotection;and(C)Sufficientreserveareasforforeseeableurbangrowth;

Discussion:ThePetitionAreaisincloseproximitytoareasoftradingandemployment,includingKapa‘a,theisland’slargest(mostpopulous)townwhichistwomilesaway.Līhu‘e,thesecondlargesttownonKaua‘iandthecountyseat,islocatedapproximatelytenmilestothesouth.TheEastKaua‘iregion,whichstretchesfromLīhu‘etoMoloa‘a(andincludestheprojectarea),hasevolvedintoaprimaryregionforeconomicactivityandemployment.ItistheregionofKaua‘iwiththemostcommercialandindustrialspace,themostbusinesses,andthemostemploymentopportunities.EastKaua‘iiscurrentlythefocusofeconomicactivityontheisland,withresidentpopulationforecasttoincreasebetween35and40percentbetweennowand2040(CBRE,2017).

UtilityandinfrastructureservicewillbeprovidedtothePetitionArea.Thesubdivisionwillutilizeaprivatewatersystem.Publicservicessuchasschools,parksandbeachparks,policeandfireprotectionareavailablewithintheKapa‘aareatoservefutureresidents.TheProposedActionincludesconstructionofa4.3acrepark/detentionbasinatthesouthernentrytothesubdivisionwhichwillprovidepassiveopenspaceandserveasabufferbetweenthePetitionAreaandtheadjacentKa‘aoRoadsubdivision.Another1.5acredetentionbasinatthenortheasterncornerofthesubdivisionwillalsoprovideanopenspacebuffer.TheadjacentKeāliaTownTractKa‘aosubdivisionlocatedadjacenttothePetitionAreaiswithintheStateUrbanDistrict.SurroundingmaukalandstothewestandnorthwestarewithintheAgriculturalDistrict.Theseareasarenotunderactivecultivationandareusedprimarilyforgrazing.ThePetitionerhasnoplanstodevelopthesesurroundinglands.

(3)Itshallincludelandswithsatisfactorytopography,drainage,andreasonablyfreefromthedangerofanyflood,tsunami,unstablesoilcondition,andotheradverseenvironmentaleffects;

Discussion:ThePetitionAreaisreadilydevelopablewithsatisfactorytopographyanddrainageandisfreefromnaturalhazardpotentialsuchasfloodingortsunamiinundation.Theproposedinfrastructureimprovements,includingoff‐siteinfrastructureimprovements,arenotexpectedtoincreasesusceptibilitytonaturalhazardsorhaveotheradverseenvironmentaleffects.

(4)Landcontiguouswithexistingurbanareasshallbegivenmoreconsiderationthannon‐contiguousland,particularlywhenindicatedforfutureurbanuseonstateorcountygeneralplansorcountycommunityplansordevelopmentplans;

Discussion:ThePetitionAreaisimmediatelyadjacenttotheexisting36‐lotKa‘aoKeāliaTownTractsinglefamilysubdivision,andincludesanareaformerlyusedforplantationhousing.TherearealsothreeresidentiallotsonHopoeRoad.AnotherresidentialcommunityislocatedonKamoleRoadonthemakaisideofKūhiōHighway.TheoceanfrontKeāliaKaiisaluxurysubdivisionlocatedadjacenttoKeāliaBeachPark.In2016,theCountyofKaua‘ideterminedthattheProposedActionwasconsistentwiththeCountyGeneralPlanLandUsePlan,whichidentifiedtheprojectareaas“ResidentialCommunity.”The2018Kaua‘iKākouKaua‘iCountyGeneralPlan(CountyofKaua‘i,2018)wasapprovedbytheCountyCouncilandsignedintolawbyMayorBernardCarvalhoJr.onMarch15,2018.TheCounty’s2016determinationofconsistencywiththeGeneralPlanwas


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reaffirmedinaSeptember27,2018letterfromtheCountyPlanningDepartment(seeAppendixA).TheupdatedGeneralPlanLandUsePlanforEastKaua‘i,showninFigure5‐2,likewiseidentifiestheprojectareavicinityfor“ResidentialCommunity,”(seediscussionofstandard(5)below).

(5)Itshallincludelandsinappropriatelocationsfornewurbanconcentrationsandshallgiveconsiderationtoareasofurbangrowthasshownonthestateandcountygeneralplansorcountycommunityplansordevelopmentplans;

Discussion:TheStateLandUseandCountyzoningmapsshowmostoftheprojectareadesignatedforagricultureuse.The2000Kaua‘iCountyGeneralPlanLandUseMap(KawaihauPlanningDistrict),showedthenorthernportionoftheplanningareaasAgricultureandthesouthernportion(whichabutstheKa‘aoKeāliaTownTractsubdivision)asResidentialCommunity.InaBoundaryInterpretationforGeneralPlanDesignation(DepartmentalDeterminationDD‐2016‐70)datedJuly6,2016(seeAppendixA),thePlanningDepartmentstated“thereisclearintentinthe2000GeneralPlan,alongwithpreviousiterationsoftheplan,thatthe[Petition]areagenerallyisearmarkedfor“ResidentialCommunity”growthadjacenttotheexistingsubdivisioninKeāliaabovetheKeāliaGeneralStore.”Thatis,theproposedresidentialuseisconsistentwiththeintentoftheGeneralPlanLandUseMap.

TherecentlyupdatedGeneralPlan,Kaua‘iKākou(CountyofKaua‘i,2018)LandUsePlanforEastKaua‘ishowsasimilarResidentialCommunitydesignationasthe2000Plan.AsdeterminedbythePlanningDepartment’sBoundaryInterpretationofJuly6,2016,theProposedActionisconsistentwiththe2018updatedGeneralPlan.

InaletterdatedSeptember27,2018,theCountyPlanningDepartmentDirectorreaffirmedtheproject’sconsistencywiththeGeneralPlan,notingthat“Keāliawasearmarkedforgreaterresidentialcommunitydevelopmentgoingbacktothe1984GeneralPlanUpdate...Anyassertionsthatthe2018GeneralPlanupdaterequiredearmarkingthisareaasachangefrompreviousdraftsareunfounded,asthepotentialfordevelopmentwasconfirmedascountyspatialpolicyforcloseto35years.”

The53.4acreprojectareaPetitionAreawasalsousedhistoricallyasaplantationcamp(NewKumukumuCamp).Thisplantationcampincludedimprovedroads,waterandcommunicationsinfrastructure,andbuildings,andremnantsofthesestructuresremaintoday.

TheKaua‘iCountyzoningmap,showninFigure5‐3showsthemajorityofthePetitionAreaintheAgriculturalzone,whichisconsistentwithitslocationintheStateAgriculturalDistrict.ThezoningmapshowssmallportionsoftheprojectareathatabuttheKa‘aoRoadKeāliaTownTractsubdivisionwithintheResidentialzone,althoughthismaybeamappingdiscrepancy.

(6)Itmayincludelandswhichdonotconformtothestandardsinparagraphs(i)to(5):(A)Whensurroundedbyoradjacenttoexistingurbandevelopment;and(B)Onlywhenthoselandsrepresentaminorportionofthisdistrict;

Discussion:ThePetitionAreaislocatedadjacenttoanexistingurbandevelopment(residentialsubdivision)andwasdeterminedbytheCountyPlanningDepartmenttobeconsistentwiththeGeneralPlanLandUsedesignationasResidentialCommunity.


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(7)Itshallnotincludelands,theurbanizationofwhichwillcontributetowardscatteredspoturbandevelopment,necessitatingunreasonableinvestmentinpublicinfrastructureorsupportservices;and

Discussion:ThePetitionAreaisadjacenttoanexistingresidentialareacurrentlyservedbyaprivatewatersystem,electrical,androadwayinfrastructureandwillnotcontributetoscatteredspoturbandevelopment.ThePetitionerwillconstructorparticipateindevelopingalladditionalinfrastructurerequiredtoservicethesubdivision.Thisincludesconnectiontotheprivatewatersystem,municipalwastewatersystem,improvementstoKeāliaRoad,andconstructionofaroundaboutatKeāliaRoadandKūhiōHighway.Public(andprivate)infrastructureandsupportservicesarelocatedwithinreasonableproximity,andareadequatetoaccommodatethesubdivision.Itisanticipatedthatmost,ifnotallfutureresidentsofthehomesitesarecurrentKaua‘iresidents,andarealreadybeingservedbycommunityservicesuchasschools,hospitals,andpoliceandfireprotection.TheProposedActionwillnotcauseasignificantincreaseinthenumberofnewresidentsneedingpublicservices.Outof700projectedsubdivisionresidents,658areexpectedtobeexistingKaua‘iresidents.Theother42personsmaybevacation/secondhomeownersnewtoKaua‘i(CBRE,2017),andwillcauseaslightincreaseindemandforpublicservices.

(8)Itmayincludelandswithageneralslopeoftwentypercentormoreifthecommissionfindsthatthoselandsaredesirableandsuitableforurbanpurposesandthatthedesignandconstructioncontrols,asadoptedbyanyfederal,state,orcountyagency,areadequatetoprotectthepublichealth,welfareandsafety,andthepublic'sinterestsintheaestheticqualityofthelandscape.

Discussion:ThePetitionAreadoesnotincludeanylandswithslopesabove20percent.ThelandslopesgraduallyupwardfromKūhiōHighwaytothemaukamostareas,withslopesabout3percent.

5.1.2 ENVIRONMENTALIMPACTSTATEMENTS(CHAPTER343,HRS)

AChapter343environmentalreviewisrequiredduetotheproject’suseofStateofHawai‘iandCountyofKaua‘ilandsassociatedwithinfrastructureimprovementwithinpublicroadways,includingKūhiōHighwayandKeāliaRoad.

5.1.3 STATEENVIRONMENTALPOLICY(CHAPTER344,HRS)

5.1.3.1ENVIRONMENTALPOLICY

ThepurposeofHRSChapter344istoestablishastatepolicywhichwillencourageproductiveandenjoyableharmonybetweenpeopleandtheirenvironment,promoteeffortswhichwillpreventoreliminatedamagetotheenvironmentandbiosphereandstimulatethehealthandwelfareofhumanity,andenrichtheunderstandingoftheecologicalsystemsandnaturalresourcesimportanttothepeopleofHawaii.Chapter344setsthepolicyofthestatethroughitsprograms,authoritiesandresourcesto:

(1)Conservethenaturalresources,sothatland,water,mineral,visual,airandothernaturalresourcesareprotectedbycontrollingpollution,bypreservingoraugmentingnaturalresources,andbysafeguardingtheState’suniquenaturalenvironmentalcharacteristicsinamannerwhichwillfosterandpromotethegeneralwelfare,createandmaintainconditionsunderwhichhumanityandnaturecanexistinproductiveharmony,andfulfillthesocial,economic,andotherrequirementsofthepeopleofHawaii.


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(2)Enhancethequalityoflifeby:

(C)Establishingcommunitieswhichprovideasenseofidentity,wiseuseofland,efficienttransportation,andaestheticandsocialsatisfactioninharmonywiththenaturalenvironmentwhichisuniquelyHawaiian;and

Discussion:TheProposedActionisintendedtocreateanewresidentialcommunityandprovidehousingopportunitiesforlocalresidents,addressingtheisland’sunmethousingdemand.Theproposedsiteisappropriatefordevelopmentinphysicalcharacteristicsandlocation.Short‐term,constructionperiodimpactstoairquality,noiseandwaterqualitywillbeaddressedthroughconstructionbestmanagementpractices(BMP).Long‐termtrafficimpactswillbeaddressedthroughimprovementstoKeāliaRoadandconstructionofaroundaboutatitsintersectionwithKūhiōHighway.

5.1.3.2ENVIRONMENTALGUIDELINES

Inpursuanceofthestatepolicytoconservethenaturalresourcesandenhancethequalityoflife,allagencies,inthedevelopmentofprograms,shall,insofaraspracticable,considerguidelinesrelatedto1)population;2)land,water,mineral,visual,airandothernaturalresources;3)floraandfauna;4)parks,recreationandopenspace;5)economicdevelopment;6)transportation;7)energy;8)communitylifeandhousing;9)educationandculture;and10)citizenparticipation.TheproposedKeāliaMaukaprojectisconsistentwiththefollowingguidelines:

(2)Land,water,mineral,visual,air,andothernaturalresources.

(A)Encouragemanagementpracticeswhichconserveandfullyutilizeallnaturalresources

Discussion:Theproposedsubdivisionwillbedesignedandconstructedinaccordancewithsoundmanagementpractices.ConstructionBMPswillbeemployedtoaddressconstructionperiodnoise,dust,andstormwaterrunoff.Extensivegradingorcutandfillisnotrequired.Therearenowetlands,floodproneareas,orsensitivenaturalresourcesinthePetitionArea.Therewillbenoadverseimpacttofederallylistedspecies.Vegetateddetentionbasinswillbeincludedonsitetocontrolstormwaterrunoffandprovidegreenopenspaceareas.

(8)Communitylifeandhousing.

(A)Fosterlifestylescompatiblewiththeenvironment;preservethevarietyoflifestylestraditionaltoHawaiithroughthedesignandmaintenanceofneighborhoodswhichreflectthecultureandmoresofthecommunity;

(B)Developcommunitieswhichprovideasenseofidentityandsocialsatisfactioninharmonywiththeenvironmentandprovideinternalopportunitiesforshopping,employment,education,andrecreation;

(D)Fostersafe,sanitary,anddecenthomes;

Discussion:ThepurposeoftheProposedActionistoprovideresidentiallotstargetedtoKaua‘iresidents.Bysellingvacantlots,buyerswillbeabletoconstructtheirownhomesaccordingtotheirpreferencesandatatimemostappropriatefortheirindividualsituation.ThissupportstheguidelinesofpreservinglifestylestraditiontoHawai‘iandcreatingneighborhoodsthatreflectthecultureandmoresofthecommunity.Theproject’sEastKaua‘ilocation,inproximitytoKapa‘a


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Townanditssupportingservices,providesfutureresidentswithopportunitiesforshopping,employment,education,andrecreation.

5.1.4 HAWAI‘ISTATEPLAN(CHAPTER226,HRS)

TheHawai‘iStatePlan,embodiedinChapter226HRS,servesasaguideforthefuturelong‐rangedevelopmentoftheStateofHawai‘i.TheStatePlanidentifiesgoals,objectives,policies,andprioritiesforthedevelopmentandgrowth.Itprovidesabasisforprioritizingandallocatingthelimitedresourcessuchaspublicfunds,services,humanresources,land,energy,andwater.

TheProposedActionconformstomostapplicablegoals,objectives,policiesandpriorityguidelinesoftheHawai‘iStatePlan.ThefollowinganalyzesprojectimpactswithrespecttorelevantStatePlangoals,objectives,policiesandpriorityguidelines.

5.1.4.1SECTION226‐5,OBJECTIVESANDPOLICIESFORPOPULATION

Objective: Itshallbetheobjectiveinplanningforthestate’spopulationtoguidepopulationgrowthtobeconsistentwiththeachievementofphysical,economicandsocialobjectivescontainedinthischapter.

Policies:

(b)(1)ManagepopulationgrowthstatewideinamannerthatprovidesincreasedopportunitiesforHawaii'speopletopursuetheirphysical,social,andeconomicaspirationswhilerecognizingtheuniqueneedsofeachcounty.(b)(3)PromoteincreasedopportunitiesforHawaii'speopletopursuetheirsocio‐economicaspirationsthroughouttheislands.

Discussion:Theproposedsubdivisionwillprovideresidentiallotsfrom5,600SFto7,300SFinsize,andisintendedtoaddresstheCounty’sresidentialinventoryshortage,respondingtothesocialandeconomicaspirationsofKaua‘iresidents.TheselotswillbesizedandpricedtotargetKaua‘iresidentsandwilltherebyincreaseopportunitiesforfamiliestoattainthegoalofhomeownership.TheprojectwillcomplywiththeCountyofKaua‘i’sHousingPolicyregardingtheprovisionofworkforcehousing.Theprojectwillnotincreasepopulationgrowthstatewide,asthemajorityoffutureKeāliaMaukaresidentsarecurrentlyresidentsofKaua‘iCounty.

