Light Agenda Is Scheduled For Upcoming Meeting Of Kaneohe Neighborhood Board

The agenda is set for our meeting on Thursday, April 20, and we hope you will join us. Details are below. To review the complete agenda online, click on this link.

Board Business: The only items of Board business are adoption of minutes from our most recent regular and agenda-planning meetings.

Other Business: Our agenda always includes time for reports from the Fire and Police Departments, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, elected officials from the state and local levels, community organizations, and our Board committees.

Details: The Board meeting will take place in the cafeteria of Benjamin Parker Elementary School, 45-259 Waikalua Road, starting at 7 p.m. Click on the highlighted link above to read the full agenda and find more information about agenda topics. The minutes of our March meeting also are now available. Click on the highlighted link to read them.

Agenda Planning Update: At this month’s agenda planning meeting, on April 4, we voted to oppose an extension of the community growth boundary in Kahalu’u. The resolution says extending the boundary could create a “domino effect” leading to “urbanization of valuable farmlands and watersheds throughout the rest of the Windward coast.” The vote on the resolution was 9-0, with two members voting by teleconference. To read the text of the resolution, click here.

We welcome your comments, in person and online

Please join us for all of our meetings. The agenda always includes time for comments by community members. If you are unable to attend, you may provide testimony online and contact Neighborhood Board members directly.

Comments on this blog are welcomed. To add a comment, please click on the link below. Also, please like us on Facebook and comment there.

Developers nibbling at our Ag zoned land.

This is from our neighbors to the north, Kahaluu Neighborhood Board. Developers keep nibbling away at our Ag zoned land.

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Aloha,

Just a heads up that the amended KPSCP will be up for first reading before the City Council on Wednesday, October 5 at Kapolei Hale. Below are excerpts from Kahalu'u Neighborhood Board's letter to government officials in strong opposition to moving the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) into Kahalu'u.  I will attend the October 5th meeting to testify in opposition.

 1)  The Kahalu'u Neighborhood Board #29 is concerned that we must preserve the integrity of the Sustainable Community Plan by keeping agricultural land in agriculture.

 2)  We believe that It is vital to protect the health of our streams and sources of pure water in Kahalu'u from storm water pollution and leaking septic systems.  Increased development will lead to increased degradation of Kahalu'u stream and Kahalu'u lagoon.  

3)  We strongly oppose the 8/3/16 Planning Commission's recommendation to move the UGB by inserting the development project at 47-605 Melekula Road (TMK 1-4-7-46:006: Ronald DeReis, owner) into the Ko'olaupoko Sustainable Communities Plan.  The property is currently zoned for AG-2 and preservation.  Development of this property destroys a riparian buffer zone necessary for the health of Kahalu'u stream.

 4)  Expanding residential development by extending the Urban Growth Boundary into Kahalu'u agricultural land violates the intent of the Oahu General Plan.

Please send your individual testimony to the City Council members as soon as possible.  Public testimony is critical at every step of the way!  I suggest you share this message with everyone in your address book.  Mahalo, Flora Obayashi, Chair, Kahalu‘u Neighborhood Board #29

Send a copy of your testimony to:

Mayor Kirk Caldwell, mayor@honolulu.gov

Council Chair Ernie Martin, District 2, 768-5002

Council Member Ikaika Anderson, District 3, 768-5003

Council Member Trevor Ozawa, Zoning and Planning Committee Chair, 768-5004

Council Member Kymberly Pine, 768-5001

Council Member Ann Kobayashi, 768-5005

Council Member Carol Fukunaga,768-5006

Council Member Joey Manahan, 768-5007

Council Member Brandon Elefante 768-5008

George Atta, Department of Planning and Permitting

Senator Gil Riviere, senriviere@capitol.hawaii.gov, 586-7330

Senator Jill Tokuda, sentokuda@capitol.hawaii.gov, 587-7215

Representative Jarrett Keohokalole, repkeohokalole@capitol.hawaii.gov, 586-8540

Representative Feki Pouha, reppouha@capitol.hawaii.gov, 586-6380 

Mr. Jim Niermann (Mr. DeReis' representative)

Neighborhood Board Approves Report On Community Growth Plan; Also Reappoints Officers

Our July meeting included votes on a couple of issues, along with reports and comments on several more. This post will cover the votes. We’ll cover the rest in future posts.

