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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, May 25, 2007

Kaka'ako redevelopment revisions to be discussed

Advertiser Staff

The Hawai'i Community Development Authority will host a public presentation of draft revisions to rules on redeveloping 450 acres of mostly private property in Kaka'ako mauka of Ala Moana June 19.

The meeting is scheduled from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Kaka'ako Room at Ward Warehouse, and is the third in a series of workshops that began last year to inform the public about how the contemplated rule changes may affect the community.

A review of development rules for the area between Ala Moana and Punchbowl, King and Pi'ikoi streets has been in the works for four years.

Agency consultant Plan Pacific Inc. in 2005 drafted a report outlining opportunities for plan revisions, which include creating more park space, improving pedestrian and bike travel, expanding on-street parking and forming a parking authority.

Other suggestions include giving boulevard treatment to parts of Ward Avenue and Ala Moana, abandoning a plan to make Queen and Halekauwila streets opposing one-way roads, and creating other 'ewa-diamondhead and mauka-makai "main street" corridors.

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.

A draft of the plan should be posted at www.hcdaweb.org before the meeting date.