5.1.4.2SECTION226‐11,OBJECTIVESANDPOLICIESFORTHEPHYSICALENVIRONMENT‐‐LAND‐BASED,SHORELINE,ANDMARINERESOURCES.

Objectives: PlanningfortheState'sphysicalenvironmentshallbedirectedtowardsachievementoftheobjectiveofenhancementofHawaiʻi'sscenicassets,naturalbeauty,andmulticultural/historicalresources.

(2)EffectiveprotectionofHawaiʻi'suniqueandfragileenvironmentalresources.

Policies:

(b)(2)Ensurecompatibilitybetweenland‐basedandwater‐basedactivitiesandnaturalresourcesandecologicalsystems.(b)(3)Takeintoaccountthephysicalattributesofareaswhenplanninganddesigningactivitiesandfacilities.


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(b)(4)Managenaturalresourcesandenvironstoencouragetheirbeneficialandmultipleuseswithoutgeneratingcostlyorirreparableenvironmentaldamage.

Discussion:Theproposedsubdivisionisnotlocatedontheshoreline.Itwillincorporateprinciplesofsoundphysicalplanningtomanagenaturalresourcesandtoprotecttheenvironment.On‐siteinstallationofroadsandutilitiesinfrastructurewithinthePetitionAreawilltakeintoaccountthephysicalattributesofthesite.Bestmanagementpracticeswillbeimplementedduringsiteworktoreduceandminimizeerosionandrunoff.Theinclusionoftwodetentionbasinsonsitewilldetainoff‐siteflowsandallowparticulatesandpollutantstosettleout.Oneofthedetentionareaswillalsoserveasaparkforpassiverecreation,andanopenspacebufferfortheadjacentsubdivision.Thiswillmitigatethepotentialadverseeffectsofchanginglandusefromagriculture/grazing/fallowtourbandevelopment.Withthedetentionbasins,therewillbenonetincreaseinexistingflowsduringstormconditions.Therewillbenonetincreaseinrunofffromthesiteandnoadverseimpactstonearshorecoastalwaters.

Off‐siteimprovementswillbemadetoexistingroadwayandutilityinfrastructure.ThenewroundaboutattheKeāliaRoad‐KūhiōHighwayintersectionisnearthecoastalareaandwithinanareasubjecttocoastalhazards.Theroundaboutwillbelimitedtothehighwayright‐of‐way.Constructionofoff‐siteroadandutilityimprovementsisnotexpectedtoaffectmarineresources,andBMPswillbeimplementedtopreventdegradationofmarinewaterquality.

5.1.4.3SECTION226‐12,OBJECTIVEANDPOLICIESFORTHEPHYSICALENVIRONMENT‐‐SCENIC,NATURALBEAUTY,ANDHISTORICRESOURCES.

Objective:PlanningfortheState'sphysicalenvironmentshallbedirectedtowardsachievementoftheobjectiveofenhancementofHawaiʻi'sscenicassets,naturalbeauty,andmulticultural/historicalresources

Policies:

(b)(1)Promotethepreservationandrestorationofsignificantnaturalandhistoricresources.(b)(3)Promotethepreservationofviewsandvistastoenhancethevisualandaestheticenjoymentofmountains,ocean,sceniclandscapes,andothernaturalfeatures.(b)(4)Protectthosespecialareas,structures,andelementsthatareanintegralandfunctionalpartofHawaii'sethnicandculturalheritage

Discussion:ThePetitionAreaisnotpartofasceniccorridororpublicviewshed.ThesubdivisionwillnotbevisiblefromtheKeāliashoreline.AlthoughthefuturehomeswillinterferewiththemaukaviewfromashortsectionofKūhiōHighway,formostobservers,thiswillonlybevisibleforafewsecondsfromapassingcar.Muchofthemaukaviewalongthisstretchofhighwayisalreadyobscuredbyexistingvegetationalongtheroadside.TheopenspaceviewsfromKeāliaRoadlookingtowardthePetitionAreasitewillbealtered,especiallyforresidentsoftheadjacentKa‘aoRoadKeāliaTownTractsubdivision.TheprojectproposesagreenspacebufferbetweentheKa‘aoRoadsubdivisionKeāliaTownTractandthePetitionAreaprojecttomitigatethisvisualimpact.

Theareaanditssurroundinglandswereusedforcommercialsugarcultivationandoperationsformuchofthetwentiethcentury,andarchaeologicalstudieshaveidentifiedanumberofhistoricremnantsassociatedwiththatuseonthesite.ApriorArchaeologicalInventorySurveythatincludedthecurrentPetitionArea(Drennanetal.,2006)recommendednoadditionalarchaeologicalwork.


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The2017LiteratureReviewandFieldInspection(LRFI)fortheKeāliaMaukaHomesitesprojectconductedbyCulturalSurveysHawai‘iconcludedthattheProposedActionwillrequiretheremovaloftwohistoricpropertiesinthePetitionArea.Thesepropertieswereassociatedwithmodernagriculturalactivities.Thisisanadverseimpactbutnofurtherarchaeologicalworkwasrecommended.AttherequestoftheStateHistoricPreservationDivision(SHPD),asupplementalArchaeologicalInventorySurvey(AIS)wascompletedin2019.TheAISrecommendedthatarchaeologicalmonitoringbeconductedduringgrounddisturbingactivitiesinthelocationofthesehistoricproperties,aswellasduringconstructionoftheproposedroundaboutandalongtherouteofthesewerlineextension.AnArchaeologicalMonitoringPlanwillbepreparedandapprovedbytheStateHistoricPreservationDivisionpriortoconstruction.

Intheeventthatanysignificantarchaeologicalresourcesareencounteredduringfutureconstructionactivities,allworkintheimmediateareawillbehaltedandconsultationwithSHPDsoughtinaccordancewithapplicableregulations.ThetreatmentofanyremainsorartifactswillbeinaccordancewithproceduresrequiredbytheKaua‘iHistoricPreservationReviewCommissionandtheKaua‘i‐Ni‘ihauIslandBurialCouncil.

Theone‐milesectionofKūhiōHighwaywherethenewsewermainwillbeinstalledispartofascenicroadcorridor.Visualimpactsduetoroadsidetrenchingandutilityinstallationwillbetemporary.Therewillbenolong‐termimpactstoviewsandvistasalongKūhiōHighway.

5.1.4.4SECTION226‐13,OBJECTIVESANDPOLICIESFORTHEPHYSICALENVIRONMENT‐‐LAND,AIR,ANDWATERQUALITY.

Objectives: PlanningfortheState’sphysicalenvironmentwithregardtoland,air,andwaterqualityshallbedirectedtowardsachievementofthefollowingobjectives:

(1)MaintenanceandpursuitofimprovedqualityinHawaiʻi'sland,air,andwaterresources.

(2)GreaterpublicawarenessandappreciationofHawaiʻi'senvironmentalresources.

Policies:

(b)(2)PromotethepropermanagementofHawaiʻi’slandandwaterresources.(b)(3)PromoteeffectivemeasurestoachievedesiredqualityinHawaiʻi’ssurface,groundandcoastalwaters.(b)(4)Encourageactionstomaintainorimproveauralandairqualitylevelstoenhancethehealthandwell‐beingofHawaiʻi’speople.(b)(5)Reducethethreattolifeandpropertyfromerosion,flooding,tsunamis,hurricanes,earthquakes,volcaniceruptions,andothernaturalorman‐inducedhazardsanddisasters.(6)EncouragedesignandconstructionpracticesthatenhancethephysicalqualitiesofHawaiʻi’scommunities.(b)(7)Encourageurbandevelopmentsincloseproximitytoexistingservicesandfacilities.

Discussion:TheKeāliaMaukaHomesiteswillincorporatedesignprinciplesandfeaturesthatpromotewaterandenergyconservation.ThePetitionAreaislocatedoutsideofthefloodandtsunamihazardareas.ItisnotwithintheCounty’sdamevacuationarea,althoughlowerportionsofKeāliaRoadare.Thesubdivisionplanincludesopenspaceareastoprovidestormwaterretentiononsite,andwhichwillalsoprovideresidentswithpassiverecreationandopenspace.ThePetition


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Areaprojectsiteiswithinproximitytoandcompatiblewithexistingresidentialdevelopment,andisconvenienttoexistingpublicservicesandfacilitiesintheKapa‘aregion.

Bestmanagementpracticeswillbedevelopedduringthedesignphaseandfollowedduringallonandoff‐siteconstructionworktomitigateadverseimpactstolandandwaterresources.

5.1.4.5SECTION226‐15,OBJECTIVESANDPOLICIESFORFACILITYSYSTEMS—SOLIDANDLIQUIDWASTES.

Objectives: PlanningfortheState’sfacilitysystemswithregardtosolidandliquidwastesshallbedirectedtowardstheachievementofthefollowingobjectives:

(1)Maintenanceofbasicpublichealthandsanitationstandardsrelatingtotreatmentanddisposalofsolidandliquidwastes.

(2)Provisionofadequateseweragefacilitiesforphysicalandeconomicactivitiesthatalleviateproblemsinhousing,employment,mobility,andotherareas.

Policies:

(b)(1)Encouragetheadequatedevelopmentofseweragefacilitiesthatcomplementplannedgrowth.

Discussion:ThesubdivisionwillconnecttotheCounty’sWailua‐Kapa‘awastewatercollectionsystem.Theproposedsewersystemwillincludeonandoff‐siteimprovements,includinganewsewermainonKeāliaRoad,whichwillcontinuesouthonKūhiōHighwaytoanexistingmanholeneartheKaiakeaFireStation.AsdiscussedinSection4,projectcivilengineershaveconsultedwiththeCounty’sWastewaterManagementDivisiontodeterminethefeasibilityofutilizingtheexistingmunicipalwastewatercollectionsystemandtheWailuaWastewaterTreatmentPlant(WWTP).TheCountyWastewaterManagementDivisionhasindicatedthatservicetothesubjectdevelopmentisfeasible,butthatdetailedstudiesandagreementswillbenecessaryinordertoobtainCountycommitmentsforservice.

ResidentialsolidwastewillbecollectedbytheCounty,asisdoneattheadjacentKa‘aoKeāliaTownTractsubdivision.Noadverseimpactsareanticipated.

5.1.4.6SECTION226‐16,OBJECTIVESANDPOLICIESFORFACILITYSYSTEMS‐‐WATER.

Objectives: PlanningfortheState’sfacilitysystemswithregardtowatershallbedirectedtowardsachievementoftheobjectiveoftheprovisionofwatertoadequatelyaccommodatedomestic,agricultural,commercial,industrial,recreational,andotherneedswithinresourcecapacities.

Policies:

(b)(1)Coordinatedevelopmentoflanduseactivitieswithexistingandpotentialwatersupply.

Discussion:Existingresidentialusesinthevicinity,includinglotsalongKa‘aoandHopoeRoad,areservedbyaprivatedomesticwatersystem(KeāliaWaterSystem),ownedbytheKeāliaWaterCompanyHoldingsLLC.ThePetitionerhasanagreementwiththeKeāliaWaterCompanytoreservedrinking(potable)waterserviceforfuturehomeownersinthePetitionArea.Theallocationunder


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theexistingwateragreementwillbeadequatetoprovidefortheproject’swaterrequirement.Noadverseimpactstootherwaterusersisanticipated.

5.1.4.7SECTION226‐19,OBJECTIVESANDPOLICIESFORSOCIO‐CULTURALADVANCEMENT‐‐HOUSING.

Objectives: PlanningfortheState'ssocio‐culturaladvancementwithregardtohousingshallbedirectedtowardtheachievementofthefollowingobjectives:

(1)GreateropportunitiesforHawaii'speopletosecurereasonablypriced,safe,sanitary,andlivablehomes,locatedinsuitableenvironmentsthatsatisfactorilyaccommodatetheneedsanddesiresoffamiliesandindividuals,throughcollaborationandcooperationbetweengovernmentandnonprofitandfor‐profitdeveloperstoensurethatmorerentalandforsaleaffordablehousingismadeavailabletoextremelylow‐,verylow‐,lower‐,moderate‐,andabovemoderate‐incomesegmentsofHawaii'spopulation.

(2)Theorderlydevelopmentofresidentialareassensitivetocommunityneedsandotherlanduses.

Policies:

(b)(1)EffectivelyaccommodatethehousingneedsofHawaii'speople.(b)(2)Stimulateandpromotefeasibleapproachesthatincreasehousingchoicesforlow‐income,moderate‐income,andgap‐grouphouseholds.(b)(3)Increasehomeownershipandrentalopportunitiesandchoicesintermsofquality,location,cost,densities,style,andsizeofhousing.(b)(5)Promotedesignandlocationofhousingdevelopmentstakingintoaccountthephysicalsetting,accessibilitytopublicfacilitiesandservices,andotherconcernsofexistingcommunitiesandsurroundingareas.(b)(6)Facilitatetheuseofavailablevacant,developableandunderutilizedurbanlandsforhousing.(b)(7)FosteravarietyoflifestylestraditionaltoHawaiʻithroughthedesignandmaintenanceofneighborhoodsthatreflectthecultureandvaluesofthecommunity.

Discussion:ThepurposeoftheProposedActionistohelpsatisfytheneedforhousingontheislandofKaua‘i,byprovidingresidentiallotsthataretargetedspecificallytolocalresidents.TheProposedActionwillprovideapproximately235workforceandmarkethousingunits.ThiswillhelpalleviateaprojectedhousingshortfallthatwillnotbemetbyotherplanneddevelopmentsintheLīhu‘e/EastKaua‘iregion.

Theproposedlotsareconsistentwithtypicaldensitiesintheisland’sexistingsinglefamilyresidentialcommunities,andrespondtolocalmarketpreferences.Offeringimproved,developablelotswithinfrastructuregivesbuyerstheopportunitytoconstructthetypeofhousethatbestmeetstheirneeds,withintheirpricerangeandtimetable.Theremayalsobebulkpurchaserswhowillconstructthefinishedhomesandofferthemforsale,providinganotheralternativeforprospectivehomeowners.TheproposedprojectwillbeincompliancewiththeHousingPolicyfortheCountyofKaua‘i,OrdinanceNo.860,includingtherequirementforworkforcehousing.

ThePetitionAreaisformeragriculturallandthatisunderutilized,andcurrentlyservingaspasturewithminimalsocialoreconomicbenefittotheoverallregion.ThegrazinglesseehasbeenprovidedwithalternativegrazinglandwithintheKeāliaareatocompensateforthelossofthe53.4‐acre


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PetitionArea.Therewillstillbemorethanadequateremainingpasturelandinthesurroundingarea.ThelocationofthePetitionAreaisconvenienttocommercialactivitiesandarangeofpublicservices.ItisalsoconvenienttomajoremploymentcentersinKapa‘a,Līhu‘eandotherareasofeastKaua‘i.

5.1.5 STATEFUNCTIONALPLANS

TheStatewideplanningsystemrequiresthedevelopmentofStateFunctionalPlanswhichareapprovedbytheGovernorofHawai‘i.TheStateFunctionalPlanssetforthepolicies,statewideguidelines,andprioritieswithinaspecificfieldofactivity.TheyareintendedtoguideStateandCountyactionsintheareasofagriculture,conservationlands,education,energy,health,highereducation,health,historicpreservation,housing,recreation,tourism,andtransportation.

TheStateFunctionalPlanmostapplicabletotheproposedKeāliaMaukaprojectistheStateHousingFunctionalPlan,updatedin2017.TheupdateoftheHousingFunctionalPlanwascoordinatedbytheHawai‘iHousingFinanceandDevelopmentCorporationandundertheguidanceoftheOfficeofPlanningandtheSpecialActionTeamonAffordableRentalHousing,whichwasestablishedbyAct127,SessionLawsofHawai‘i2016.ThePlanpresentsabalancedsetofstrategiesandimplementingactionsdirectedtowardmeetingHawai‘i’shousingneeds.

ThePlanidentifiesseveralissueareasincludingrentalhousing,homeownership,andimpedimentstoresidentialdevelopment.Foreachoftheseissueareas,thePlanidentifiesobjectives,policies,andimplementingactions.Therearetwoissueareasapplicabletotheproposedproject:HomeownershipandImpedimentstoResidentialDevelopment.Thesearediscussedbelow.