COMMUNITY GROWTH:

On a unanimous 10-0 vote, we approved a report by a Board study group about the Koolau Poko Sustainable Communities Plan. This plan will help guide development in Windward Oahu for many years to come.

A permitted interaction group, led by Board Vice Chairman Bill Sager and Board member Mahealani Cypher, developed the Board’s report. It supports the Sustainable Communities Plan “because it preserves the current urban areas and limits future growth for the district of Koolau Poko and the communities of Kane`ohe, in particular.”

However, the report does note community concerns that “should be addressed before final approval by the Honolulu City Council.”  These include two Key Elements: More focus on sustainable food, water and shelter, and greater consideration of the impact of widening Kahekili Highway on growth and traffic congestion.

The report also lists community concerns about 12 specific issues such as open space preservation, parks and community resilience.

The report has been submitted to the Honolulu Planning Commission, which is developing a final version of the Sustainable Communities Plan. The City Council must approve the plan before it takes effect. 

The full report by our study group is posted in the Committee Reports section of this website.
UPDATE: The Honolulu Planning Commission will meet on Wednesday, August 3, to adopt the revised Koolau Poko Sustainable Communities Plan. The meeting is to be held in the Mission Memorial Conference Room of the Mission Memorial Building, 550 S. King Street, in Honolulu.

BOARD OFFICERS:

Mo Radke - Board Chair 2016-17

On unanimous votes, we chose Mo Radke to continue as chairman, Bill Sager as vice chairman and Jon Hanks as secretary. On a 6-4 vote, we chose Felipe San Nicolas to continue as treasurer. The other nominee was Donald Dawson. Neighborhood boards are required to elect officers on or after July 1 each year.

We are so fortunate to have members with the dedication that Mo, Bill, Jon and Felipe bring to their Board jobs. They are respectful, thoughtful representatives of our community.

Please join us for all of our meetings. If you are unable to attend, you may provide testimony online and contact Neighborhood Board members directly.

Comments on this blog are welcomed. To add a comment, please click on the link below. Also, please like us on Facebook and comment there.

School Expansion, Community Growth Plan On Agenda For Kaneohe Board’s July Meeting

We have a light business agenda for our July 21 business meeting. The agenda for the meeting is available online, and we invite you to check out details below.

St. Mark Lutheran School Expansion: Tim Newberry will give a presentation about plans to build a preschool facility on the campus at 45-725 Kamehameha Highway. The two-story facility would include three preschool classrooms, library, technology center, meeting rooms and administrative offices. The building would replace the current administrative offices, kindergarten room, and computer room. 

St. Mark Lutheran School's current campus layout.

Koolaupoko Sustainable Communities Plan: Bill Sager will report on the work of a study group that has been looking into the final version of the plan, which is designed to guide development in our area.  

Board Vacancies: Two seats are currently open on the Board. They represent Sub-District 8, Kapunahala; and Sub-District 12, Pikoiloa. The Board is authorized to fill vacancies by appointment. Community members may indicate their interest by contacting Board Chairman Mo Radke or by attending a Board meeting. A map of the district is available online, as is a street index that is organized by sub-district (search for District 30 in the index, then find the sub-district).

Details: The Board meeting will take place in the cafeteria of Benjamin Parker Elementary School, 45-259 Waikalua Road, starting at 7 p.m. Click on the highlighted text above to read the full agenda and find more information about agenda topics. The minutes of our June meeting also are now available. Click on the highlighted link to read them.

We welcome your comments, in person and online

Please join us for all of our meetings. If you are unable to attend, you may provide testimony online and contact Neighborhood Board members directly. 

Comments on this blog are welcomed. To add a comment, please click on the link below. Also, please like us on Facebook and comment there.

Noisy Animals Stressing Residential Area; Kaneohe Neighborhood Board Will Try To Help

The agenda for the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board’s June 16 business meeting is now available online. 

