Concept

The Waikōloa Village Center Light Industrial Center, will include:

·       A self-storage facility—the only self-storage facility in the Waikōloa area.

·       Flexible use buildings for industrial-commercial business—to support local contractors and small businesses.

·       Parking and loading space—to ensure convent and adequate access.

·       An open greenway and emergency egress route between the self-storage facility and flexible use buildings—for emergency evacuations and to provide open green space.

·       Drainage and flood control improvements—to improve storm conditions and flooding from ‘Auwaiakekua Gulch.

·       A new roadway from Waikōloa Road to the Project site—for access from Waikōloa Road; the road will be built on land owned by Waikoloa Village Center LLC (Applicant) at no expense to the County.

·       Infrastructure to bring infrastructure systems to the Project site—built and paid for by Waikoloa Village Center LLC.

·       An approximately 3.4-acre area reserved for future MCX uses—to provide additional light industrial uses to the area when needed.

Purpose & Need

·       The closest light industrial areas are about 28 miles from Waikōloa Village (the Kaloko Light Industrial Park and the Honokohau Industrial Park in Kailua-Kona).

·       Waikōloa Village Center Light Industrial Center will:

o   Provide a range of needed light industrial commercial mixed uses in the Waikōloa Village area.

o   Minimize traffic and commuting on Queen Ka’ahumanau Highway and Mamalahoa Highway to light industrial areas in Kailua-Kona on Queen Ka’ahumanau Highway and Mamalahoa Highway.

Land Use Consistency

Waikōloa Village Center Light Industrial Center site is consistent with long range planning and land use designations for the site:

·       State Land Use District: Urban—which allows and encourages uses like light industrial areas.

·       Hawai‘i County General Plan (LUPAG Map): Medium Density Urban; Industrial—the Planning Department confirmed that site can be interpreted to be Industrial, a designation that allows the requested Industrial-Commercial Mixed (MCX) District zoning.

·       South Kohala Community Development Plan: Commercial Center—supports and designates uses such as light industrial uses.  

·       Zoning: Waikoloa Village Center LLC is requesting a change of zoning from Open (O) to Industrial-Commercial Mixed (MCX) to make the zoning of the project site consistent with the long-range land use designations and allow for the Waikōloa Village Center Light Industrial Center.

Infrastructure

• Water System: Hawaii Water (private company) has confirmed their willingness to provide water service.

• Wastewater: Hawaii Water has confirmed their willingness to provide sewer service.

• Flood Control: Waikoloa Village Center LLC retained FEMA subcontractor River Focus to engineer flood mitigation and gulch improvements; River Focus has extensive experience in Hawaii.

• Fire Protection: Waikoloa Village Center LLC will build an emergency evacuation route from the site.

Reports, Studies, & Analyses

As part of the Change of Zoning application the following reports, studies, and analyses were prepared:

·       Traffic Impact Assessment Report—makes recommendations to lessen the traffic impact of the Waikōloa Light Industrial Center and notes that the center is expected to:

o   Reduce the need to travel outside the community to access a light industrial area and provide space for needed services.

o   Minimize traffic and commuting on Queen Ka’ahumanau Highway and Mamalahoa Highway to light industrial areas in Kailua-Kona.

·       Preliminary Engineering Report—prepared to make sure there is adequate infrastructure available to the site.

·       River Focus Analysis (flood control)— prepared to analyze existing conditions and propose improvements to minimize future flooding from ‘Auwaiakekua Gulch and improve public safety.

·       Biological Survey—to ensure there are no impacts to threatened and endangered plant and animal species.

·       Archaeological Inventory Survey—prepared and the State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) issued a determination of “no historic properties affected.”

·       Ka Pa‘akai O Ka ‘Āina Assessment—prepared to ensure there are no impacts to cultural, historical, natural resources, and native Hawaiian rights.