5.1.5.1HOUSINGFUNCTIONALPLAN

IssueArea:Homeownership

AccordingtotheHousingFunctionalPlan,researchshowsthathomeownershiphaspositiveimpactsonthestabilityofcommunitiesasfamiliessupportandnurturetheirhomesandsurroundingneighborhoods.YetitnotesthathomeownershipinHawai‘ihasbeenfallingsteadilysince2006,duetoanumberofobstaclesincluding1)collegedebtandstudentloans;2)notmakingenoughmoneytopurchaseahome;3)notenoughmoneyforadownpaymentandclosingcosts;4)lowhousinginventoryandnewconstructionincreasinglycateringtowealthierbuyers;5)tightcredit;and6)highrentburdens,makingitdifficulttosave(HHFDC,2017).ThePlanstatesthattheimpactofasloweconomicrecoveryfallsheaviestonfirst‐timebuyers,anditistheirentrytothemarketthatbooststhehomeownershiprate.

Objective:Increasethehomeownershiprate

PolicyB(3):Ensurethathousingprojectsprovideafairshareofaffordablefor‐salehousingopportunities.

ImplementingActionB(3)(a):ImposerealisticandfairhousingrequirementsonprojectsthatseekUrbanlandusedesignations,generalordevelopmentplanamendments,zoning,ordevelopmentpermits.

Discussion:TheprimaryobjectiveoftheProposedActionistoofferopportunitiesforhomeownershiptoKaua‘iresidents.ThemarketstudyconductedfortheKeāliaMaukaproject


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(CBRE,2017)estimatesthattherewillbedemandfor7,447additionalhousingunitsintheEastKaua‘iregionbetween2017and2040,withabouttwo‐thirdsofthedemandforsinglefamilyhouseholds(4,928homes).Evenwithcurrentlyproposedhousinginventory,therewillstillbeashortfallofmorethan2,000singlefamilyhomes/lots.TheKeāliaMaukaHomesiteprojectwillhelpalleviatetheshortfall,andprovideupto235improvedhouselotsforsale.ThelotshavebeensizedandwillbepricedtoofferarangeofmarketandworkforcehousingproductstoKaua‘iresidentsincompliancewiththerequirementsoftheCounty’shousingpolicy,OrdinanceNo.860.

5.1.6 HAWAI‘ICOASTALZONEMANAGEMENTPROGRAM

ThefederalCoastalZoneManagement(CZM)ProgramwascreatedthroughthepassageoftheCoastalZoneManagementActof1972toprotect,preserve,develop,restore,andenhancetheresourcesofthenation’scoastalzoneforcurrentandfuturegenerations.Hawai‘i’sCoastalZoneManagementProgram,adoptedasChapter205A,HRS,providesabasisforprotecting,restoring,andresponsiblydevelopingcoastalcommunitiesandresources.

TheState’sCZMareaincludesalllandsoftheStateandtheareaextendingseawardoftheshoreline.Eachcountyisrequiredtoestablishspecialmanagementareas(SMA)andshorelinesetbackswithinwhichpermitsarerequiredfordevelopment.ThePetitionAreaproposedprojectisnotlocatedwithintheCounty’sdesignatedSMAorshorelinesetbackarea.Theproject’scompliancewithCZMprogramobjectivesisdiscussedbelow:

5.1.6.1RECREATIONALRESOURCES

Objective: Providecoastalrecreationalopportunitiesaccessibletothepublic.

Discussion:Thepoliciessupportingthisobjectivepertainmainlytoshorelineresourcesandaccess.TheproposedprojectislocatedacrossKūhiōHighwayfromthecoast,butwillincludeopenspaceareaswithintheprojectsiteandiseasilyaccessibletocoastalrecreationalresources,includingtheKeAlaHeleMakalaeCoastalPathwhichrunsalongKeāliaBeach.TheProposedActionisnotinconflictwithanyrecreationalresourcespolicy.

TheproposedimprovementstoKeāliaRoadandconstructionofanewroundaboutattheKūhiōHighwayintersectionwillaccommodatepedestriansandbicyclistsinadditiontovehicles.TheroadwayimprovementswillprovideasaferhighwaycrossingtoKeāliaBeachPark.Theseroadwayimprovementswillenhanceconnectivitybetweenmaukaresidentialareasandcoastalrecreationalresources.TherewillbesomeinconveniencetousersofKeāliaBeachParkduringconstructionoftheroundabout.Accesstothecoastalareas,thebeachparkinglot,andKeAlaHeleMakalaemulti‐usepathwillbemaintainedthroughouttheconstructionperiod.

5.1.6.2HISTORICRESOURCES

Objective: Protect,preserve,and,wheredesirable,restorethosenaturalandmanmadehistoricandprehistoricresourcesinthecoastalzonemanagementareathataresignificantinHawaiianandAmericanhistoryandculture.

Discussion:Duetothehistoricagriculturaluseoftheprojectsiteformostofthetwentiethcentury,thePetitionAreaisrelativelyclearofsignificanthistoricsites.TherecentLRFIidentifiedfivehistoricfeaturesthatareassociatedwithpreviouslydesignated“NewKumukumuPlantationCamp”(SIHP#50‐30‐08‐7013).ThePetitionAreawaspartofapreviousArchaeologicalInventory


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Survey(AIS)thatrecommendednofurtherarchaeologicalworkatthishistoricproperty,andnoadditionalworkisrecommended.ConsultationwithSHPDisbeingconductedtoobtainconcurrencethatthePetitionAreahasbeenadequatelyaddressedinthepriorAIS.AsupplementalArchaeologicalInventorySurvey(AIS)waspreparedin2019attherequestoftheStateHistoricPreservationDivision(SHPD)tocollectadditionaldataonthefeaturesofNewKumukumuCamp,andtoevaluateoff‐siteprojectareas.ArchaeologicalmonitoringisrecommendedduringexcavationaroundNewKumukumuCamp,thefutureroundaboutonKūhiōHighway,andalongtherouteofthesewermainextension.AnarchaeologicalmonitoringplanwillbepreparedandapprovedbySHPDpriortoconstruction.

5.1.6.3SCENICANDOPENSPACERESOURCES

Objective: Protect,preserve,and,wheredesirable,restoreorimprovethequalityofcoastalscenicandopenspaceresources.

Discussion:Thecreationofaresidentialsubdivisiononundevelopedlandthathasbeenusedinagricultureandpastureforthelast100yearswillimpactscenicandopenspaceresources.TheProposedActionwillmodifytheopenspaceviewsfromtheadjacentKa‘aoKeāliaTownTractsubdivision,andwillbrieflybevisiblefromsectionsofKūhiōHighwayandKeāliaRoad.Thevisualappearanceofthepropertywillbetransformedfromanopen,undevelopedpasturetoanurbanizedresidentialarea.VisualimpactstotheKa‘aoRoadKeāliaTownTractsubdivisionwillbemitigatedbytheinstallationofadetentionbasin/openspacearea.PoliciessupportingtheCZMscenicandopenspaceobjectivepertainmainlytoshorelineviewsandopenspace.TheprojectwillnotaltershorelineviewsandisnotvisiblefromtheKeāliashorelineortheKeAlaHeleMakalaecoastalpath.TheProposedActionisnotinconflictwithanyScenicandOpenSpacepolicies.

5.1.6.5COASTALECOSYSTEMS

Objective: Protectvaluablecoastalecosystems,includingreefs,fromdisruptionandminimizeadverseimpactsonallcoastalecosystems.

Discussion:ThePetitionAreaislocatedonthemaukasideofKūhiōHighway,morethan1,000feetfromtheshoreline.Developmentofthesiteforresidentiallotswillnotimpactthequantityorqualityofsurfacewaterenteringtheocean.TheProposedActionwillcomplywithallfederal,stateandCountyofKaua‘iwaterqualityregulationsduringconstructionandoperation.ThePetitionerwillpreparedrainageanderosioncontrolplans,andfollowconstructionbestmanagementpracticesduringsitework.Twodrainagedetentionbasinsareproposedonsitetodetainoffandon‐siteflowsandallowparticulatesandpollutantstosettleoutofthewatercolumn.Theseactionswillmitigateanypotentialadverseeffectsresultingfromtheproposedtransitionfromagriculture/grazinglandusetourbandevelopment.TheProposedActionisnotinconflictwithanyCoastalEcosystemspolices.

Off‐siteroadwayandutilityimprovementswillnotimpactcoastalecosystems.BMPswillbeutilizedduringconstructionofoff‐siteimprovementstoavoidwaterqualityimpactstothemarineenvironmentandcoastalecosystems.

5.1.6.6ECONOMICUSES

Objective:ProvidepublicorprivatefacilitiesandimprovementsimportanttotheState'seconomyinsuitablelocations.


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Discussion:TheProposedActiondoesnotinvolvecoastaldependentdevelopmentandthisEconomicUsescategoryisnotapplicable.

5.1.6.7COASTALHAZARDS

Objective:Reducehazardtolifeandpropertyfromtsunami,stormwaves,streamflooding,erosion,subsidence,andpollution.

Discussion:ThePetitionAreaisnotwithinanidentifiedfloodhazardareaorareaknownforsubsidenceorerosion.Itisnotwithinthetsunamievacuationzone.Theproposedon‐andoff‐sitedrainageimprovementswillmitigaterunofffromthesite,andtherewillbenonetincreaseinrunoff.Therewillbenoincreaseinerosion,subsidenceorpollutionasaresultoftheproject.TheProposedActionisnotinconflictwithanyCoastalHazardspolicies.

ExistingutilityinfrastructurefortheEastKaua‘iregionislocatedintheKūhiōHighwaycorridor,whichissusceptibletocoastalhazardsincludingfromtsunami,stormwavesandincreasedfloodingduetoclimatechange.The2018Kaua‘iGeneralPlanacknowledgesthattheKaua‘icommunitywillbeimpactedheavilybyclimatechangeandsealevelrise.TheGeneralPlanstatesthatpoliciesregardingdevelopmentinspecificareaswillberegularlyreviewedtoreflectsealevelrise.

5.1.6.8MANAGINGDEVELOPMENT

Objective:Improvethedevelopmentreviewprocess,communication,andpublicparticipationinthemanagementofcoastalresourcesandhazards.

Discussion:ThePetitionerisseekingaStateLandUseCommissionBoundaryAmendmentfora53.4acrearea,andanEnvironmentalImpactStatementisbeingprepared.ThisEISprovidesananalysisoftheproject’santicipatedenvironmentalimpacts,andwillundergoextensivepublicreviewandcomment.Theproject’soff‐siteimprovementsarenotpartofthePetitionArea,astheyareallowedintheStateAgriculturalDistrict.However,theirenvironmentalimpactsarebeingevaluatedinthisFEIS.

5.1.6.9PUBLICPARTICIPATION

Objective:Stimulatepublicawareness,education,andparticipationincoastalmanagement.

Discussion:Asmentionedabove,theenvironmentalreviewprocesswillincludeopportunitiesforgovernmentagenciesandcitizenstoprovidetheirinputontheproposedsubdivision.TheProposedActionisnotinconflictwithanypublicparticipationpolicies.

5.1.6.10 BEACHPROTECTION

Objective:Protectbeachesforpublicuseandrecreation.

Discussion:ThePetitionAreaislocatedacrossKūhiōHighwaymorethan1,000feetfromtheshoreline.TheProposedActionwillnotinterferewithshorelineaccessoractivities,orwithbeachrecreation.TheProposedActionwillnotincreasebeacherosion.Itisnotinconflictwiththepoliciessupportingbeachprotection,whichpertainprimarilytoshorelinedevelopment.


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Off‐siteimprovementswillnotimpactpublicuseofbeachesorrecreationareas.TheremaybetemporaryinconveniencetorecreationalusersduringinstallationoftheKūhiōHighwaysewermain,butbeachaccesswillbemaintained.

5.1.6.11 MARINERESOURCES

Objective: Promotetheprotection,use,anddevelopmentofmarineandcoastalresourcestoassuretheirsustainability.

Discussion:ThePetitionAreaislocatedacrossKūhiōHighway,morethana1,000feetfromtheshoreline.Therearenostreamswithintheproperty.Thedevelopmentwillincludedetentionbasinsonsitetocapturestormwaterrunoffandallowpollutantstosettleout.Therewillbenonetincreaseinrunofffromthesite.Duringtheconstructionofsubdivisionimprovements,bestmanagementpracticeswillbefollowed.Vacantlotswillbeseededandgrassedtoavoidbaresurfacesandrunoffwhichcouldimpactmarinewaterquality.LotpurchaserswillalsoberequiredtoimplementBMPspriortoandduringconstructionontheirindividuallots.TheProposedActionisnotinconflictwiththepoliciessupportingmarineresources.

Constructionofoff‐siteimprovementswillincorporateBMPstoprotectmarineandcoastalwaterqualityandresources.

5.1.7. SUSTAINABILITY

PursuanttoAct181,SessionLawsofHawaii2011,theHawaiiStatePlanningActprovidesthepolicyframeworkestablishingsustainabilityasastatepriority.UndertheAct,Sustainabilityisdefinedasfollows:

Respectoftheculture,character,beauty,andhistoryoftheState’sislandcommunities; Strikingabalancebetweeneconomic,social,community,andenvironmentalpriorities;and Meetingtheneedsofthepresentwithoutcompromisingtheabilityoffuturegenerationsto

meettheirownneeds.

Priorityguidelinesandprinciplestopromotesustainabilityshallinclude:

(1) Encouragingbalancedeconomic,social,community,andenvironmentalpriorities;

(2) EncouragingplanningthatrespectsandpromoteslivingwithinthenaturalresourcesandlimitsoftheState;

(3) Promotingadiversifiedanddynamiceconomy;

(4) Encouragingrespectforthehostculture;

(5) Promotingdecisionsbasedonmeetingtheneedsofthepresentwithoutcompromisingtheneedsoffuturegenerations;

(6) Consideringtheprinciplesoftheahupua‘asystem;and

(7) Emphasizingthateveryone,includingindividuals,families,communities,businesses,andgovernment,hastheresponsibilityforachievingasustainableHawaii.

InconsideringthePetitioner’sapplicationforalandusedistrictboundaryamendment,theStateLandUseCommissionwillconsidertheprinciplesandpriorityguidelinesforsustainability.Thefollowingfourareasmustbeaddressedinasustainabilityplan:


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SustainableDevelopment SmartGrowthandLivability ResourceConservation GreenBuildingStandards

5.1.7.1SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT

Thisistheproject’scontributiontocreatingahighqualityoflifeandamutuallysupportivebalanceamongenvironmental,economic,andsocialequityconcerns.

Discussion:TheProposedActionwillcreate235residentiallotstoaddressanexistingandfutureshortfallofhousinginEastKaua‘i.Thisrespondstomarketdemandandsupportsqualityoflifeforlocalresidents.Thesubdivisionislocatedadjacenttoanexistingresidentialarea,onlandidentifiedforresidentialcommunityusebytheKaua‘iGeneralPlan.Thesitewillbeconvertedfromgrazinguse,butthereisamplesurroundinglandtosupporttheseactivities.TheProposedActionwillcomplywiththeCounty’sHousingPolicy(Ordinance860)forworkforcehousing,addressingsocialequityconcerns.TheProposedActionprovidesamutuallysupportivebalanceamongenvironmental,economicandsocialequityconcerns.

5.1.7.2SMARTGROWTHANDLIVABILITYPRINCIPLES

Therearetensmartgrowthandlivabilityprincipleswhichlanduserelatedactivitiesshouldconsider.TheProposedActionisconsistentwiththefollowingprinciples:

Principle2.Promoteequitable,affordablehousing.Expandlocation‐andenergy‐efficienthousingchoicesforpeopleofallages,incomes,races,andethnicitiestoincreasemobilityandlowerthecombinedcostofhousingandtransportation.

Principle6.Valuecommunitiesandneighborhoods.Enhancetheuniquecharacteristicsofallcommunitiesbyinvestinginhealthy,safe,andwalkableneighborhoods.

Principle7.CompactBuildingDesign.Designcommunitiestopreservemoreopenspacewithcompactbuildingdesignsthatmakeefficientuseoflandandresources.