Among the scheduled topics are:

Discussion of a resolution to help neighbors deal with disruptions and health risks from farm animals in the Puohala neighborhood. Residents told the Board’s agenda planning meeting on June 7 that one of their neighbors illegally raises peacocks, chickens, pigs, fighting dogs and other animals. The neighbors say that they are working on the issue with Honolulu police but that many other government agencies have declined to help them.

Discussion of a letter to the Honolulu Neighborhood Commission about a proposed amendment to the Neighborhood Plan.  The amendment, to section 2-17-202, would clarify who is an “active voter” for determining eligibility to vote in elections for neighborhood board positions.  

Discussion of a letter to the city Department of Planning and Permitting seeking an extension for considering updates to the Koolaupoko Sustainable Communities Plan. The Board has appointed a study group to examine parts of the plan. The city has scheduled a final public hearing on the document at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 6, at Pali Golf Course, 45-050 Kamehameha Hwy.

Action on representation of two Board sub-districts. The Board will vote on reappointing Nancy Davlantes to the seat for Sub-District 9, Keapuka. And the Board will vote on issuing a three-absence letter to member Gloria Carlile. She represents Sub-District 11, Mokulele.

Two other seats are currently open on the Board. They represent Sub-District 8, Kapunahala; and Sub-District 12, Pikoiloa. The Board is authorized to fill vacancies by appointment. Community members may indicate their interest by contacting Board Chairman Mo Radke or by attending a Board meeting. A map of the district is available online, as is a street index that is organized by sub-district (search for District 30 in the index, then find the sub-district).

Click on the highlighted text above to read the full agenda and find more information about agenda topics. The minutes of the Board’s May meeting also are now available. Click on the highlighted link to read them.

We welcome your comments, in person and online

The Board meeting will take place in the cafeteria of Benjamin Parker Elementary School, 45-259 Waikalua Road, starting at 7 p.m. Please join us for all of our meetings. If you are unable to attend, you may provide testimony online and contact Neighborhood Board members directly.

Comments on this blog are welcomed. To add a comment, please click on the link below. Also, please like us on Facebook and comment there.

Study Group To Look At Plan For Building Heights, Cemetery Expansion In Kaneohe

Facing an important deadline, the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board has appointed a group to study a city plan to guide growth in the area.

The group will focus on how the plan regulates high-rise buildings and the development of designated open space by cemeteries.

Called a permitted interaction group, the panel will meet 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 25, at the Koolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club office, 46-005 Kawa St # 104, in the Yim’s Kaneohe Atrium building. The meeting is open to the public.

The meeting comes six weeks before the city is scheduled to hold the final public hearing on a revised version of the growth plan, also known as the Koolaupoko Sustainable Communities Plan. That meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 6, at Pali Golf Course, 45-050 Kamehameha Hwy.

Board members Mahealani Cypher and Bill Sager will co-chair the permitted interaction group. Board member Warren Ditch also is a member.

The permitted interaction group will study whether the revised plan would relax height limits on buildings in areas around transit hubs, such as the one in Kaneohe, and what position to take on the issue. Some interpret this section of the plan as affecting only hubs along the Honolulu Rail Transit Project. Others say it would apply to all hubs, including those like Kaneohe where building heights are more restricted.

The group also will study how the revised plan would affect construction on preservation land owned by cemeteries. Preservation land is set aside under city rules to save open space. A proposed change to the plan would allow expansion of the cemetery at Hawaiian Memorial Park onto 56.5 acres of preservation land that the park owns. The Department of Planning and Permitting supports the change. The group savekaneohe.org has asked the Board to oppose the expansion.

The permitted interaction group is expected to report its findings to the full Board at its next business meeting, Thursday, June 16. That meeting will be held in the cafeteria of Benjamin Parker Elementary School, 45-259 Waikalua Road, starting at 7 p.m.

Please join us for all of our meetings. If you are unable to attend, you may provide testimony online and contact Neighborhood Board members directly.

Comments on this blog are welcomed. To add a comment, please click on the link below. Also, please like us on Facebook and comment there.

Mosquito-Borne Viruses, Sustainability Plan On Agenda For Kaneohe Neighborhood Board Meeting

The agenda for the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board’s May 19 business meeting is now available online. 

