Report Title:

HCDCH; Villages of Kapolei

Description:

Amends Act 100, SLH 2001, to require the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii to complete the construction of the Villages of Kapolei within five years of effective date of this Act, and to coordinate with the City and County of Honolulu to implement recommendations of private traffic study.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1647

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF hAWAII.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The villages at Kapolei (Kapolei), a project of the housing and community development corporation of Hawaii (HCDCH), is ten years old this year and has yet to be completed. Kapolei is part of Oahu's "second city", a planned community located on the Ewa plains of Oahu. Kapolei features affordable and market-priced single family homes, condominiums, and rental apartments. Schools, churches, parks, recreational centers, two retail centers, and a golf course are planned as part of Kapolei. Eight villages are planned as part of Kapolei. To date, three villages have been completed, three are still under construction, and two more are yet to begin construction. A total of five thousand units are planned.

According to the HCDCH, the villages "master planned project" is part of the objective of the HCDCH to increase and preserve affordable housing opportunities for low and moderate-income households and special need groups primarily by facilitating private sector development.

The HCDCH acknowledges that issues relating to the dedication of Kapolei infrastructure to the city and county of Honolulu (C&C) are the primary reason for any delay related to the completion of the project. The current estimate for completion of the project is five or more years. Much of the this time is involved with negotiating the terms for dedication with the various C&C departments and the acceptance of any final agreements by the C&C.

In the meantime, the villages of Kapolei homeowners association has proceeded with efforts to address the needs of the neighborhoods in regards to traffic calming and reducing traffic congestion. For that purpose, the association retained a mainland consulting firm, Walkable Communities, Inc., to conduct a planning study and make recommendations concerning pedestrian, bicycle, and auto safety, school traffic safety, and retail accessibility.

The purpose of this Act is to require the HCDCH to complete the construction of Kapolei within five years of the effective date of this Act, and to coordinate with Honolulu county to implement recommendations of the homeowners association's traffic study.

SECTION 2. Act 100, Session Laws of Hawaii 2001, is amended by adding a two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"SECTION . The housing and community development corporation of Hawaii shall complete construction of the villages of Kapolei, including affordable housing units, if any, no later than five years after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION . The state department of transportation or the city and county of Honolulu, as applicable, and the housing and community development corporation of Hawaii shall collaborate and coordinate to implement the recommendations of the traffic study for the villages of Kapolei, prepared by Walkable Communities, Inc., including:

(1) Updating the interim transportation master plan for the immediate and general area;

(2) Sponsoring, along with the villages of Kapolei homeowners association and the University of Hawaii, additional planning and charrette activities to address specific needs within the villages to reduce motorized trip demands, and to create added walking and bicycling connectivity;

(3) Increasing walking, bicycling, and other non-auto trips, through planning of appropriate scale commercial office services and activities, to reduce the number of auto trips;

(4) Contracting with a private firm to conduct additional analyses and to hold traffic workshops for residents of the villages of Kapolei;

(5) Collaboration between the city and county of Honolulu and the housing and community development corporation of Hawaii to resolve all major issues, designs, and efforts to calm traffic and to handle foot, bicycle, and to manage motorized traffic in the area, prior to dedication of roadways by the State to the city and county of Honolulu;

(6) Construction of improvements to Kama'aha loop to assure that traffic in front of the Kapolei elementary school moves at more appropriate speeds of fifteen to twenty miles per hour in order to eliminate much of the existing school pick-up and drop-off chaos;

(7) Construction of a pedestrian trail and link across the Kealanani avenue intersection with Kama'aha avenue to provide adequate community bicycle and pedestrian access, and construction in this area of a single lane roundabout or a raised intersection;

(8) Development of a piazza or neighborhood square;

(9) Construction of a median opening on the trail that is broken by a median island on Kaiau avenue, and making other recommended changes to Kaiau avenue and the median;

(10) Construction of roundabouts at certain specified major intersections;

(11) Reduction of unnecessary lanes; and

(12) Retention of on-street parking on local neighborhood streets."

SECTION 3. Act 100, Session Laws of Hawaii 2001, is amended by amending section 1 to read as follows:

"SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to [authorize]:

(1) Authorize the housing and community development corporation of Hawaii, in coordination with the respective counties, to establish the affordable housing requirements for undeveloped parcels in the villages of Kapolei, Oahu; villages of Leiali’i, Maui; and villages of La’i’opua, Hawaii, irrespective of any other law, rule, or ordinance to the contrary[.];

(2) Require the completion of construction of the villages of Kapolei to be completed within five years from the effective date of Act , Session Laws of Hawaii 2003; and

(3) Require the state department of transportation and the housing and community development corporation of Hawaii to collaborate and coordinate with the city and county of Honolulu to implement the recommendations of the traffic study for the villages of Kapolei, prepared by Walkable Communities, Inc."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________