Principle8.Preserveopenspace,farmland,naturalbeauty,andcriticalenvironmentalareas.Preservenaturalareasthatprovideimportantcommunityspace,habitatforplantsandanimals,recreationalopportunities,placesofnaturalbeauty,andcriticalenvironmentalareas.Protectfarmandagriculturallandsandpromotelocallygrownfoods.

Principle10.Preserveandperpetuateourislandculturalvalues.Considertheahupua‘amanagementconcepttointegrateresourcemanagementdecisionsfromthemountainstothesea.

Discussion:TheProposedActiondirectlysupportsPrinciple2byprovidingresidentiallotstargetedtolocalresidents,andmeetingtheCounty’sworkforcehousingrequirements.TheProposedActionislocatedadjacenttoanexistingresidentialneighborhoodinanareadesignatedbytheGeneralPlanforresidentialuse,consistentwithPrinciple6.Principles7and8callforcompactdesignandthepreservationofopenspace.Lotsizeshavebeenkeptbelow10,000SFtokeeppriceswithinreachoflocalfamilies,andalsotominimizethevisualandenvironmentalimpact


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onthesurroundingagriculturallandandopenspace.Theofferingofimprovedlotsrespondstomarketpreferencesandallowsbuyerstodesignandconstructtheirownhomesasdesired,inaccordancewithPrinciple10.

5.1.7.3RESOURCECONSERVATION

EnergyEfficiency–incorporateenergyefficiencymeasuresinthedesign,construction,andoperationofproject/site,infrastructure,andbuildings,anduserenewableenergygeneration.

WaterEfficiency–incorporatewaterefficiencymeasuresinthedesign,construction,andoperationofproject/site,infrastructure,andbuildings,includingirrigationandlandscaping,anduseofnon‐drinkingwater.

WasteManagement–implementsolidandliquidwastemanagement,recycling,andreuse.

LowImpactDevelopment–incorporatesitedesign,greeninfrastructure,andstructuralbestmanagementpracticestoincreaseon‐siteinfiltrationandreduceoff‐siteflowsandpollutionfromstormwaterrunoff.

ClimateChangeandHazardMitigation–providemitigationandadaptationstrategiestoaddressthepotentialrisksfromnaturalorman‐madehazards,includingneworintensifiedhazardsresultingfromclimatechange.Theseincludesea‐levelrise,hurricanes,tsunamis,drought,wildfires,stormflooding,andcoastalerosion.

Discussion:TheProposedActionincludestheprovisionofinfrastructureimprovementsincludingroadsandutilities.Drainageimprovementsincludetwodetentionbasinsthatprovideopenspaceandwillreduceoff‐siteflowsandstormwaterrunoff.ThePetitionAreaisnotwithinanareavulnerabletonaturalhazardssuchasflood,damflooding,tsunami,coastalhazards.Theindividuallotbuyerswillberesponsibleforconstructingtheirownhomes,andwillberequiredtocomplywithCountybuildingcodes,whichincorporateprinciplesforconservationofwaterandelectricity.Kaua‘iCountybuildingcodeshavebeenupdatedtoreflecttheInternationalBuildingCode(IBC)standards,whichhavebuilt‐inmechanismsforconservationofwaterandelectricity.Today’scodesprovideforenergyefficiencyincludinglowflushtoilets,lowflowshowers,anduseofenergysavingappliances.Thesestandardswillbeenforcedatthetimebuildingpermitsareobtainedbyindividuallotbuyers.

Homeownerswillencouragedtoutilizeenergyefficientdesign,waterefficientfeatures,andrenewableenergy.

5.1.7.4GREENBUILDINGSTANDARDS

Hawaii’soverallgoalforenergyefficiencyistomeettheEnergyEfficiencyPortfoliostandardof30%byreducingelectricitydemandsby2030.TheuseandpursuitofgreenbuildingstandardssuchasU.S.GreenBuildingCouncil’sLeadershipinEnergyandEnvironmentalDesign(LEED)orsimilarareencouragedinattainingsustainablecommunityandbuildingdesigns.

Discussion:Subdivisionroadswillhavesidewalksandaccesstoagreenspaceforpassiverecreation,encouragingresidentstowalkwithinthesubdivision.ThePetitionAreaiswithinamileoftheKeAlaHeleMakalaemulti‐usecoastalpath.However,amajorconstrainttoincreaseduseofsustainabletransportationmodessuchaswalking,bicyclingandpublictransitwillcontinuetobe


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thephysicalconditionsofKeāliaRoad.Thistwo‐laneroadisnarrow,curvedandsomewhatsteepbetweenthesubdivisionandKūhiōHighway.ItisunlikelythatmanyresidentswillwalkorbikedirectlyfromthesubdivisiondowntoKūhiōHighway,wheretherearebusstops,ortothecoastwherethemulti‐usepathislocated.TheprojectincludeswideningandtheadditionofshouldersandsidewalkstoKeāliaRoadthatwillencourageusebypedestriansandbicyclists.ThiswillenhanceconnectivitybetweenthesubdivisionandKeAlaHeleMakalaeandothercoastalrecreationresources.

Individuallotpurchaserswillberesponsibletoconstructtheirhomes.Buyerswillbeencouragedtoincorporategreenbuildingpracticesandenergyefficientfeatures.

5.2 CountyofKaua‘i

5.2.1 COUNTYGENERALPLAN

TheCountyofKaua‘iGeneralPlanwasadoptedin1971andupdatedin1982,2000,andmostrecently,in2018.Kaua‘iKākou,Kaua‘iCountyGeneralPlanwascompletedandsignedintolawbyMayorBernardCarvalho,Jr.inMarch2018.

PursuanttotheprovisionsoftheCharterfortheCountyofKauaʻi,theGeneralPlanestablishesprioritiesformanaginggrowthandcommunitydevelopmentovera20yearplanningtimeframe,TheGeneralPlanguidesfutureactionregardinglanduseanddevelopmentregulations,urbanrenewal,andexpenditureforcapitalimprovements.TheGeneralPlancoverssixplanningdistrictsontheisland;theProjectAreaiswithintheEastKaua‘idistrict.

TheGeneralPlanidentifiesnineteenpoliciestoguidegrowthandaddresstheissuesmostimportanttoKaua‘iresidentsinthefaceofexistingissuesandfuturegrowth:

1. Managegrowthtopreserveruralcharacter2. Providelocalhousing3. RecognizetheidentifyofKaua‘i’sindividualtownsanddistricts4. Designhealthyandcompleteneighborhoods5. Makestrategicinfrastructureinvestment6. Reducethecostofliving7. Buildabalancedmultimodaltransportationsystem8. ProtectKaua‘i’sscenicbeauty9. UpholdKaua‘iasauniquevisitordestination10. Helpbusinessthrive11. Helpagriculturallandsbeproductive12. Protectourwatersheds13. CompleteKaua‘i’sshifttocleanenergy14. Prepareforclimatechange15. RespectNativeHawaiianrightsandwahipana16. ProtectaccesstoKaua‘i’streasuredplaces17. Nurtureourkeiki18. Honorourkupuna19. Communicatewithaloha

TheproposedKeāliaMaukaHomesitesprojectdirectlyrespondstothepolicytoprovidelocalhousing.IntheGeneralPlan’sdiscussionoftheHousingsector,itnotesthathousingaffordability


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forlocalresidentshasreachedacrisislevelwithfar‐rangingsocialimpacts.Homepricesexceed300percentofthenationalaverage.LackofhousingsupplyhasbeendueinparttotheeffectsoftheGreatRecessionof2007‐2009.Theresultsatthehouseholdlevelincludestress,reduceddisposableincome,andlimittransportationoptions.TheGeneralPlanstatesthatpublicandprivatepartnershipsmustworktogethertoensurethatincreasesinhousinginventorywillbeaffordabletoresidents(CountyofKaua‘i,2018).

TheMarketStudyconductedfortheProposedActionestimatedthedemandfornewhousingunitsinLīhu‘e/EastKaua‘iwillrangefrom6,654to8,240unitsby2040,withamidpointof7,447.Ashortfallofmorethan3,500standardresidentialunitsisprojectedinthestudycorridorthrough2040.Theregionalsingle‐familysectorwillbeunderservedbymorethan2,000homes/lots(CBRE,2017).

TheProposedActionwillprovideadditionalhousinginventorybyallowingresidentstopurchaseavacantlotanddesignandbuildahomethatsuitstheirneedsandbudget,consistentwiththeGeneralPlan.ThelotswillbepricedtomeettherequirementsoftheHousingPolicyfortheCountyofKaua‘i(OrdinanceNo.860,November20,2007).

TheProposedActionwillalsosupportajobsandbusinessesthroughtheprovisionofconstructionemployment,andsecondaryeconomiceffects.ThisisdiscussedinthediscussionofSocialandEconomicFactorsinChapter4ofthisDEIS.

5.2.1.2EASTKAUA‘ILANDUSEMAPDESIGNATION

ThePetitionAreaislocatedwithinthe2018Kaua‘iKākouGeneralPlan’sEastKaua‘iPlanningDistrict.TheLandUsemapforEastKaua‘ishowsanareaidentifiedonthelegendas“ResidentialCommunity”thatstraddlesbothsidesofKūhiōHighwayintheprojectvicinity.Thisportionofthelandusemaphasnotchangedsincethe2000GeneralPlan(KawaihauDistrictLandUseMap).BecausetheLandUseMapsareconceptualanddonotincludeparcellines,thePetitionerinitiallyrequestedclarificationfromtheCountyin2016.The2016and2018responsesfromtheCountyarediscussedbelow.

5.2.1.3DEPARTMENTALDETERMINATIONFORGENERALPLANDESIGNATION

June2016DepartmentalDetermination

InJune2016,thePetitioner,KeāliaProperties,LLC,requestedaBoundaryInterpretationforGeneralPlanDesignationfromtheCountyofKaua‘iPlanningDepartment.Theinterpretationwasrequested“forthepurposeofapplyingfor,communicating,processing,andsecuringinformationandpermitsrelatedtodevelopmentandregulatoryinterestoftheownerintheCountyofKaua‘i.”ThePlanningDepartmentwasaskedtodeterminewhetherthe2000GeneralPlanLandUseMapfortheKawaihauDistrictcouldbeinterpretedtobeconsistentwiththeproposedKeāliaHomesitessubdivision.

TherequestnotedthataccordingtotheGeneralPlandocument,theGeneralPlanisintendedtobeadirectionsettingpolicydocument,andisnotintendedtoberegulatoryinthesenseofazoningcodeorotherlanduseregulation.Theapplicant’sletterstatedthefollowing:

Clearly,thepolicyforthelandidentifiedinyellowontheKawaihauPlanningDistrictLandUseMapinthevicinityofKa‘aoRoadisintendedasageneralguidelinetoestablishalarger


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patternofresidentialdevelopmentthancurrentlyexits.Webelievetheproposedsubdivisiononabout50acres,whichincludesabout230lotsthataverageabout6,000squarefeetinsize,isconsistentwiththeintentoftheGeneralPlan,duetoitslocationinrelationtotheResidentialCommunitydesignationontheLandUseMap…

…Insummary,webelievethisrequestisappropriateforthefollowingreasons:

Theproposedsubdivisionisconsistentwiththelocationofa“ResidentialCommunity”designationontheKawaihauPlanningDistrictLandUseMap

Theproposedsubdivisionislocatedadjacenttoanexistingresidentialsubdivision

ThevicinitywasusedforexpandedresidentialpurposestosupporttheMakeeSugarPlantation(laterabsorbedbytheLīhu‘eSugarPlantation)throughthe1960s

Theaveragelotsizeoftheproposedsubdivisionistargetedforlocalresidents,addressinganeedidentifiedintheGeneralPlantoprovideamixofhousingopportunitiesonKaua‘i

TheadditionalhousinginventorypartiallysatisfiesashortfallinneededhousingunitsrecognizedbytheGeneralPlan.

InaDepartmentalDetermination(DD‐2016‐70)datedJuly5,2016[BoundaryInterpretationforGeneralPlanDesignation,TMK(4)4‐7‐004:001](AppendixA)theCountyPlanningDepartmentstatedthat“thereisclearintentinthe2000GeneralPlan,alongwithpreviousiterationsoftheplan,thattheareagenerallyisearmarkedfor‘ResidentialCommunity’growthadjacenttotheexistingsubdivisioninKeāliaabovetheKeāliaGeneralStore…TheproposedConceptualKeāliaSubdivisionwouldgenerallybeinalignmentwiththeGeneralPlan’slandusemapsandtexts.”

Insummary,thelandusemapforthePetitionAreainthecurrentKaua‘iKākou2018GeneralPlanhasnotchangedsincethe2000GeneralPlan.ItisassumedthattheCounty’sJuly5,2016BoundaryInterpretationremainsvalid.TheKeāliaMaukaHomesitesisconsistentwiththeintentoftheGeneralPlanlandusemaps.

September2018LetterfromCountyPlanningDepartment

DuringtheDraftEIScommentperiod,severalcommunitymembersquestionedwhethertheProposedActionwasconsistentwiththerecentlyadopted2018CountyGeneralPlan,andwhethertheprojectareawaswithinthedesignatedfutureresidentialgrowtharea.Inresponsetothesecomments,Mr.MichaelDahilig,theCountyDirectorofPlanning,sentaletterdatedSeptember27,2018regarding“CommentsonChapter343,HRSDisclosureProcess,KeāliaMaukaHomesites,DepartmentalDeterminationDD‐2016‐70.”Theletter,whichisincludedinAppendixA,reaffirmedthe2016DepartmentalDetermination,andexpressedsupportfortheKeāliaMaukaproject.Theletterstates:

Notwithstandingtheoverallamendmentsandadoptionofthenew[General]planin2018,the[2016]determinationissuedbyourDepartmentstillremainsconsistentwiththespatialandtextualpoliciessetforthinthatnewdocument.


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Keāliawasearmarkedforgreaterresidentialcommunitydevelopmentgoingbacktothe1984GeneralPlanUpdate.Itremainedinthe2000updateandwascarriedthroughtothemostcurrentversionoftheplan.Anyassertionsthe2018GeneralPlanupdaterequiredearmarkingthisareaasachangefrompreviousdraftsareunfounded,asthepotentialfordevelopmentwasconfirmedascountyspatialpolicyforcloseto35years.

…Assertionsbycriticsofthedevelopmentwhocharacterizetheproposal,duetoitsspatialcharacter,asinconsistentwithdevelopmentpolicy,donotgiveourDepartmentcauseforconcernandweunequivocallycontradicttheirinterpretationforthefollowingreasons:

Firstasmentionedinourdetermination,GeneralPlanlandusemapsarenotregulatoryinnature,rathertheyspatiallyguideareasforfurtherentitlementviazoningboundaryamendmentsatthestateandcountylevel…Thegeneralspatialmassoftheresidentialcommunityareaidentifiedinthe2018GeneralPlan,althoughitstraddlesKūhiōHighway,islargelyinalignmentwiththeproposedsizeofthedevelopmentsetforthintheHRS343documents.

Further,spatialpolicyisalsoaninventoryandallotmentimplementingfindingsfromlandusebuildoutanalysesmeanttomeetcriticaldemandsinourcommunity,includingattainablehousingstockforourresidents.Accordingtoourcurrentprojections,ourCountyrequiresapproximately9,000residentialunitstokeeppacewithpopulationgrowthofourlocalresidents.TheKeāliaareaisconsideredabuildoutareatomeetthiscriticalneed…

Also,theexpansionoftheresidentialcommunitymaukaisspatiallyconsistentwithsimilarexistingproductimmediatelyadjacenttotheproposedproject,andconsistentwithPlanningPolicy#14inour2018GeneralPlanemphasizingpreparationsforclimatechange.Retreatfromcoastalareasisanimplementingtenetdrawingfromthisbroadcountrypolicy,andsituatingdevelopmentmoremaukaisconsistentwiththisaim.

OurDepartmentbelievesthisprojectproposal,inconcept,iswhollyconsistentwiththe2018GeneralPlanupdate.WebelievetheStateLandUseCommission,andCountyregulatoryprocessesprovidethestructureandopportunitytoconfirm,refute,and/ormitigateanyspecificconcernsmembersofthepublicmayraiseregardingimpacts.

Tobeclear,wesupporteffortstopursueentitlementsforthisfuturedevelopmentwithinthe2035planninghorizon.