Among the scheduled topics are:

A presentation by Dr. David Johnston of the state Department of Health about dengue fever and the Zika virus. The Department says there have been recent outbreaks of both diseases in the state, but that no locally transmitted cases are present at this time. However, the mosquitos that transmit the viruses are present here and could pick it up from infected travelers. The Department’s Fight the bite program urges residents to protect themselves against mosquitos and eliminate areas where mosquitos can breed.

A presentation by Raymond Young of the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting about the Koolaupoko Sustainable Communities Plan. A proposed change to the plan would allow expansion of the cemetery at Hawaiian Memorial Park. The Department of Planning and Permitting supports the change. The group SaveKaneohe.Org has asked the Board to oppose the expansion.

An opportunity to fill the three vacant seats on the Board. The seats represent Sub-District 8, Kapunahala; Sub-District 9, Keapuka; and Sub-District 12, Pikoiloa. The Board is authorized to fill vacancies by appointment. Community members may indicate their interest by contacting Board Chairman Mo Radke or by attending a Board meeting. A map of the district is available online, as is a street index that is organized by sub-district (search for District 30 in the index, then find the sub-district).

The Board also will discuss establishing a Public Interaction Group, filling the Board Treasurer’s position, filling committee vacancies, tables for the Windward Hoolaulea, and a banner to promote Board meetings.

Click on the highlighted text above to read the full agenda and find more information about agenda topics. The minutes of the Board’s April meeting also are now available. Click on the highlighted link to read them.

We welcome your comments, in person and online

The Board meeting will take place in the cafeteria of Benjamin Parker Elementary School, 45-259 Waikalua Road, starting at 7 p.m. 

Please join us for all of our meetings. If you are unable to attend, you may provide testimony online and contact Neighborhood Board members directly.

Comments on this blog are welcomed. To add a comment, please click on the link below. Also, please like us on Facebook and comment there.

Kaneohe Neighborhood Board Studies Road Issues

Roads and related topics generated plenty of attention during the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board’s October meeting. Here are highlights:

Kahekili Highway:  Board members Mahealani Cypher and Dennis Sanada will study a proposal to widen the Kahekili Highway north of Haiku Road. Traffic congestion is a longstanding problem on that stretch of highway. Ms. Cypher said widening the highway to carry more traffic might be in conflict with the Koolaupoko Sustainable Communities Plan, which seeks to limit development along the Windward Coast past Kaneohe. A city representative said plans for the road remain under review. The representative said one option is to use a contraflow approach, in which one lane carries traffic in different directions depending on the time of day. The contraflow lane would run from Haiku Road to Hui Iwa Street at Valley of the Temples Memorial Park.

Pahia Road Crosswalk: The Board learned that the city has hired a consultant to design pedestrian-crossing signals for the crosswalk at Pahia Road on Kamehameha Highway. The crosswalk has been the site of four pedestrian deaths in recent years. The city is using federal funds to improve this crosswalk and six others, at an estimated cost of $300,000 to $350,000. Construction is expected to occur in 2017. Board member Deborah Collins urged that the Pahia Road crosswalk be the first of the projects completed.

Bus Stop Removal: The Board took no action on a homeowner’s request for the Board to recommend removing a bus stop in front of 45-329 Mealele Street. However, Board Chairman Mo Radke said the Board can discuss the topic at its November 3 planning meeting. The homeowner said she no longer allows her young children to play in the front yard because strangers sit on her front wall while waiting for the bus. She also said the bus stop prevents her guests from parking in the grassy area in front of the wall. She said removing the stop would not inconvenience riders because there are two others a short distance away.

Cut-Through Streets: The Board learned that the city is looking at ways to reduce the impact of cars cutting through neighborhoods to get from the Likelike Highway to the Kamehameha Highway. A resident said a high volume of cars using Anoi Road and Luluku Road causes traffic backups at lights on the two highways.

What's Next: Next up for the Board will be its monthly planning meeting, Tuesday, November 3, at 7 p.m. at the Kaneohe Community and Senior Center, 45-613 Puohala Street. The Board will hold its next regular meeting on Thursday, November 19, at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria of Benjamin Parker Elementary School, 45-259 Waikalua Road, Kaneohe.