The developers of the Palamanui educational, commercial and residential complex are asking to be relieved of the obligation to build a mauka to makai connector road that would link Queen Kaahumanu Highway to Highway 190. ADVERTISING The developers of the
The developers of the Palamanui educational, commercial and residential complex are asking to be relieved of the obligation to build a mauka to makai connector road that would link Queen Kaahumanu Highway to Highway 190.
If they don’t get it, plans for the development could be scuttled, consultants for the project say.
The approximately 1.5-mile road was a condition of the 2005 approval for the complex, and was estimated around $2.5 million to $3 million. Nearly a decade later, problems getting a right-of-way through state dryland forest and new standards for construction have caused the road to morph to twice its original planned length and three to four times the expense, project consultant Greg Chun said.
“We had envisioned a secondary access road, not a regional collector road,” Chun said. “We can no longer make that level of investment. We are seeking relief.
“With this in play, there is no way we can keep the project going.”
Instead, developers say they are actively seeking ideas from the public. As an alternative, they said, Palamanui could help to build the extension of Ane Keohokalole Highway from Hina Lani Street to Kaiminani Drive, or contribute to the second phase of the community college center.
The developers took their case to the public in an open house Saturday at the 725-acre site mauka of Kona International Airport. The complex is the home of Hawaii Community College — Palamanui, the first phase of which is scheduled to be completed in time for classes next fall. Also planned for the complex adjacent the college center is a 30-acre university village town center, 1,116 dwellings, a 70-acre business park, faculty and student housing and a park and forest preserve.
The developers of Palamanui are applying to the Planning Commission for an amendment of the conditions of approval for the complex. The goal is to be relieved of the obligation to build the road, to identify a suitable alternative investment, and to receive an extension of time to build University Drive between the center and an intersection with Queen Kaahumanu Drive just north of the airport.
University Drive was supposed to be completed by next April. But the developers do not now have the money to proceed, said Roger Harris, director of governmental affairs for Palamanui. He did not give an estimate when the project would be finished.
“We hope to have it completed by first occupancy,” he said. “We hope to get a KTA in there, but they won’t come in until it’s built.”
With $10 million already put into the center, plus $9 million to bring county water service into the project, developers say they’ve put more than $20 million into infrastructure and improvements that will benefit future users of the community college center.
The developers say they have spent the last nine months talking with about 400 people to gauge how they should proceed with an alternative to the connector road.
“We agree that mauka-makai connectors are important, but we have not heard this particular road is important at this time,” said Chun. “… We’ve heard it is more important to complete the mid-level road. We can’t build that road, but we can help the county get started. Or, we could put more into the university. That’s a noble cause, but that becomes a state benefit as opposed to a county benefit, so that probably won’t fly.”
Palamanui could help kick-start the extension of Ane Keohokalole by paying for such “soft costs” as the environmental assessment, project design and securing the right-of-way, said Steve Colon, president of development for Hunt Companies, the managing member of Palamanui. That initial investment could trigger an 80 percent federal match in funds to build the extension, Colon said.
Whatever the alternative that is identified as best, developers stressed they hoped it not be more expensive than the original plans for the connector.
Palamanui has purchased the land necessary for the right-of-way for that connector road, should it be built in the future. But the need for double lanes, thicker asphalt, curbs, gutters, light poles and other upgraded standards make the present-day cost prohibitive, developers said.
“We really are stuck,” said Harris.
Some 50 residents gathered to hear the remarks and ask questions. Several asked how the community could help.
“We are going to need letters and voices of support when we go to our public hearings,” Chun said.
Under best-case scenarios, homes could be built at Palamanui within three years, the consultant said.
Asked about the petition to put the Keauhou aquifer under control of the state Commission on Water Resource Management, Chun said the designation could effectively shut down progress at the site.
“Even though water has been connected, the interpretation we’ve received is that if you are not an active user, you will not be issued a water meter,” said Chun. “The Department of Water Supply has made that very clear.”
The DWS has stated it will not issue new meters until the state has sorted out and permitted existing water users. Present users would have up to a year to apply for permits for the water they already draw.
Harris said Palamanui has invested about $16 million in several wells and water lines that connect through the project site between Keahole Agricultural Park and Makalei Estates subdivision.
That the water source for Palamanui is now in question is simply bizarre, Harris said.
“You just don’t make that commitment without water,” Harris said. “If they drop the hammer, that means all of this doesn’t matter. We can’t get water until we get certified.”
CWRM will hold a public meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday in West Hawaii Council Chambers to decide whether to pursue control of the aquifer.
“If everyone wants this project to go ahead, go down there and complain and moan,” said Robert Bates. “Because this project could be dead in the water.”
