Thursday, March 5, 2015

Board To Discuss Sustainability At March Meeting

An updated city plan that could reshape land preservation, building heights and traffic in our community is up for discussion at this month's Kaneohe Neighborhood Board meeting.

The Ko'olau Poko Sustainable Communities Plan was adopted in 2000 and has been under review since 2009. The neighborhood board wants to offer its guidance on proposed revisions to the plan before a public comment period ends April 1.

The board will meet at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 19, at Benjamin Parker Elementary School, 45-259 Waikalua Road.

Cemetery, Transit Center & Traffic Jams At Issue

Among the issues the board will discuss are:
  • How the plan affects the use of preservation land and the possible expansion of Hawaiian Memorial Park Cemetery. The cemetery is considering an expansion to serve increasing community needs. Neighbors are concerned about possible impacts on their neighborhoods, including increased erosion and water runoff.
  • How the plan affects development around a possible transit center on Kawa Street, near Windward Mall. The city has loosened development restrictions around other transit centers, including rules on building height, environmental impact and impact on Native Hawaiian burial sites.
  • How the plan affects the Kahekili Highway. Traffic backups are frequent on the stretch of the highway that is not multi-lane.

Crosswalk, Vacancies & Sunshine Law Also On Agenda

The neighborhood board agenda also includes a discussion of a possible public-private partnership to improve safety at the Pahia Road crosswalk on the Kamehameha Highway. The city plans to hire a consultant soon to design improvements to the crosswalk, where four pedestrians have been killed in recent years. The board is concerned that it could take five years for the city to complete the project. The board will discuss ways to get improvements in place more quickly.

Also on the agenda are action to replace board members who are resigning and to support legislation on Hawaii's Sunshine Law.

Community members are encouraged to attend the meeting and participate in neighborhood board activities.

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