5.2.2 EASTKAUA‘IDEVELOPMENTPLAN

DevelopmentPlansareintendedtodirectphysicaldevelopmentandpublicimprovementswithinaspecificgeographicareaofKaua‘iCountywithintheframeworkoftheGeneralPlan.Kaua‘iCountyiscurrentlyupdatingtheKapa‘a‐WailuaDevelopmentPlan,renamedtheEastKaua‘iDevelopmentPlan(EKDP).EastKaua‘icoverstheareafromtheWailuaGolfCoursetoMoloa‘a,fromthemountainstothecoastline,andincludetheKeāliaMaukaarea.AdraftoftheupdatedEKDPiscurrentlybeingreviewedbytheCounty.

5.2.3 COUNTYZONING

TheCountyofKaua‘i’sComprehensiveZoningOrdinance(CZO)providesregulationsandstandardsforlanddevelopmentandtheconstructionofbuildingsandotherstructuresintheCountyofKauaʻi.


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Theseregulationsandstandardsprescribedareintendedtoregulatedevelopmenttoensureitscompatibilitywiththeoverallcharacteroftheisland.TheCZOwasinitiallyadoptedin1972.Sincethattime,therehavebeenseveralamendmentstospecificprovisions.TheCountyconcludedthefirstoftwophasesofanefforttoupdatetheCZOwithamendmentsadoptedonDecember3,2012(OrdinanceNo.935).OrdinanceNo.935isthenewlyadoptedzoningcodefortheCountyofKaua'iandwillserveastheofficialzoningcodeuntiltheCountycompletesthesecondphaseoftheproject.

Discussion:ThePetitionAreaiszonedagriculturebytheCountyofKauaʻi.ThiszoningisconsistentwiththePetitionArea’scurrentStateLandUsedesignationasAgriculturalDistrict.TheGeneralPlanforKauaʻiandtheKapaʻaTownDevelopmentPlanbothdesignatethegeneralprojectareaasUrbanCenter.Asdiscussedabove,inaDepartmentalDetermination(DD‐2016‐70datedJuly5,2016),thePlanningDepartmentdeterminedthatthePetitionAreaiswithinthegeneralareaearmarkedforresidentialcommunitygrowth,andthattheKeāliaMaukaprojectwouldgenerallybeinalignmentwiththeGeneralPlanlandusemaps.

FollowingtheStateLandUseDistrictBoundaryAmendment(fromAgriculturaltoUrban),azonechangeapplicationwillbeinitiatedtochangethezoningdesignationtoR‐6ResidentialDistrict.Giventhesizeoftheproposedlots,nomorethanonesinglefamilydwellingunitwillbeallowedtobedevelopedoneachlot.

Azonechangeisnotrequiredfortheoff‐siteinfrastructureimprovements.

5.2.4 SPECIALMANAGEMENTAREA(SMA)

TheHawai‘iCoastalZoneManagementProgramembodiedinChapter205A,HRScontainsthegeneralobjectivesandpoliciestopreserve,protect,andwherepossible,torestorethenaturalresourcesofthecoastalzoneofHawai‘i.EachCountyhasstructuredspecificlegislationanddesignatedSpecialManagementAreas(SMA)andShorelineSetbackAreas,designatedformoreintensivemanagement.AnydevelopmentwithintheSMArequiresaSMAUsePermit.TheSMAboundaryintheprojectareaisshownonFigure5‐3.ThePetitionAreaisoutsidetheSMA.

TheSMAlineinthisarearunsalongthemakaiboundaryofthehighwayROW.TheKeāliaRoadareaswhereoff‐siteimprovementsareproposedareoutsidetheSMA.Theproposedsewerlineextensionwillbelocatedwithinthehighwayright‐of‐way(ROW),onthemaukasideofthepavedportionofthehighway,andisoutsidetheSMA.TheroundaboutwillbeconstructedentirelywithinthehighwayROW.AsdefinedintheSpecialManagementAreaRulesandRegulationsoftheCountyofKaua‘i,theterm“development”withintheSMAdoesnotinclude“repairormaintenanceofroadsandhighwayswithinexistingrights‐of‐way”(Section1.4(F)).TheSMARulesalsostatethat“development”doesnotinclude“installationofundergroundutilitylineandappurtenantabovegroundfixturelessthanfourfeetinheightalongexistingcorridors.”Insummary,noneoftheoff‐siteimprovementsaresubjecttoSMApermittingrequirements.

5.2.5 HOUSINGPOLICYFORTHECOUNTYOFKAUA‘I(ORDINANCE860)

5.2.5.1ORDINANCE860

OrdinanceNo.860,adoptedbytheKaua‘iCountyCouncilinNovember2007,establishedaCountyhousingpolicyinfurtheranceofthegoalsandobjectivesidentifiedfortheKauaʻiCountyHousingAgencyinSection2‐1.16oftheKauaʻiCountyCode1987.Ordinance860amendedtheKaua‘i


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CountyCodebyinsertinganewchapter,Chapter7A,entitled“HousingPolicyfortheCountyofKaua‘i.”

Chapter7A,Kaua‘iCountyCoderequiresthataportionofresidentialandresortdevelopmentsonKaua‘iinclude“workforcehousing,”definedasdwellingunitsthat“mayberentedorsoldatpricelevelsthatareaffordabletohouseholdsthatearnfromeightypercent(80%)andbelowoftheKaua‘imedianhouseholdincometoone‐hundredfortypercent(140%)oftheKaua‘imedianhouseholdincome.”Specifichouseholdincomelimitsandsales/rentalpricesthatmeetthesecategoriesareestablishedeachyearbythefederalDepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopment(HUD).Ordinance860statedthattheterm“workforcehousing”wastohereinafterbeusedcollectivelyinplaceoftheterms“lowincome,”“affordable,”and“employee”housingformerlyusedtodescribeincomegroupsrelatedtohousingrequirementsandprogramsestablishedforresidentialandresortdevelopment.

AdministrativeRulesfortheimplementationoftheCountyhousingpolicywereadoptedonJuly21,2015.Theyareknownas"TheAdministrationofChapter7A,Kaua'iCountyCode,PertainingtotheHousingPolicyfortheCountyofKaua'i."

AllStateLandUseDistrictBoundaryAmendments,ZoningDistrictBoundaryAmendments,amendmentsintotheVisitorDestinationArea,subdivision,zoningpermits,andbuildingpermitsaresubjecttotheprovisionsoftheHousingPolicy,asitappliestoresidentialandhoteldevelopment.TheworkforcehousingassessmentforanapplicableprojectisresolvedwiththeCountyHousingAgencypriortofinalsubdivisionorzoningpermitapproval,whicheveroccursfirst.

5.2.5.2GENERALREQUIREMENTS

CalculationofWorkforceHousingRequirement

Forresidentialdevelopmentswithtwentysix(26)unitsormore,adeveloperisrequiredtosatisfytheworkforcehousingrequirementbasedonthetotalnumberofresidentialunits.ThirtypercentofallproposedunitsshallbesubjecttotherequirementofOrdinance860.Thisequatesto71ofthetotal235lotsproposedbythePetitioner(235lotsx30%=71lots).

Incentivesareavailabletodevelopersforprojectsthatincorporate:a)Integration,b)SingleFamilyUnits,c)Building“Green”,andd)Low‐IncomeRentalUnits.IncentivescanmodifytheworkforcehousingrequirementsandaregrantedatthediscretionoftheCountyHousingAgency.TheKeāliaMaukaHomesitesprojectmaybeeligibleforincentivesundertheIntegrationandSingleFamilyUnitscategories.

Theincentivefor“Integration”isavailablefordevelopmentsthatintegrateallworkforceunitwithmarketrateunits.Ifallworkforceunitsareintegratedwithmarketunits,thepercentageworkforcehousingrequirementshallbereducedbyafactoroftwenty‐fivepercent(25%)fromthatstatedabove.Theincentivefor“SingleFamilyUnits”isavailableifadeveloperprovidesallsinglefamilydetachedunitsforsale,andmayreducetheworkforcehousingrequirementbyafactoroftwenty‐fivepercent(25%)fromthatstatedabove.Themaximumcumulativeincentiveallowed(forincentivesathroughdabove)isfiftypercent(50%)ofthegeneralworkforcehousingrequirement.


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AssumingthatKeāliaMaukaqualifiesforboththeIntegrationandSingleFamilyUnitsincentives,theworkforcehousingrequirementcouldbereducedbyupto50%.TheestimatedworkforcehousingrequirementfortheKeāliaMaukaHomesitesisestimatedat36lots(71lotsx50%=36lots).TheremainderofthelotsatKeāliaMaukawouldbesoldatmarketprices.

PricingofWorkforceHousing

The36workforcehousinglotsatKeāliaMaukaaretobesoldtohouseholdsinvariousincomecategoriesinaccordancewiththefollowing:

Twentypercent(20%)oftotalunitspricedtobeaffordabletohouseholdsearninguptoeightypercent(80%)oftheKaua‘imedianhouseholdincome

Thirtypercent(30%)oftotalunitspricedtobeaffordabletohouseholdsearninguptoone‐hundredpercent(100%)ofKaua‘imedianhouseholdincome

Thirtypercent(30%)oftotalunitspricedtobeaffordabletohouseholdsearninguptoone‐hundredtwentypercent(120%)ofKaua‘imedianhouseholdincome

Twentypercent(20%)oftotalunitspricedtobeaffordabletohouseholdsearninguptoone‐hundredfortypercent(140%)ofKaua‘imedianhouseholdincome

Discussion:TheCountyHousingPolicyisapplicabletorequestedlanduseentitlements,suchthecurrentLandUseDistrictBoundaryAmendment,zoningdistrictboundaryamendments,subdivision,zoningpermits,andbuildingpermits.TheProposedActionwillcomplywithallapplicableprovisionsofOrdinance860regardingworkforcehousing.Thiswillresultinanestimated36workforcehousingunits(lots)atKeāliaMauka.AsdiscussedinChapter2(Section2.3.1.1),theremaining199marketpricedlots(235less36=199)willbesoldatprevailingmarketprices,whichinApril2019rangedfrom$190,000to$235,000.

TheCountyofKaua‘iprovidesguidelinesoncurrent(2017)“forsalelimits”forworkforcehousingbyincomelevelandfamilysize.ThenumbersinTable5‐1below,effectiveApril14,2017,showresidential“forsale”pricesbyincomelevelforafamilyoffour.ItassumesaKaua‘imedianhouseholdincomeof$79,200.Thepricesareforhouseandlot,andtheCountyHousingAgencyindicateditdoesnotpublish“forsalelimits”forlot‐onlysales.Therefore,alot‐onlypricewasestimated,assumingthatthelot‐onlypricewillrepresentapproximately26%ofthetotalforsaleprice.Thenumbersshownassumemonthlypropertytaxandinsuranceexpensesof$250,maintenance/associationfeesof$200,andadownpaymentof5.00%. A 30‐yearfixedinterestmortgagerateof4.25%wasassumed.Theright‐mostcolumnshowstheestimatedpercentandnumberofKeāliaMauka’sworkforcehousing(36lots)targetedtoeachincomecategory.


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TABLE5‐1:FORSALELIMITSBYINCOMELEVEL

MortgageRate:4.25%HUD Income Limit

(family of 4) Annual

Household Income

For Sale Price Estimated* Lot-Only Sales Price

Percent of total workforce

housing (and number of

lots)

80%Median $68,250 $310,800 $81,000 20%(7lots)

100%Median $79,200 $369,300 $92,000 30%(11lots)

120%Median $95,050 $453,800 $95,050 30%(11lots)

140%Median $110,900 $538,400 $110,900 20%(7lots)

TOTAL 100%(36lots)

Source:Kaua‘iCountyHousingAgency,effective4/14/2017,URL=http://www.kauai.gov

*Assumeslot‐onlypricewillrepresentapproximately26%oftheForSalePriceestablishedbyCounty.Actuallot‐onlypricestobedeterminedbyCountyofKaua‘iHousingAgency

5.2.6 OTHERCOUNTYPLANS

5.2.6.1KAUA‘IECONOMICDEVELOPMENTPLAN

In2004,theCounty’sOfficeofEconomicDevelopment,inpartnershipwiththeKaua'iEconomicDevelopmentBoardandtheOfficeofStatePlanning,spearheadedacommunity‐basedefforttocreateaneconomicdevelopmentplanforthenexttenyears.TheresultwastheKaua‘iComprehensiveEconomicDevelopmentStrategy(CEDS),Update2016‐2020.planfocusedondiversifyingtheKaua‘ieconomybeyondtourism,whilealsoplayingtothestrengthsofourtourism‐basedeconomyandthevaluesourcommunityhasembracedthroughtheCounty'sGeneralPlanUpdateof2000.

ThedocumentalsoservesasKaua‘i’sComprehensiveEconomicDevelopmentStrategy(CEDS)forthepurposeofaccessinggrantfundingthroughtheU.S.DepartmentofCommerceEconomicDevelopmentAdministration(EDA).

WhileacknowledgingthattourismistheprimaryeconomicengineforKaua‘i,theplanthewidespreadrecognitionthatKaua‘imustfocusondiversifyingitseconomyandgrowingotherindustriestoincreaseeconomicresiliencyandprovidefurtheropportunitiesforresidents.TheCEDSfocusedonsixtargetindustryclusters:

1 FoodandAgriculture2 SustainableTechnologiesandPractices3 ScienceandTechnology4 HealthandWellness5 SportsandRecreation6 ArtsandCulture


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Thestudysummarizedthecurrentstrengths,weaknesses,opportunitiesandthreats(SWOT)regardingeconomicdevelopmentonKaua‘i.Listedamongtheweaknesseswas“Increasinglackofaffordablehousing”andthe“Needforgreaterrecruitmentandretentionofeducatorsandeducationadministrators,whooftenmoveafteracoupleofyearsontheislandbecauseofthehighcostofliving.”

TheProposedAction,KeāliaMaukaHomesitesproject,willsupportthefollowingGoals(G)andObjectives(O)andActionItems(A)listedintheCEDS:

G1:Build,attractandretaina21stcenturyworkforce.

O2:IncreasehiringandretentionofKaua‘iresidentsamongtargetindustryclustercompaniesandorganizationstoreduceorprevent“braindrain.”

G8:Enhancethecommunity’sabilitytothrive

O3:IncreasethequalityandaffordabilityoflifeonKaua‘i.

A1:Increaseavailabilityofaffordablehousing

Discussion:Increasedhousingopportunities,particularlyforlocalresidents,iscriticaltoqualityoflifeandfutureeconomicdevelopment.Lackofaffordablehousingisoftencitedasamajorreasonitisdifficulttoretaintalentedemployeesandlocalyouthonisland.Theprovisionof235singlefamilyhouselotsthataretargetedtoalocalmarketwillenhancehousingopportunities,indirectlysupportingtheisland’seconomicdevelopmentgoals.

5.2.6.2KAUA‘IWATERUSEANDDEVELOPMENTPLAN(WUDP)

TheKaua‘iWaterUseandDevelopmentPlan(WUDP)iscurrentlybeingupdatedbytheCountyofKaua‘i.TheStateWaterCode,Chapter174HRS,requirestheStateCommissiononWaterResourcesManagement(CWRM)toimplementandutilizecomprehensivewaterresourcesplanningitsitregulationandmanagementoftheState’swaterresources.TheWaterCodesetstherequirementforthedevelopmentandupdateoftheHawai‘iWaterPlan(HWP),along‐rangeguideforwaterresourcemanagement.TheHWPconsistsoffivemajorcomponents(plans)identifiedasthe:1)WaterResourceProtectionPlan;2)WaterQualityPlan;3)StateWaterProjectsPlan;4)AgriculturalWaterUseandDevelopmentPlan;and5)CountyWaterUseandDevelopmentPlans(WUDP).Theseindividualplansaretobeintegratedintoacomprehensive“masterplan”toprovideforeffectivecoordinationandlongrangeplanningbetweenstateandcountyagenciestolinkwateruse,development,andprotectionoftheresource.EachcountyisresponsibletoupdatetheirrespectiveWUDP.

