Impact study urged for Wal-Mart store
Associated Press
City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi is seeking a study on the planned Wal-Mart and Sam's Club at the Ke'eaumoku Street superblock.
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Kobayashi has introduced a resolution urging the city administration to conduct a study.
City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi says other businesses may be lost.
A project of this magnitude has the potential to have significant negative social, environmental, traffic and other infrastructure impacts on surrounding land, she said.
She also said it could result in the loss of long-standing Hawai'i businesses.
The complex will include a Sam's Club and a Wal-Mart, both about 150,000 square feet, a four-story parking garage and small shops along Keeaumoku Street.
The project also calls for realignment of Makaloa and Sheridan streets, and installation of traffic signals at the intersection of Kanunu and Ke'eaumoku streets, and possibly at the Rycroft and Sheridan street intersections.
Wal-Mart officials already are anticipating spending about $3 million in offsite improvements to deal with traffic, placing utilities underground and other improvements, said Jon-Eric Greene, vice president of Colliers Monroe Friedlander, Wal-Mart's local real estate agent.
Kobayashi said area residents are particularly worried that their concerns will not be heard because the property is already zoned for mixed use.
But Greene said the city has the authority to impose traffic mitigation measures as a condition of any building permit. He said the chain is ready to abide by any such restrictions.
Wal-Mart last month agreed to buy the vacant 10.5-acre parcel from the Wichman Family Trust for an undisclosed price. The parcel is bounded by Keeaumoku, Sheridan, Makaloa and Ry-croft streets.
