Kaka'ako land-use rules may change
By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer
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The state agency guiding redevelopment in Kaka'ako, which has struggled with its plan for the area's waterfront, is also revising rules that apply to 450 acres mauka of Ala Moana.
While not as controversial as the Kaka'ako makai plan, which has drawn heated debate over allowing residences on public land formerly in industrial use, mauka-plan rule changes could dramatically affect how mostly private land can be redeveloped.
"We're talking about a tectonic shift potentially in development philosophy," said Daniel Dinell, executive director of the Hawai'i Community Development Authority, the agency guiding the Kaka'ako redevelopment.
To help the public understand what's at stake, and to solicit feedback on possible changes to the planning rules, the agency is holding a series of meetings. The first will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. tomorrow at Ward Warehouse in the second-floor Kaka'ako Room.
A review of rules applying to the mauka region of Kaka'ako — between Punchbowl, King, Pi'ikoi streets and Ala Moana — has been in the works for three years.
Agency consultant Plan Pacific Inc. last year drafted a report outlining opportunities for plan revisions.
Among some suggestions in Plan Pacific's initial assessment:
A major change to planning philosophy under consideration is to retain cross streets that form smaller blocks of land. The current plan encourages developers and landowners to consolidate small parcels and eliminate cross streets to form superblocks suitable for high-rise construction.
Part of the redevelopment authority's effort in revising the mauka rules is to adopt more "smart growth" planning principles, such as promoting mixed-use neighborhoods that integrate business and residential uses.
Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com.
