Meeting Summary of the

Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization

 

CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

Wednesday, April 21, 2010, 3:30 p.m.
Mayor’s Conference Room 301, Honolulu Hale
530 South King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii

 

 

Members Present:                                                                        

Land Use Research Foundation

David Arakawa, Chair

NB #34 Makakilo-Kapolei-Honokai Hale

Michael Golojuch, Vice Chair

AARP

Mary Protheroe

American Planning Association Hawaii

John Valera

American Society of Civil Engineers

Tiffany Hamada

Citizens for a Fair ADA Ride

Ronald Pike

Committee for Balanced Transportation

Joseph Magaldi

E Noa Corporation

Tom Dinell

Eye of the Pacific

Twila Lai

Hawaii Centers for Independent Living

Charlene Ota

Honolulu Community Action Program

Kristina Copeland

Hui Kupuna VIP

Louise Horio

Institute of Transportation Engineers

I. Robert Nehmad

Leeward Oahu Transportation Management Association

Debbie Luning

Mestizo Association

Arvid Youngquist

NB #01 Hawaii Kai

Greg Knudsen

NB #02 Kuliouou-Kalani Iki

Linda Starr

NB #03 Waialae-Kahala

Lester Fukuda

NB #05 Diamond Head-Kapahulu-Saint Louis Heights

Bert Narita

NB #07 Manoa

Tom Heinrich

NB #08 McCully-Moiliili

Ron Lockwood

NB #09 Waikiki

Robert Finley

NB #21 Pearl City

Cruz J. Vina, Jr.

NB #22 Waipahu

Blaine Tsugawa

NB #23 Ewa

Coby M. Lynn

NB #29 Kahaluu

Elwin Spray

NB #30 Kaneohe

Glenn Ida

NB #35 Mililani Mauka-Launani Valley

Pamela Young

Pacific Resource Partnership

Josh Magno

 

 

Members Absent (Reps):

Castle & Cooke Homes Hawaii

Ray Kunishige

Hawaii Bicycling League

Janice Marsters

Hawaii Teamsters and Allied Workers, Local 996

Michael Costa

League of Women Voters

Piilani Kaopuiki

NB #10 Makiki-Lower Punchbowl-Tantalus

Charles Carole

NB #12 Nuuanu-Punchbowl

James Marn

NB #13 Downtown

Tom Smyth

NB #18 Aliamanu-Salt Lake-Foster Village

Lorene Godfrey

NB #25 Mililani-Waipio-Melemanu

Dick Poirier

NB #26 Wahiawa-Whitmore Village

Joseph Francher

North Shore Chamber of Commerce

Gil Riviere

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

Randall Hiu

Waikiki Residents Association

Daisy Murai

 

 

Guests Present:

Frank Genadio

Citizen

Julia Belesario

Citizens for a Fair ADA Ride

Ben Gorospe

Department of Transportation

Robert Whitaker

NB #7 Manoa

David Hilea, Jr.

NB #11 Ala Moana

Brandon Lau

NB #14 Liliha

Bob R. Smith   

NB #24 Waianae Coast

                                               

OahuMPO Staff Present:  Lori Arakaki, Randolph Sykes, and Marian Yasuda

 

Chair David Arakawa called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.  

 

1.  New Business

“Update on Transit-Oriented Development”

Chair Arakawa introduced Terrance Ware, City and County of Honolulu, Department of Planning and Permitting Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Administrator.  Mr. Ware explained that TOD involves the zones surrounding transit stations.  The first zone is within a five-minute walk, the second zone is within a 400-meter radius, and the third zone is within an 800-meter radius. 

 

The best examples of TOD zones include multi-family housing, office space, civic uses, entertainment, and service retail space.  TODs are complex efforts that require the input and cooperation of many participants.  The public, private, and non-profit sectors all have important roles in the process.  Most importantly, the community around the transit station must be engaged and have confidence in the process. 

 

In the evaluation of the proposed transit stations for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project, the Pearlridge, Kapolei, and Ala Moana stations ranked the highest.  These proposed TODs have strong market activity and land opportunities, as well as being regionally important areas, which combine for strong short-term development opportunities.  Mr. Ware emphasized the need for participation in the community planning efforts and encouraged ownership in the process and the outcome.  Community partnerships and cooperative efforts are essential to successful TOD projects.

 

Discussion Highlights:

[Unless noted otherwise, questions were answered by Mr. Ware.]

·        A comment made by Tom Heinrich suggested the inclusion of the spur communities of Manoa and Waikiki into the evaluation of the TOD opportunities.

·        In response to a question by Brandon Lau: Oahu’s driving forces for TOD and the transit system are tourism, the military, and real estate. 

·        In response to a question by Frank Genadio: The transit system can be subsidized by TOD as well as investment going back into the community.  Because Oahu’s land values are high, the infrastructure is insufficient, and many areas are developed, less revenue will be generated by TODs. 

·        In response to a question by Chair Arakawa: The San Francisco Bay area’s TOD acquired large areas surrounding transit stations and used that land for revenue generation.  The Honolulu Rail Transit Project has taken a different approach, which is to acquire a minimum amount of property surrounding the transit stations.

·        In response to a question by Blaine Tsugawa: Neighborhood-oriented stations are those which will primarily provide services to that neighborhood, within a one- to three-mile radius.

 

2.  Approval of the February 17, 2010 and the March 17, 2010 Meeting Minutes

Cruz Vina, Jr. moved and Arvid Youngquist seconded to postpone the remaining business on the agenda until the next meeting.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

3.  Other Business

There was no other business.

 

4.   OahuMPO Meeting Highlights - Policy Committee & Technical Advisory Committee

Hearing no objections, this agenda item was deferred until the May meeting due to time constraints.

 

5.  Announcements

There were no announcements.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 4:38 p.m.