TheoriginalKaua‘iWUDPwasadoptedbytheCountyCouncilin1990,andupdatedin1992,buttheupdatewasnotofficiallyadoptedbytheCWRM.ThecurrentupdateoftheWUDPwillincludeauniform,islandwidereviewofthesustainabilityoflanduseplans,policiesanddesignations.TheintentoftheWUDPistoguidetheCountyinitsplanning,managementanddevelopmentoflanduseandwaterresourcesstrategiesandpoliciesforsustainabledevelopment.Itwillincludeaninventoryofexistingwateruses,anassessmentofavailablewaterresources,futurewaterdemandprojections,andmasterplanlevelresourceandfacilityrecommendations(CWRM,2015).


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5.2.6.3COUNTYOFKAUA‘IMULTI‐HAZARDMITIGATIONANDRESILIENCEPLAN,2015UPDATE

ThefederalDisasterMitigationActof2000establishescriteriafordevelopingstateandlocalhazardmitigationplans.Thedevelopmentofstateandlocal(County)hazardmitigationplansisarequirementformaintainingeligibilityforfutureFederalEmergencyManagementAgency(FEMA)mitigationanddisasterrecoveryfunding.Bothstateandlocalplansmustbeupdatedeveryfiveyears.Hawai‘i’sfirstapprovedMulti‐HazardMitigationPlanwentintoeffectin2004,andthemostrecentupdatebecameeffectiveonAugust19,2013.

TheCountyofKauaʻiMulti‐HazardMitigationandResiliencePlanwasupdatedandapprovedinAugust2015.TheCountyplannotesthatKaua’ihasexperiencedarangeofclimateandhydrologicalhazards,geologicalhazards,andtechnologicalhazardsthathaveresultedingreatcoststolives,property,andtheeconomy.Thespecifichazardsidentifiedinclude:hurricanes,floods,drought,wildfire,erosion,landslides,climatechange,earthquakes,tsunami,damfailure,hazardousmaterials,homelandsecuritythreats,andhealth‐relatedhazards.Climatechangeanddamfailurewerenewlyaddedin2009.

Kaua‘iCounty’supdatedMulti‐HazardMitigationandResiliencePlanutilizedcurrentdatatoupdatetheriskandvulnerabilityassessmentforthesehazards.ThePlannotesthatinadditiontothetechnicalaspectsusedinconductingriskandvulnerabilityassessments,thereisaneedtounderstandthedeepercausesofdisaster,whichcanalsoresultfrompoorsocioeconomicconditionsofanaffectedcommunity.Whenthisunderlyingconditionispresent,itdeepenstheimpactonacommunity’sabilitytorespondandrecovertodisasters.Someoftheseissuesincludepovertyandsocialjustice.ThehighcostofhousingforworkingfamiliesonKaua‘iwasidentifiedasincreasingtheriskstofamiliesbecausetheymaynotbeabletoaffordadequatehousing,orseveralfamiliesmaydwellinhomeswithsupportinginfrastructuredesignedforfewertenants(CountyofKaua‘i,2015).

TheMitigationPrioritiessectionoftheMulti‐HazardMitigationandResiliencePlanrecognizesthathazardmitigationdependsonappropriatelandusepoliciesandpractices,includingzoningandcoastalzonemanagement,floodcontrol,buildingcodesandstandards,infrastructuredevelopmentandstandards,regulatorymeasures,incentiveprograms,andparticipatoryplanningmethods.Thedocumentidentifiesmitigationgoals,objectivesandpriorities,andalistofmitigationactions.

Amongthe“multi‐hazardactions”identifiedforongoingimplementationare:

LookforfundingandplanningopportunitiestodevelopmoreaffordablehousinginKaua‘iCountytomeetcriticalneedsoftheworkingpopulationandthepoor.[Kaua‘iCounty]hasthehighestcostofhousinginthefourcounties,andthehighcostofhousingandpropertytaxeshaveresultedinhighercostsforrentaswellasmortgages,whichmakeitdifficultfortheyoungerpeopletoaffordtoliveaffordably.Inaddition,thehighdemandresultsinmorefamiliesoccupyinghomes,whichputsaddedpressureoninfrastructureandutilities(waterusage,energy,roadways/parking).

[Kaua‘iCountyHousingAgency]continuestoworkwiththecountyagenciestoseekopportunitiestoimprovehousingstock,andtousethemostupdatedbuildingcodesindevelopmentprojects.(Table7.1,2015Kaua‘iCountyMitigationActions,CountyofKaua‘i,2015)


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Discussion:ThePetitionAreaisnotlocatedinanareasusceptibletohazardssuchasflood,erosion,tsunamiorlandslides.ThePetitionAreaisnotwithintheStateDLNR’sdamevacuationarea,whichislimitedtolandssouthofKeāliaRoad.However,ifKeāliaRoadisaffectedbydam‐relatedflooding,accessforsubdivisionresidentscouldalsobeimpacted.

Off‐siteroadwayandutilityimprovementsareproposedalongKūhiōHighway,acoastalareawherefloodandtsunamihazardsexist.Nohabitablestructuresareproposedinthisarea.

Kaua‘iCounty’sMulti‐HazardMitigationandResiliencePlanclearlylinkstheavailabilityofaffordablehousingtocommunityresilienceandhazardmitigation.TheProposedActionisspecificallyintendedtoincreasehousingopportunitiesforKaua‘iresidents,andwillmeettheCounty’sworkforcehousingpolicy.Inthisway,theProposedActionpromotescommunityresilienceandisconsistentwiththeCounty’s2015Multi‐HazardMitigationandResiliencePlan.

5.3 TransportationPlansandInitiatives

5.3.1 FEDERAL‐AIDHIGHWAYS2035TRANSPORTATIONPLANFORTHEDISTRICTOFKAUA‘I

TheFederal‐AidHighways2035TransportationPlan(“Plan”)fortheDistrictofKaua‘iwasdevelopedbytheStateofHawai‘iDepartmentofTransportation(HDOT,2014).ThePlanisanupdateoftheKaua‘iLong‐RangeLandTransportationPlandevelopedin1997,andprovidesguidancefordecisionmakingonfutureimprovementsfor“federal‐aidhighways”onKaua‘ithroughYear2035.Federal‐aidhighwaysincluderoadsunderbothstateandKaua‘iCountyjurisdictionwhichareclassifiedacollectorsandarterials.Itdoesnotincludelocalroadsorruralminorcollectors.ThePlanstatesthatKūhiōHighway(fromLīhu‘e)isa“principalarterial”thatprovidesaccesstoKapa‘aandWailua.NorthofKapa‘a(includingintheKeāliaarea),KūhiōHighwaycontinuesaroundthenortheastperimeteroftheislandasa“minorarterial”throughAnaholaandPrinceville.Therefore,thePlanappliestoKūhiōHighwayintheprojectvicinity.ThePlandoesnotapplytoKeāliaRoadorKa‘aoRoad.

ThePlanwasdevelopedaroundasetofeightfederalplanningfactorsthatareintendedtoaddresstransportationcomprehensively:1)Safety,2)TransportationAccessMobility,3)SystemEfficiencyManagement&Operations,4)EconomicViability,5)EnvironmentandSustainability,6)ModalIntegration,7)SystemPreservation,and8)Security.

StakeholderinputwasincorporatedtoidentifythefollowingneedsanddeficienciesofthelandtransportationsystemonKaua‘i:

Addressingcapacityneedsandcongestion Providingemergencyaccess/egresstocommunities Improvingsafetyofnon‐motorizedmodes Maintainingclearhighwayoperationsduringheavyrains.

ThePlanidentifiespotentialsolutionstoaddresstherecognizedneedsandissuesonKaua‘i.This“wishlist”oflong‐rangepotentialsolutionsincludesprojectsthataddresssystempreservation,safety,capacity,andcongestionneedsaswellasmultimodalinfrastructuresolutions.Thelistofpotentialsolutionsdidnotconsiderfiscalconstraints,butinsteadintendedtoestablishthevisionandlong‐term(20+year)transportationplanforKaua‘i.


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TheImplementationsectionoftheplanisintendedtohelpsetprioritiesfortheStatewideTransportationImprovementProgram(STIP),givenfundingrealitiesandconstraints.TheSTIPisalistofimprovementsthatcanreasonablybeexpectedtobecompletedwithavailablefundsoverafouryearperiod.Inordertobridgethegapbetweenthelong‐termplanandthefour‐yearSTIP,thePlanfocusesona“Mid‐RangePlan,”representingwhatisachievablewithinan8to10yearhorizon,givencurrentfunding.Boththelong‐rangeplanandMid‐RangeplansprovideguidancetoandfeedspecificprojectsintotheSTIP.

ThePlanidentifiespotentialsourcesoffederalandStatefunding,andsupplementalfundingstrategies.Itdiscussestheneedtoreducetransportationinfrastructurefundingneedsthroughlanduseplanning,includingthedevelopmentofmoreintensivedevelopment.Moreintensivedevelopmentcanleadtogreatertransportationoptionsbymakingalternateformsoftransportationsuchaswalking,bicycling,andmasstransitmorefeasibleandattractive.

Discussion:Chapter4oftheDraftEIS(Section4.11,RoadwaysandTransportation)andtheTrafficImpactAnalysisReport(TIAR)(AppendixH)provideacomprehensivedescriptionofexistingroads,bikeways,pedestriansystems,andbikewaysystemsinthevicinityofthePetitionArea.TheTIARidentifiesthenumerousStateandCountyroadwayandtransportationimprovementsthatareproposedfortheKapa‘aregion,includingtheKūhiōHighway/MailihunaRoadintersectionwherearoundaboutisproposed,theproposedKapa‘aBypassRoadextension,andanewconnectionfromHauaalaRoadtotheBypassRoad.TheseproposedimprovementsareidentifiedintheFederalAidHighways2035TransportationPlan.TheTIARestimatesthelevelofservice(LOS)atninestudyintersectionswithandwithouttheProposedActionandotherproposedimprovements.

TheProposedActionincludesoff‐siteimprovementstoKeāliaRoadtoenhancevehicle,pedestrian,andbicyclesafety.Theroadwayright‐of‐waywillbewidened,andshouldersandsidewalkswillbeadded.AttheintersectionwithKūhiōHighway,aroundaboutwillbeconstructed.ThismitigationwasidentifiedinconsultationwiththeCountyofKaua‘iandtheHDOT,andwilladdressproject‐relatedtrafficonthisfederal‐aidhighway.NootherfederalaidroadwaysrequiremitigationasaresultoftheProposedAction.

Fromalanduseplanningperspective,theexpansionofanexistingresidentialarea(adjacenttoKa‘aoRoadsubdivision),inconjunctionwiththeoff‐siteinfrastructureimprovements,representthetypeoflanduseintensificationthattheFederalAidHighways2035TransportationPlanindicatescouldincreasethefutureviabilityofwalking,biking,andtransituse.Inthisrespect,theProposedActionsupportsandisconsistentwiththeFederalAidHighways2035TransportationPlan.

5.3.2 KAPA‘ATRANSPORTATIONSOLUTIONS

TheKapa‘aTransportationSolutionsprojectwasajointeffortbetweentheHDOTandtheCountyofKaua‘i,anditspurposewastodevelop“neartomid‐term”transportationsolutionstoaddressmobilityneedsandcongestionforallmodesoftransportationintheKapa‘aarea.TheprojectbuiltuponthenumerouspreviousstudiesandrecommendationsfortheKapa‘atransportationsystem.Kapa‘aTransportationSolutionsidentifiedthoserecommendationswithahigherchanceofimplementationbecausetheymeetstateandlocalgoalsandarefeasibletofundandconstruct.

ThenorthernboundaryofthestudyareawasKapa‘aStream,anditdidnotincludetheKeāliaarea.TheKapa‘aTransportationSolutionsstudyareaboundarieswere:


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TheintersectionofKūhiōHighwayandKapuleHighwaytothesouth Kapa‘aStreamtothenorth WailuaHomesteadstothewest ThePacificOceantotheeast

TheKapa‘aTransportationSolutionsprojectwasdevelopedtobeconsistentwiththedirectionsetforthintheFederal‐AidHighways2035TransportationPlanfortheDistrictofKaua‘iwhichhadrecentlybeenupdatedin2014.Whilethatdocumentprovidedthepolicybasisforlandtransportationdecisions,theKapa‘aTransportationSolutionsrepresentedafinergrainlookatspecificrecommendationsfortheKapa‘asubarea.Itfocusedonprojectsthatcouldbeimplementedinlessthan20years.

TheKapa‘aTransportationSolutionsreportwasreleasedinAugust2015.Thereportincludedalistofpriorityimprovements.Severalofthetoppriorityrecommendationsarecurrentlyfundedandareplannedforimplementation.

IntersectionimprovementsatKūhiōHighwayatMailihunaRoad.Theexistingthree‐leggedintersectiononMailihunaRoadwouldbereconfiguredtoimprovesafetybyconstructingaroundabout.

WideningtheTemporaryKapaʻaBypassRoadnorthofOlohenaRoad.TheadditionofonetravellaneinthenorthbounddirectionwillprovidedriverswithanalternatenorthboundconnectionfromdowntownKapa‘atothenorth.

WideningKūhiōHighwaybetweentheTemporaryKapaʻaBypassRoad(southernterminus)andKuamooRoad.Byaddingonesouthboundlanetothehighway,thisprojectwouldimprovecapacityandimproveintersectionoperationsatHaleilioRoadandKuamooRoad.

Discussion:TheTIAR(AppendixH)andSection4.11(RoadwaysandTransportation)oftheEISevaluatedexistingandfuturetrafficconditionsatmajorintersectionsinKapa‘atoassesstheimpactoftheProposedAction.TheTIARassumedthatthethreeprojectslistedabovewouldbecompletedbyYear2027,theselected“baseyear”foranalysis,representingwhentheKeāliaMaukasubdivisionislikelytobecompletedandoccupied.TheTIARidentifiestheCounty’spreferredsolutionasaroundaboutattheKūhiōHighwayandKeāliaRoadintersectiontomitigatetrafficimpactsassociatedwiththeProposedAction.ImprovementstoKeāliaRoadwillalsobepartoftheProposedAction.Nootherroadwayorintersectionmitigationisrecommended.

5.3.3 BIKEPLANHAWAI‘I

BikePlanHawai‘i,preparedbytheStateofHawai‘iDepartmentofTransportation(HDOT,2003),istheState’sbicyclingmasterplan.Thisplanservesasablueprinttoimproveconditionsforbicycliststhroughoutthestate,andseekstoencouragenewusers.BikePlanHawai‘iincludesaninventoryofexistingbicyclingfacilities,identificationandprioritizationofproposedbicyclefacilityimprovements,andstrategiesforimplementingtheseprojects.Bikewayproposalswerecategorizedintofourprioritylevels:PriorityIprojectslessthan10yearstocompletion;PriorityIIlessthan20years;PriorityIIImorethan20years;andPriorityIVbeingthoseprojectswhosetimetableiscontingenttonewroadconstructionorwidening.


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AtthetimeBikePlanHawai‘iwasprepared,theislandofKaua‘ihad25.6milesofbikefacilitiesexistingandunderway,and261milesproposed.SeveralsectionsofKeAlaHeleMakalaewereidentifiedasnear‐term(PriorityI)recommendationsforKaua‘i.

Discussion:AsdiscussedinChapter4andtheTrafficImpactAnalysisReport(AppendixH),KeAlaHeleMakalaemulti‐usepathprovidespedestrianandbicycleaccessthroughKapa‘aandKeālia.TheTIARnotedminimal,ifanybicycleactivityalongKūhiōHighwaynearthePetitionArea.Atotalof20bicycleroutes/upgradeareproposedfortheKawaihauregionofEastKaua‘i.InthevicinityofthePetitionArea,theseincludesignedsharedroaddesignationsonKūhiōHighwayandKeāliaRoad.BikePlanHawai‘iidentifiestheseproposedfacilitiesas:

KūhiōHighway(KeāliatoAnahola)—SignedSharedRoad,PriorityLevelII KūhiōHighway(WailuatoKeālia)—SignedShardRoad,PriorityLevelII KeāliaRoad(KoolautoKūhiōHighway)‐‐SignedSharedRoad,PriorityLevelIII

ThePriorityLevelIIimprovementstoKūhiōHighwaywillenhancetheconditionofbicyclinginfrastructureinthevicinityofthePetitionArea.ImprovementstoKeāliaRoad,asPriorityIII,arestillatleast10ormoreyearsoutfrompresent,andwillhavenoimpactontheProposedAction.TheproposedimprovementstoKeāliaRoadwillenhancesafetyforbicyclistsandimproveconnectivityforKeāliaMaukaresidents.

