The University of Hawai'i's regional biosafety laboratory and an Emergency Medical Services facility will be among the new additions to Waimano Ridge, according to a draft site investigation report presented to the Pearl City Neighborhood Board.

Studio 200 Architecture and Planning's report noted three prospective alternative ridge sites for the $25 million regional biosafety lab. The report is part of the Waimano Ridge Master Plan being prepared for the state Department of Health by CDC International for $850,000.

The lab could be placed either below the existing Juvenile Sex Offender Treatment facility, on land above the Health Department's existing state lab, or above the Health Department lab's parking lot, which will bring it closer to the state facility.

The third alternative "comes with a cost," Studio 200's Michael Okada told the neighborhood board, because it requires roads to be realigned.

Emergency Medical Services is a city operation funded under contract by the state. EMS Director Elizabeth Char would welcome the opportunity to consolidate her department's communication center, administrative, maintenance and supply operations at one site.

"It's a state project and we definitely want to be up there," Char said.

The proposed EMS facility would be above the existing Department of Land & Natural Resources base yard if the biosafety lab is sited near the sex treatment facility.

If the lab is moved elsewhere on the property, EMS would move down near the sex-offender facility.

The presentation was made to the Pearl City board Tuesday at its September meeting.

Okada said the master plan is being prepared to determine better use of property and underused facilities on the state-owned ridge property. The total area is 242 acres, containing 110 acres of developable land, Okada said.

"It's very much an underused asset of the state," Okada told the board.

Most of the 50 buildings on site are in a state of "significant disrepair," he said.

Okada said there are no significant archaeological sites on the property and present projected uses would have no significant impact on flora/fauna or traffic. The only hazard would be removal of asbestos and lead paint from older buildings.

Prospective users include the state Health Department, DLNR, Department of Education, Public Safety, EMS and the UH biosafety lab.

The consultants plan to present a preliminary master plan and draft environmental reports to the Pearl City board in November and make its final presentation to the board in January.

The final master plan will be submitted to the Health Department in June 2006.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.