WAIMEA — Last Tuesday, the Office of Environmental Quality Control released a Draft Environmental Assessment for the Waimea Town Center Infrastructure Improvements to the public.
Originally submitted by Parker Ranch Inc. to the Hawaii County Planning Department in late June for review, the assessment explains proposed infrastructure improvements for the town in detail. The county anticipates a finding of no significant impact for the improvements, which are required to support the planned and approved build-out of Parker Ranch’s Waimea Town Center Project.
“Parker Ranch kicked off the DEA effort three years ago after deciding it would be beneficial to take a holistic view of the Waimea Town lands and secure certainty regarding the road pathways and infrastructure needs,” Parker Ranch CEO and president Neil Kuyper said by email. “Completing the land exchange with DOE was an important input which has been decided since the state Legislature approved it earlier this year.”
The public can comment on the DEA through Sept. 7.
Zoning for the Waimea Town Center Project has been in place since 1992. The Hawaii County Council revised and approved zoning for the Waimea Town Center in 2002, and required Parker Ranch to make certain infrastructure improvements in the town. Some of these, such as the initial segment of Ala Ohia Road, have already been implemented.
Improvements that remain include the extension of Lindsey Road from just south of Mamalahoa Highway to Ala Ohia Road; extension of Ala Ohia Road from Pukalani Road to Mamalahoa Highway near the Waimea Civic Center — including improvements within the county right of way on Mamalahoa Highway; roads and utilities across a portion of the former Lalamilo Reservoir site near Waikani Road; a permanent sewer line within the utility easement across state Department of Education lands next to Waimea Elementary and Middle School — required as part of the Lindsey Road extension improvements; and potential land exchanges with the Department of Land and Natural Resources and DOE, to support the above improvements.
The infrastructure projects aim to improve traffic circulation in and around town, provide better access to North Hawaii Community Hospital, support the DOE’s expansion plans for Waimea Elementary and Middle School, and infill residential and commercial development in the town, Parker Ranch stated in a fact sheet.
“The key elements of the Waimea Town Center Project include 10 acres of active park land within the town center area, 30 acres outside of WTC to be dedicated to the county for regional recreational activities, preservation of significant archaeological and historic resources/buildings, construction of drainage diversion for Waimea and Lanimaumau Streams and construction of sewer improvements,” Jonathan Mitchell said, Parker Ranch’s manager of corporate development.
The WTCP also includes evaluations of the construction of Ala Ohia Road, as well as future improvement to Lindsey Road and Pukalani Road from Mamalahoa Highway to Ala Ohia Road. Alternative pathways are included.
Parker Ranch said it will study the uses for up to 357 acres of its land to enable build-out of the county-zoned WTCP.
“We will be seeking to market some of these lands over the next few years to support the growth of the town, especially given the lack of new housing inventory on the market,” Kuyper said. “We are not a developer and therefore currently we have no specific plans for any of the lands covered by the EA, and no specific designs or types of housing determined.”
Up to 761 more homes, up to 176,000 square feet of commercial areas and proposed expansion of NHCH estimated at 100,000 square feet are planned, according to Parker Ranch.
The acreage is currently predominantly vacant, open land with scrub vegetation and lava rock and road improvements, Parker Ranch representatives stated. But the WTCP area abuts Mamalahoa Highway, the Waimea Elementary and Middle School campus, various single-family home developments including Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Kuhio Village, Parker Ranch Racetrack, North Hawaii Community Hospital, Lualai subdivision, Holoholo Ku Phase I condominiums and Pukalani Stables, according to the DEA.
The DEA is required for many of the improvements because of changes to state law since the project’s initial approval.
Technical studies completed by Parker Ranch have included biological surveys, an archaeological inventory survey, a cultural impact assessment and a traffic impact analysis report.
Parker Ranch anticipates that short-term construction will effect air quality, noise, solid waste generation and storm water quality/quantity. It said it will address the impacts through compliance with county, state and federal rules, regulations, permit and variance requirements regarding fugitive dust, community noise control and non-point source discharges. In addition, best management practices will be implemented including structural and nonstructural controls designed to inhibit run-off, erosion and fugitive dust, according to the DEA.
“These lists don’t necessarily mean that they will happen, but we will ensure compliance and best practices to mitigate future impacts or effects,” Mitchell said.
Parker Ranch does not anticipate long-term potential impacts with the implementation of recommended design and civil engineering mitigation measures.
Parker Ranch proposes to develop certain infrastructure improvements, which in turn prompt two potential land exchanges between Parker Ranch and the state as stated in the DEA. The first is the DOE land exchange put forward for the future Lindsey Road. The second is the exchange with DLNR on the former Lalamilo Reservoir, according to Mitchell.
Public comments on the DEA must be received or postmarked by Sept. 7 and accompanied by a full name and mailing address. They should be sent to Kevin Sullivan, Hawaii County Planning Department, 101 Pauahi St., Ste. 3, Hilo, HI 96720; Johnathan Mitchell, Parker Ranch Inc., 66-1304 Mamalahoa Highway, Kamuela, HI 96743; and Ann Bouslog, PBR Hawaii &Associates, 1001 Bishop St., Ste. 650, Honolulu, HI 96813
Another option is by email to Kevin Sullivan with the Approving Agency Hawaii County Planning Department at kevin.sullivan@hawaiicounty.gov, and copying Johnathan Mitchell at Parker Ranch at jmitchell@parkerranch.com and consultant, Ann Bouslog, at abouslog@pbrhawaii.com.
“Public comments will be reviewed and responses prepared the third quarter of this year, followed by the preparation of a draft Final EA submitted to the Planning Department for review by the fourth quarter. OEQC will publish the Final EA in the early first quarter of 2018,” Mitchell concluded.
Info: To access the DEA for more details, go to http://oeqc2.doh.hawaii.gov/EA_EIS_Library/2017-08-08-HA-DEA-Waimea-Town-Center-Infrastructure-Improvements.pdf