5.3.4 STATEWIDEPEDESTRIANMASTERPLAN

TheHDOT’sStatewidePedestrianMasterPlan(HDOT,2013)isintendedtoaddresspedestriansafetyasacomponentoftheHDOTmissiontoprovideasafe,efficient,andaccessiblehighwaysystem.ThePlanenvisionsamulti‐modaltransportationsystemthatprovidesasafeandwell‐connectedpedestriannetworkthatencourageswalkingamongallagesandabilities.Theintentistopromoteapositivepedestrianexperience,environmental,economicandsocialsustainability,whilealsofosteringhealthylifestylesandenergyconservation.

ThegoalsoftheStatewidePedestrianMasterPlanare:

1. Improvepedestrianmobilityandaccessibility

2. Improvepedestriansafety

3. Improveconnectivityofthepedestriannetwork

4. Promoteenvironmentalbenefitsofwalking

5. Encouragewalkingtofosterhealthylifestyles

6. Enhancecommunitiesandeconomicdevelopmentbycreatingpedestrian‐orientedareasandpositivepedestrianexperiences

7. Promoteandsupportwalkingasanimportanttransportationmodethatreducesoverallenergyuse

TheStatewidePedestrianMasterPlanindicatedthattheCountyofKaua‘ihadrelativelyfewcrashesinvolvingpedestrians.Thecrashesthathaveoccurredhavetypicallyclusteredintowncenters,near


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pedestrianattractors.Themajorityofcrashesthathaveoccurredhaveinvolvedpedestriansundertheageof17(HDOT,2013).MapsshowthatinthegeneralPetitionArea,therearenosidewalksalongKūhiōHighwayformostoftheroutebetweenKapa‘aandKeālia.NeartheClosertoKeāliaRoadintersection,therearesidewalksononesideofthehighway.

TheStatewidePedestrianMasterPlandevelopedaninventoryoftheexistingpedestrianenvironmentandidentifiedareasofconcern.Thekeyfactorsfordeterminingtheareasofconcernwerelocationswheretherearegapsinthepedestriansystem;highconcentrationsofpedestrian‐orientedpopulations;pedestrianhotspots(crashes);andpedestrianattractorssuchasschools,shoppingcenters,employmentcenters,etc.SixareasofconcernwereidentifiedforKaua‘iCounty.TheclosesttothePetitionareaistheintersectionofKūhiōHighwayandKawaihauRoad,wherethreeroadsfromthemaukaside(CaneHaulRoad,HauaalaRoadandKawaihauRoad)intersectthehighwaywithina250‐footstretch.Pedestriansfromtheresidentialneighborhoodintheareahaveadifficulttimecrossingthehighwaytoaccessthemulti‐usepathonthemakaisideoftheroad.

Discussion:PedestriantrafficalongKūhiōHighwaybetweenKeāliaRoadandKapa‘aisnegligible,largelyduetothelackofsidewalks.SidewalksareproposedaspartofHDOT’snewKapa‘aStreamBridge,attheintersectionofKūhiōHighwayandMailihunaRoad.

AttheexistingKūhiōHighway‐KeāliaRoadintersection,pedestriantrafficisassociatedwithindividualsgoingtothepostofficeandopenmarket,usingthenearbybusstopsandaccessingbeachrecreationareas.Theproposedroundaboutatthisintersectionwillincludesidewalksandpedestriancrosswalks,includingsplitterislands,allowingpedestrianstocrossonedirectionoftrafficatatime.Theroundaboutdesignwillrequiremotoriststoslowdowntoproceedthroughtheintersection,furtherimprovingpedestriansafety.

Atpresent,thereislimitedpedestriantrafficbetweenKeāliaRoadandthePetitionAreaduetothenarrowwidthandcurvesofKeāliaRoad,thelackofsidewalks,andtheincline.Theproposedroadwideningandtheadditionofshouldersandsidewalkswillmakethisroadsaferandmoreaccessibleforpedestriansandbicyclists.

WithintheproposedKeāliaMaukasubdivision,thereislikelytobesomepedestriantrafficasresidentsvisitneighborsorwalktothefutureparkarea.InstallationofatrafficsignalattheintersectionofKeāliaRoadandKūhiōHighwaywillimprovepedestriansafetyandaccessacrossKūhiōHighway.

5.3.5 KAUA‘IMULTIMODALLANDTRANSPORTATIONPLAN

TheKauaiMultimodalLandTransportationPlan(MLTP)isguidedbythe2000CountyGeneralPlanandoutlinesstepstheCountywillneedtotaketoachieveabalancedmultimodaltransportationsystembytheyear2035.TheMLTPservesastheplanforcountyroadsandstreets,publictransit,bicyclefacilities,pedestrianfacilities,agriculturalneeds,andasameanstointegratelanduseplanningwithtransportationsystemdevelopment.

TheMLTPidentifiesitsmostpressingchallengeasaccommodatingagrowingpopulationonKaua‘iwhilepreservingtheruralcharacterandhighqualityoflife.TheMLTPidentifiedas“PreferredScenario”topreventgrowthinisland‐widevehiclemilesoftravelabovethe2010level,despiteananticipatedincreaseintheresidentandvisitorpopulation.Accomplishingthepreferredscenariowillrequireagradualshiftinsomeofthedrive‐alonetripsthatdominateislandtraveltodaytoothermodesoftransportationsuchaswalking,bikingandtransit(CharlierAssociates,Inc.2012).


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Discussion:AsdiscussedinChapter4(Section4.11),sustainabletransportationinfrastructureinthevicinityofthePetitionAreaiscurrentlyfairtopoor.TherearenosidewalksalongKūhiōHighwaynearKeāliaRoadconnectingtoKapa‘aTown.TheKaua‘iBusprovidesservicealongKūhiōHighwayandthereisanexistingstopnearKeāliaRoad.AlthoughbusroutesconnecttodowntownKapa‘a,thereisnodirectbusaccesstoKapa‘aHighSchoolorKapa‘aMiddleSchool,twolikelydestinationsforprospectivebusridersfromanewresidentialsubdivision.

TheProposedActionwillconstructaroundaboutattheKūhiōHighway/KeāliaRoadintersectiontomitigateprojectrelatedtrafficimpacts.Theroundaboutwillincludesidewalksandcrosswalks.Forpedestriansinthevicinity,trafficsafetywouldbeimprovedbythereducedspeedofvehiclestravelingthroughtheroundabout,andaccesstothemakaisideofthehighwayanddowntothecoastalareaswouldbefacilitated.TheCountyalsohaslongtermplanstomodifybusroutestoimproveaccessfromKeāliaRoadtothemiddleandhighschools.

KeAlaHeleMakalaemulti‐usepathalongthecoastisanexistingamenitythatispopularforwalking,jogging,andbikeriding.Italsoprovidesamulti‐modaltransportationoption,andcouldbeusedtogettoKapa‘a.BikePlanHawai‘ialsodesignatesthisareaofKūhiōHighwayasigned‐sharedroad.

Althoughnon‐vehicleoptionsfromtheKūhiōHighwayandKeāliaRoadintersectionareexpectedtoimproveoverthenextfewyears,forKeāliaMaukaresidents,themajorconstraintwillcontinuetobethepoorconnectivitybetweenthesubdivisionandKūhiōHighway.Asdiscussedabove,KeāliaRoadissteepandnarrowwithnoshouldersorsidewalks,andnospacetoaddthem,andisnotconducivetobicyclingorwalking.

5.4 Chapter343SignificanceCriteria

Indeterminingwhetheranactionmayhaveasignificantimpactontheenvironment,agenciesandapplicantsaretaskedtoconsiderthesumofeffectsonthequalityoftheenvironment,andevaluatetheoverallandcumulativeeffectsoftheaction.Inmostinstances,anactionshallbedeterminedtohaveasignificanteffectontheenvironmentifitmeetsanyofthefollowingcriteria(fromSection11‐200‐12,HAR):

1. Involvesanirrevocablecommitmenttolossordestructionofanynaturalorculturalresource;

2. Curtailstherangeofbeneficialusesoftheenvironment;

3. Conflictswiththestate’slong‐termenvironmentalpoliciesorgoalsandguidelinesasexpressedin[Chapter]344,HRS,andanyrevisionsthereofandamendmentsthereto,courtdecisions,orexecutiveorders;

4. SubstantiallyaffectstheeconomicorsocialwelfareofthecommunityorState;

5. Substantiallyaffectspublichealth;

6. Involvessubstantialsecondaryimpacts,suchaspopulationchangesoreffectsonpublicfacilities;

7. Involvesasubstantialdegradationofenvironmentalquality;


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8. Isindividuallylimitedbutcumulativelyhasconsiderableeffectupontheenvironmentorinvolvesacommitmentforlargeractions;

9. Substantiallyaffectsarare,threatened,orendangeredspecies,oritshabitat;

10. Detrimentallyaffectsairorwaterqualityorambientnoiselevels;

11. Affectsorislikelytosufferdamagebybeinglocatedinanenvironmentallysensitiveareasuchasafloodplain,tsunamizone,beach,erosion‐pronearea,geologicallyhazardousland,estuary,freshwaterorcoastalwaters;

12. Substantiallyaffectsscenicvistasandviewplanesidentifiedincountyorstateplansorstudies;or,

13. Requiressubstantialenergyconsumption.

Discussion:TheStateLandUseCommission(LUC),astheAcceptingAgency,hasdeterminedthattheProposedActionmeetstwosignificancecriteriadefinedinHAR§11‐200.TheProposedActionhasthepotentialtocurtailtherangeofbeneficialusesoftheenvironment(Criterion2)andmayinvolvesubstantialsecondaryimpactsonpublictransportationfacilities(roadways)(Criterion6).Therefore,theLUChasdeterminedthattheProposedActionrequiresthepreparationofanEnvironmentalImpactStatement(EIS)versusanEnvironmentalAssessment,andhaselectedtohavethePetitionermoveforwardwiththepreparationoftheEIS.


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Chapter 6 Keālia Mauka Homesites OTHER IMPACTS AND ISSUES Final Environmental Impact Statement

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6.0 OTHER IMPACTS AND ISSUES

6.1 RelationshipBetweenShort‐TermUsesoftheEnvironmentandtheMaintenanceandEnhancementofLong‐TermProductivity

Short‐termusesandlong‐termproductivityweighsthelimited,temporaryeffectsofconstructionactivitiesagainstthelong‐termsocio‐economicbenefitsoftheProposedAction.Duringconstructionofsubdivisionimprovementsandoff‐siteinfrastructureimprovementstherewillbeshort‐livedconstruction‐relatedimpactsincludingdustgeneration,constructionnoise,vehicleandequipmentemissions,andsurfacerunoff.Theseshort‐termeffectswillbemitigatedthroughtheimplementationofstandardbestmanagementpractices(BMP)forconstructionactivities,aswellasmitigationmeasuresprescribedbyStateandCountyofKaua‘irulesandregulations.Measurestomitigatepotentialimpactstothenaturalandhumanmadeenvironment,includingtrafficandinfrastructureimpacts,canbesuccessfullyimplemented,asdiscussedinChapters3and4ofthisFEIS.

Short‐termbenefitsfromtheconstructionofsubdivisionimprovementswillaccruetothelocaleconomyviadirectandindirectconstruction‐relatedemploymentanddirectspendingthroughthepurchaseofconstructionmaterialsandbuilding‐relatedservices.Oncethesubdivisionimprovementsarecompleted,theresidentiallotswillbesoldandindividualpurchaserswillconstructhomesonthelots.Duringthisperiod,therewillagainbedirectconstructionspending,andemploymentopportunitiesforthelocalworkforce.

Overthelongterm,therewillbealossof53.4acresofagriculturallandthatiscurrentlyusedforcattlegrazing.WhilethePetitionAreaissuitableforagriculturaluse,itrepresentsonlyasmallpercentageofsuitableagriculturallandavailableinEastKaua‘i.Theexistinggrazinglesseehasbeengivenanadditional86acrestocompensateforthelossofthePetitionAreaacreage.Therewillbenolong‐termimpactontheircattleraisingoperations.

Overthelongterm,theoccupantsoftheKeāliaMaukasubdivisionwillcontributetothelocalgovernmenteconomythroughpaymentofpropertytaxes.Mostfutureresidentsofthe235‐unitsubdivisionarecurrentlyKaua‘iresidents,whoarealreadycontributingtothelocaleconomythroughthepaymentofsalestaxesandthepurchaseofgoodsandservicesfromlocalbusinesses.Newcontributionstothelocaleconomywillbeprimarilythroughtheapproximately42“new”residentstotheisland.

Themostsignificantenhancementoflongtermproductivityistheprovisionof235residentialhouselotsthataretargetedtothelocalKaua‘imarket.Thehousingopportunitiescreated,particularlyfortheworkforcehousingsegmentofthehousingmarket,willhelpalleviatethecurrentandprojecteddemandforsinglefamilyhousinginEastKaua‘i.TheEastKaua‘iregionextendingfromLīhu‘etoMoloa‘aistheeconomiccenteroftheislandandthefastestgrowingareaintheCounty.Demandforhousingfarexceedsexistingandcurrentlyplannedinventory.Singlefamilyresidentialuseisthemostproductiveuseoftheproperty,willenhancethequalityoflifeforlocalresidents,andissupportedbytheCountyofKaua‘i,asevidencedbytheGeneralPlanLandUsePlan.Thelong‐termproductivityoftheProposedActionsurpassesanyshort‐termeffectsassociatedwithconstruction.


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6.2 CumulativeandSecondaryImpacts

Cumulativeimpactsarethecombinedeffectofaproposedactionandotherpast,present,andreasonablyforeseeablefutureactions,regardlessofwhoinitiatestheaction.“Cumulativeimpact”istheimpactontheenvironment,whichresultsfromtheincrementalimpactoftheactionwhenaddedtootherpast,present,andreasonablyforeseeablefutureactionsregardlessofwhatagencyorpersonundertakessuchotheractions.Cumulativeimpactscanresultfromindividuallyminorbutcollectivelysignificantactionstakingplaceoveraperiodoftime.Past,present,andreasonablyforeseeablefutureprojectsintheEastKaua‘iareawereexaminedusingcurrentlyavailabledata.

Līhu‘e/EastKaua‘ihasevolvedintoaprimaryregionforeconomicandactivityandemploymentontheisland,attractingsignificantdevelopmentandcapitalinvestmentoverthepastfourplusdecades.Thistrendisanticipatedtocontinueoverthelongterm(CBRE,2017).ResidentpopulationintheLīhu‘etoMoloaacorridor,currentlyatabout38,000,isalsoexpectedtocontinuetogrowsteadily.By2040,theresidentpopulationisprojectedtoreachbetween51,600and53,600persons(ibid).

Thiseconomicandpopulationgrowthwithintheregionwillcontinuetoincreasedemandforadditionalhousingforlocalresidents.Currently,thereareapproximately16,000housingunitsintheLīhu‘etoMoloaacorridoravailableforstandardresidential(non‐resort)use.Ofthese,about82percentareoccupiedbyfulltimeKaua‘iresidenthouseholds,withtheremaining18percentusedbynon‐residentsecond/vacationhomeowners.Thedemandfornewresidential(nottransientvacationunit)unitsintheregionwasprojectedatapproximately7,400unitsthroughyear2040.Currentlyplannedinventoryfallswellshortofmeetingthisdemand.Overthenext23years,theshortfallinhousingforEastKaua‘iresidentswasprojectedatbetween1,400and3,000units(ibid).TheProposedActionisintendedtoaddressthisanticipatedhousingshortfallbyprovidingresidentiallotstargetedforsaletoislandresidents.Cumulatively,theprovisionof235houselotswillhaveapositiveimpactinsatisfyingthedemandforhousing.

