draft eis comments and responses - Lee Altenberg

Environmental Center
SUBJECT: HONUAÿULA DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT AND PROJECT
DISTRICT PHASE II APPLICATION
May 31, 2012
Page 13 of 23
would be necessary even if Honuaÿula were not built. Therefore, the creation of Honua‘ula will
address regional traffic impacts to the benefit of the entire Kïhei-Mäkena region.
Honua‘ula will be part of the regional traffic solution by: 1) upgrading Pi‘ilani Highway to four
lanes from Kilohana Drive to Wailea Ike Drive; 2) modifying the Wailea Alanui/Wailea Ike Drive
intersection to add a signalized double right-turn movement from northbound to eastbound
turning traffic and provide two left-turn lanes for southbound traffic from Wailea Ike Drive; 3)
signalizing the Pi‘ilani Highway/Okolani Drive/Mikioi Place intersection and providing an
exclusive left-turn lane on Okolani Drive; 4) modifying the Pi‘ilani Highway/Kilohana
Drive/Mapu Place intersection to provide an exclusive left-turn lane, and the southbound Pi‘ilani
Highway approach to provide an exclusive right-turn lane into Mapu Place; and 5) providing a
contribution of $5,000 per unit (totaling $5.75 million) to the County for traffic improvements.
It has been agreed upon with DOT that necessary improvements north of Piÿilani
Highway/Kilohana Drive/Mapu Place intersection would be the responsibility of DOT. DOT is
currently updating the LRLTP which serves as a guide for the development of the major surface
transportation facilities and programs to be implemented and takes into consideration all known
proposed developments, including Honuaÿula.
Post-Construction Operations
Question/Comment: The specific transportation management strategies listed on the top of page
111 are pretty standard and have been proposed elsewhere. These strategies have been proposed
elsewhere and have proven ineffective, especially in the ewa region on Oahu. What is different
about this development that would make these strategies succeed here?
Response: The State DOT, the Maui Department of Transportation, and the Maui Department of
Public Works have all approved the Honuaÿula Transportation Management Plans. The
transportation management strategies you refer to in the Draft EIS are elements of the
Transportation Management Plans, which were included as appendices to the Draft EIS.
We respectfully disagree that the transportation management strategies proposed have been
proven ineffective in other areas and we have reason to believe that they will be effective in the
context of Honuaÿula because, for example:
The Maui Bus system has seen an increasing rate of ridership and there are proposals to
construct nine additional shelters for additional stops. Therefore, it is likely that some
employees of commercial space within Honuaÿula would use the Maui Bus system or the
sub-regional shuttle system. Likewise it is likely that some Honuaÿula residents would use
the Maui Bus system or the sub-regional shuttle system.
Honuaÿula is un-like the ÿEwa region of Oahu which has a vast amount of residential units
with limited job opportunities. The Wailea-Mäkena region includes number of hotels and
resorts in close proximity to Honuaÿula. As discussed in Section 4.4 (Roadways and
Traffic) of the Draft EIS, Honua‘ula’s workforce affordable homes are expected to appeal
to many employees working in the nearby Wailea and Mäkena resorts. Providing the
opportunity for workers to afford a home near their jobs is expected to decrease
Environmental Center
SUBJECT: HONUAÿULA DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT AND PROJECT
DISTRICT PHASE II APPLICATION
May 31, 2012
Page 14 of 23
commuting to and from other parts of Maui, lessen traffic congestion, reduce stress, allow
more family and recreation time, lessen pollution, and improve overall quality of life for
not only Honua‘ula residents, but for Maui residents in general. Providing homes near
employment also allows workers more transportation options to get to work, such as
walking and bicycling, and makes public transportation more feasible by clustering
populations and destinations within a defined area along a practical route.
Visual Resources
Question/Comment: Figure 4 mentioned at the top of page 116 is so far back in the document
that we suggest that you include the page numbers where it can be found (between pages 18 and
19).
Response: In response to your concern, in the Final EIS, Section 4.7 (Visual Resources) will be
revised as follows:
Panoramic views of shoreline, upland areas of Haleakalä, the West Maui Mountains, and the
offshore islands of Molokini, Kaho‘olawe, and Läna‘i are available from select areas of the
Property. Views of the ocean are available from almost all areas. Figure 4 contains site
photographs (see Section 2.1.1 (Location and Property Description)).
Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures (for Visual Resources)
Question/Comment: What is the basis for making the claim that there will no visual impacts? Is
there any studies of visual corridors on which to base your opinion or is it your professional
judgment that there will be none? If it is your personal judgment, what is the basis for your
expertise?
Response: The Draft EIS does not claim that there will be no visual impacts. Rather, Section 4.7
(Visual Resources) of the Draft EIS: 1) acknowledges that the creation of Honuaÿula will change
the visual appearance of the Property from vacant land to a built environment and this change
will be visible from Piÿilani Highway; and 2) reports that Honuaÿula will not impinge upon any
significant public scenic view corridors and will have no significant impacts on views toward the
ocean or Haleakalä. To clarify, with the creation of Honuaÿula, the ocean will still be visible
from public view corridors along Piÿilani Highway, as Honuaÿula is mauka of the current
alignment of Piÿilani Highway and therefore Honuaÿula will not block any ocean views from the
current alignment of Piÿilani Highway. Similarly, Haleakalä will still be visible from public view
corridors along Piÿilani Highway, as Haleakalä rises over 9,000 feet above the elevation of
Honuaÿula and therefore views of Haleakalä will not be significantly impacted by Honuaÿula.
In addition, Section 4.7 (Visual Resources) of the Draft EIS also: 1) notes that Honua‘ula will be in
character with surrounding uses and will complement the pattern of development as envisioned
in the Kïhei-Mäkena Community Plan and by the County zoning of the Property; and 2) explains
that Honua‘ula will incorporate appropriate architecture, materials, colors, site design standards,
and landscaping to create a community in context with the Kïhei-Mäkena region.