tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998528789186246786.post3830273245984520617..comments2024-01-22T03:39:51.819-10:00Comments on Kaneohe Neighborhood Board Blog: Kaneohe Neighborhood Board Supports Windward Community College In Dispute Over State HospitalAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17255617705534712261noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998528789186246786.post-59963568717674447762016-02-22T10:46:11.708-10:002016-02-22T10:46:11.708-10:00I am concerned about the land swap. To put a facil...I am concerned about the land swap. To put a facility that is going to house 150 long term care residents in an area that is already congested, would be more problematic than the proposed site. Windward Comp Center already houses several different offices of DOH and have more than 10 employees on any given day, making parking difficult for staff as well as visitors to the complex. When WCC has their Ho'olaulea, residents are already parking in Hokulele Parking. Is it possible that maybe Avalon can go back to the drawing board and build a facility in the Bishop site that is not two story that will not block the views? Maybe a traffic pattern can be developed to also make the proposed facility users not use the road as Chancellor Dykstra pointed out as a concern. As for the Great Lawn, isn't that between Hale Akoakoa and Hale Kuhina, making this sort of a moot point since Bishop Building is across from it? I also walk the grounds of WCC and wonder why WCC cannot develop the area with the charter school on the backside where a boarded up building is? Or develop the area near the present location of the charter school is. I believe it is also worth mentioning that our elderly usually want quiet, less stimulus which means putting a facility next to a BUSY neighborhood park not practical. You have soccer games, flag football games, softball practices, tennis, etc. on any given day at this park not to mention that the park lights sometimes remain on until 1030pm (which Ko'olau Village residents have complained about in the past) which again is not helpful to the possible residents that would live in a long term facility. I live on Kahuhipa Street and know how busy this park gets as well as how busy the comp center gets. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998528789186246786.post-86942329601626152282016-02-20T20:49:36.497-10:002016-02-20T20:49:36.497-10:00Hawaii State Hospital Master Plan
Summarize curre...Hawaii State Hospital Master Plan<br /><br />Summarize current status Of the master plan<br /><br /> Gov. Lingle held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the long-term care facility in 2010.<br /> <br /> I have been a member of the Hawaii State Hospital Citizens Advisory Board (CAB) for six years. During that time the Board held quarterly meetings until Dr. May was pointed administrator. We have not had a formal meeting since his appointment.<br /> <br /> During those six years, the master plan has never been discussed at a CAB meeting.<br /> <br /> The first the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board became aware of the state hospital master plan was in May 2015 when the hospital presented the master plan to the Board. It was at that time that the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board became aware of the disagreement between the Department of Health and the University of Hawaii about building on the Great Lawn.<br /> <br /> The Department of Health wants to build a long-term care facility across the end of the Great Lawn. The Great Lawn is a major architectural feature of the Windward Community College campus. The College has proposed a land exchange which will enable construction of the long-term care facility at the enterance to the College Campus. The Windward Community College proposal will preserve the great lawn and the Bishop building.<br /> <br /> The Department of Health has declined to discuss the land exchange. Their consistent responses been, “a land exchange is not in the best interest of the Department of Health.” In developing their master plan I believe they have done what is easiest for the Department of Health and not considered what is best for Kaneohe community or Windward Community College.<br /> <br />The Hawaii State Hospital master plan has been presented to us as a finished document. The Kaneohe Community has not had an opportunity to participate in the planning process. A master plan is a document which should be presented to the stakeholders for comment and recommendations before detailed architectural drawings are developed. This process ensures that all stakeholder concerns are considered before proceeding with the expense of developing the working documents necessary to implementation of the project.<br /><br />This project has not moved forward in six years. It has suddenly become urgent because of the impending loss of certification. Dr. May told me last August that the historic documentation required for demolition on any state property older than 60 years had been completed and they were ready to start construction of the long-term care facility. I checked in January with the Division of Historic Preservation and was told that the Department of Health had not submitted the necessary documents to have their requests considered.<br /><br />I recognize the urgency of implementing the Master Plan. Changing the location of the long-term care facility will not affect any other aspect of the master plan. I do not believe the Department of Health claim that entering into a land exchange will delay the construction of the long-term care facility by five years. The governor can transfer State property between agencies by executive order. If the Governor is given the authority to by-pass the procurement procedures, a new public private contract should be able to be negotiated within a relatively short time.Kaneohe Neighborhood Boardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04111729442990216682noreply@blogger.com