TheProposedActionrespondstoprojectedmarketdemandforhousing,butotherwisewillnotcumulativelyaffectdemographicandeconomictrends.PopulationandeconomicgrowthinEastKaua‘iwillcontinuewithorwithouttheproject.Itisestimatedthatapproximately42ofthe700futuresubdivisionoccupantswillbenon‐residents.Theseadditional42individualswillcontributetototalpopulation,buttheProposedActionwillnotaffectinmigrationtotheisland.Therewillbenocumulativeorindirectimpactonrealestatepricesorpropertytaxassessments,whicharelargelydrivenbylargermarketforces.

Theproject’spositiveeconomicandsocialbenefitwillalsohaveacumulativeandindirectimpact.Combinedwithotherregionaleconomicgrowth,theProposedActionwillgenerateconstruction‐relatedexpenditures,supportshort‐termconstructionjobs,andinthelongerterm,contributetodiscretionaryspendingbyresidents.BecausemostKeāliaMaukaresidentsarecurrentlylivingonKaua‘i,theonly“new”spendingwillcomefromtheestimated42non‐residentsecondhomeownersandtheirguests.Indirectly,theassociatedwages,profits,andexpenditurewillhavearippleormultipliereffectontheeconomy.

TheProposedActionwillbringmorecarstotheKeāliaarea,andwillhaveacumulativeimpactontrafficandintersectionlevelofservice(LOS).TheimpactoftheProposedAction,aswellasotherresidentialdevelopmentsproposedoverthenexttwentyyearswereevaluatedintheTrafficImpactAnalysisReport(TIAR)(AppendixH).OtherknownresidentialdevelopmentsthattheTIARprojectedtobecompletedby2027(theTIARanalysisbaseyear)include:PiilaniMaiKeKai,a


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DepartmentofHawaiianHomeLandsprojectinAnahola;KulanaSubdivision,a172‐unitagriculturalsubdivisionnorthofOlohenaRoad;andHokuaPlacelocatednearKapa‘aMiddleSchool,whichwillinclude100singlefamilyunitsand700multi‐familyunitsaswellasneighborhoodretail.TheTIARalsoconsideredthecumulativetrafficimpactsofseveralresortresidentialprojectsincludingCoconutPlantation(192units);CoconutBeachResort(330units);andCocoPalms(350‐roomresort).Theseprojectswillcontributetoasignificantgrowthintraffic,independentoftheProposedAction.

Theprojectwillcontributetoacumulativedemandonutilitiesintheregion,includingdemandontheWailuaWastewaterTreatmentPlant(WWTP).CumulativeimpactshavebeenconsideredintheFEISanalysis.ThePreliminaryEngineeringAnalysis(Kodani,2017)consideredthecumulativeimpactofotherpermitteddevelopmentsinitsanalysisofwastewatergeneration.DataandanalysisfromtheCountyDepartmentofPublicWork’s2008WailuaFacilityPlanused,andthisdataincludedprojectedwastewaterdemandfromproposeddevelopments,includingtheCocoPalms,CoconutPlantation,CoconutVillagecoastalresorts.TheCountyiscurrentlyupdatingandreevaluatingthe2008WailuaFacilityPlanflowprojectionstoincorporatetheproposedKeāliaMaukaHomesites.TheCountyisalsoproceedingwithplannedcapitalimprovementprojectsattheWWTPtoimprovethetreatmentprocess.

Giventhe20‐yearprojectedpopulationgrowthintheregion,additionaldemandsonfire,police,andschoolsareinevitablewithorwithouttheproject.Becausetheprojectistargetedatlocalresidents,themajorityoffutureKeāliaMaukaresidentsarealreadylivingonKaua‘i.Assuch,thenetincreaseindemandforpublicservicesislandwidewillnotbesignificant.However,demandforpoliceandfirepersonnelintheimmediateKeāliaareawillincrease.TheanticipatedfiscalbenefitstotheCountyfromtheprojectwillmorethanoff‐setthecostofadditionalpublicservices.

6.3 IrreversibleandIrretrievableCommitmentsofResources

CompletionoftheProposedActionwillresultintheirreversibleandirretrievablecommitmentofnaturalandfiscalresources.Theprojectsitewillbetransformedfromagrazingpasturewithpotentialforfutureagriculturalusetoaresidentialarea.Otherresourcecommitmentsincludelabor;developmentcapital;constructionmaterials;nonrenewableelectricenergy;andnonrenewableresources(fossilfuels,naturalgas,metals,andminerals).TheProposedActionwillpermanentlymodifythevisuallandscapeandalterviewsoftheareafromKūhiōHighway,fromKeāliaRoad,andtheadjacentKa‘aosubdivision.Thecommitmentoftheseresourcesmustbeweighedagainstthesocio‐economicbenefitsthatwouldbederivedbytheprovisionof235residentiallots,offeringhomeownershipopportunitiestolocalKaua‘iresidents.

6.4 ProbableAdverseEnvironmentalEffectsThatCannotbeAvoided

Chapters3and4ofthisFEIShaveaddressedtheproject’spotentialadverseenvironmentaleffectsthatcannotbeavoided.Thereareunavoidableadverseeffectsassociatedwithconstruction,bothwithinthePetitionAreaandoff‐site.Theseincludenoise,dust,andtemporarytrafficcongestion.Theseadverseeffectscanbeminimizedormitigatedtolevelsthatarelessthansignificant.Forexample,constructionperiodimpactssuchasnoise,dust,andthepresenceofconstructionvehiclescanbemitigatedthroughconstructionbestmanagementpracticesandcompliancewithfederal,stateandCountyrulesandregulations.

Apotentialadverseenvironmentaleffectisthepermanentlossof53.4acresofagricultural/grazinglandtoanurbanizeduse.Compensatingacreageintheareahasbeenprovidedtothegrazinglessee,


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withnoadverseimpacttotheiroperations.Impactstopublicservices,particularlyincreasedenrollmentatKapa‘aareaschools,areunavoidable.Anyrequiredincreaseinpublicservicesorschoolfacilitieswillbemorethanoff‐setbytheproject’sfiscalbenefitstotheStateandCounty.

Anotheradverseenvironmentalimpactwillbeincreasedtrafficvolumesinthearea,duetothecreationofanewsubdivision.TheseimpactswillLong‐termimpactssuchasincreasedtrafficwillbemitigatedthroughsignalizationconstructionofaroundaboutattheKūhiōHighwayandKeāliaRoadintersection.ImprovementstoKeāliaRoadwillbeapartoftheProposedAction,andwillenhancesafetyandconnectivityforpedestriansandbicyclists.TheseimprovementsareconsistentwiththeStateandCounty’sCompleteStreetspolicies,andsustainabletransportationobjectives.

ThevisualcharacterofthePetitionAreaasseenfromKūhiōHighwayandKeāliaRoadwillchange.Anopengrazingareawillbereplacedbyanurbanizedneighborhood.TheunobstructedmaukaviewsfromtheKeāliaTownTractresidentiallotswillbepermanentlyaltered.ThevisualimpactwillbemostsevereforthethreeresidentiallotsonKa‘aoRoad,whichwilldirectlyfaceseveralnewhouselots.Theresidentsofthe22lotsthatareproposedtobackontoKūhiōHighwaywillbeimpactedbyhighwaynoise.ThesenoiseimpactswillbemitigatedbyconstructionofafourfoothighnoisewallalongKūhiōHighway,berms,oracombinationofthetwo.measuressuchasberming,soundwalls,useofdoubleglazedwindow,andsoundproofedexteriorwalls.Duetothelocationofthelotsnearthehighway,somedegreeofnoiseimpactontheseresidentsisunavoidable.

Insummary,theProposedActionwillresultinunavoidableenvironmentalimpacts.Theseimpactsrepresentshortandlong‐termtrade‐offsinordertomeettheproject’sprimaryobjective,toprovidehousingopportunitiesforKaua‘iresidents,includingworkforcehousing.This“counterveilingbenefit”respondstoanurgentneedwhichisahighpriorityoftheCountyofKaua‘iandsupportedbypublicpolicy(e.g.,HousingPolicyfortheCountyofKaua‘i(Ordinance860)).WhilethegoalofadditionalhousingcouldalsoberealizedbythealternativesdiscussedinSection2.4ofthisFEIS,noalternative(otherthan“NoAction”)iswithoutenvironmentalimpact.Ofthealternativesdiscussed,theProposedActionwasdeterminedtobethemostconsistentwiththeCountyGeneralPlan,compatiblewithCountyworkforcehousingpolicies,andconsistentwiththeCounty’sgoaltoprovidehousingopportunitiesforKaua‘iresidents.

6.5 UnresolvedIssues

SoilTesting.DuetothePetitionArea’sformeragriculturaluse,thereisthepotentialforgrounddisturbingactivitiestoencountersoilcontamination.AsdiscussedinSection4.8,thereisthepotentialforgrounddisturbingactivitiestoencounterareaswithexistingsoilcontaminationduetohistoricuseofherbicides.Thepotentialpresenceofhazardoussubstances,includingarsenic,couldposehealthconcernsforfutureresidentialuse.AsrecommendedbytheDepartmentofHealth(DOH)HazardEvaluationandEmergencyResponse(HEER)Office,soiltestingwillbeconductedpriortoconstructioninPetitionAreasproposedforresidentialorrecreationaluse.AsoilsamplingplanidentifyingchemicalsofconcernandproposedtestingmethodologywillbedevelopedandsubmittedtoDOHHEERforreviewandapprovalpriortotesting.Ifidentified,contaminatedsoilsandmaterialswillberemediatedtolevelsappropriateforresidentialusepriortoconstruction.

ThePetitioneriscurrentlyawaitingconfirmationfromtheStateHistoricPreservationDivision(SHPD)thattherequirementsofHRSSection6E,HistoricPreservationhavebeenmet.ThePetitionAreawaspartofapriorArchaeologicalInventorySurvey(AIS)thatrecommendednofurtherarchaeologicalwork.OnFebruary27,2018,theStateLandUseCommissionsentalettertothe


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SHPD,withtheLiteratureReviewandFieldInspectionReport(CSH,2017),requestingconfirmationthatSection6Erequirementshavebeenmet.Whilenotan“unresolvedissue,”thisisapendinginquirythatiscurrentlyawaitingcompletion.ItisanticipatedthatthiswillbecompletedduringtheDEISreviewperiod

PreparationofArchaeologicalMonitoringPlan.AsrecommendedinthesupplementalArchaeologicalInventorySurvey,archaeologicalmonitoringisproposedforexcavationinthevicinityofNewKumukumuCamp,duringoff‐siteconstructionoftheroundabout,andinstallationofthesewermainextensiononthemaukasideofKūhiōHighway.Anarchaeologicalmonitoringplan(AMP)willbepreparedandapprovedbytheStateHistoricPreservationDivisionpriortoconstruction.

NoisemitigationatKūhiōHighwayboundary.AccordingtotheNoiseMeasurementandEvaluationReportfortheproject(AppendixJ),noisemitigationisrecommendedforlotsalongtheKūhiōHighwayfrontage.Adequatemitigationcouldbeaccomplishedthroughconstructionofa4‐foothighnoisewallorberm(s),orcombinationofthetwo.TheproposedmitigationwillconsiderthepreferencesoftheCountyandStateDepartmentofTransportation,aswellastheresultsoffurtherengineeringandfeasibilitystudies.Theissuewillberesolvedduringtheproject’ssubdivisionapprovalphase,andspecifiedinthesubdivisionapprovalconditions.

KeāliaRoad‐KūhiōHighwayintersectionimprovements.BotharoundaboutandatrafficsignalhavebeenidentifiedbytheTIARasfeasiblealternativesformitigationoftrafficimpactsattheKeāliaRoad‐KūhiōHighwayintersection.TheCountyhasexpresseditspreferencefortheconstructionofaroundabout.Finalplansfortheroundaboutstillneedtobedeveloped.SinceKūhiōHighwayisaStateownedhighway,theformalconcurrenceandparticipationoftheDepartmentofTransportation(HDOT)isalsorequiredpriortofinalizingplansfortheintersection.

CountyProvisionofSewerService.TheCountyDepartmentofPublicWorks,WastewaterManagementDivisionhasindicatedthatitwillissuea“willserve”letterforwastewaterserviceaftertheprojecthasreceivedzoningapproval.TheprojectcivilengineershavebeenincontactwiththeDepartmentofPublicWorksandconnectiontotheCounty’ssystemisnotexpectedtobeaproblem.However,confirmationofsewerserviceremainsapendingissue.

Off‐sitewastewaterimprovements.TheexactlocationoftheproposedwastewaterpumpstationnearKūhiōHighwayisyettobedetermined,butwillbeidentifiedwiththeapprovaloftheCountyofKaua‘iDepartmentofPublicWorks,WastewaterManagementDivision.ItisanticipatedthatthepumpstationwillbeonlandownedbythePetitionerandwillbededicatedtotheCountyatthecompletionoftheproject.

SewerlinecrossingatKapa‘aStreamBridge.TheextensionofasewermainintheKūhiōHighwayright‐of‐wayisproposed.ThesewermainwillneedtocrossKapa‘aStreambeforeconnectingtoanexistingsewermanholeneartheKaiakeaFireStation.TheHawai‘iDepartmentofTransportationKaua‘iDistrictEngineerhasconfirmedthatthesewermaincanbeattachedtoitsproposedKapa‘aStreamBridgeonKūhiōHighwaynearMailihunaRoad(lettertoHawai‘iManagementServicesLLCdatedFebruary25,2019,seeAppendixL).Thesewermain’sstreamcrossingmayrequireaseparateSection9bridgepermitfromtheCoastGuard,iftheCoastGuarddeterminesitisnotalreadycoveredintheHDOT’sexistingapprovals.Follow‐upcoordinationwiththeHDOTandtheCoastGuardwillbeneededtoensureallSection9permitrequirementshavebeensatisfied.


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CompliancewithHousingPolicyfortheCountyofKaua‘i.TheprojectwillcomplywithOrdinance860,HousingPolicyfortheCountyofKaua‘irequiringaportionofthedevelopmenttoincludeworkforcehousing.TheworkforcehousingrequirementisdevelopedincooperationwiththeCountyHousingAgencypriortofinalsubdivisionorzoningapproval,whicheveroccursfirst.Thefinalrequirementwillidentifythenumberoflotsandthepricelevelsfortheworkforcehousingrequirement,andwillbeincludedinthefinalsubdivisionorzoningconditions.

Chapter 7 Keālia Mauka Homesites EIS PREPARERS AND CONTRIBUTORS Final Environmental Impact Statement

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7.0 EIS PREPARERS AND CONTRIBUTORS

EISPreparers

ENVIRONMENTALPLANNINGHHFPlanners,Inc. ScottEzer,Principal LeslieKurisaki,Associate RyanMasuda,Graphics DianeYamamoto,Graphics

EISContributors

BOTANICALCONSULTANTLeGrandeBiologicalSurveys,Inc.

MayaLeGrande,M.S.BIOLOGICALCONSULTANTRanaBiologicalServices

ReginaldDavid

ARCHAEOLOGICAL/HISTORICRESOURCESCulturalSurveysHawai‘i

HalletHammatt,Ph.D.Nancine“Missy”Kamai,B.A.

CULTURALRESOURCESCulturalSurveysHawai‘i

HalletHammatt,Ph.D.BrittanyBeauchan,M.A.VictoriaS.Creed,Ph.D.

MARKETANDECONOMETRICSTUDIESCBRE

TomHolliday,CRE,FRICSCIVILENGINEERINGKodani&Associates,Engineers,LLC

BillEddy,P.E.

TRAFFICENGINEERINGAustin,Tsutsumi&Associates,Inc.

MattNakamoto,P.E.KristinHamaguchi

Chapter 7 Keālia Mauka Homesites EIS PREPARERS AND CONTRIBUTORS Final Environmental Impact Statement

7-2

PHASEIENVIRONMENTALSITEASSESSMENTEnviroServices&TrainingCenter,LLC

EvaKakone,EnvironmentalScientistSharlaNakashima,EnvironmentalProfessional

ACOUSTICALCONSULTANTCENSEOAV+Acoustics

ToddBeiler,P.E.,INCEBd.Cert.

HYDROGEOLOGICALCONSULTANTTomNanceWaterResourceEngineering(TNWRE)

TomNance

Chapter 8 Keālia Mauka Homesites REFERENCES Final Environmental Impact Statement

8-1

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8-2

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