Revised Ordinances of Honolulu

Revitalization of Waipahu and Wahiawa

Adequate Infrastructure to Meet the Needs of New and Existing Development

Public agencies' planning for infrastructure needs will be guided by where the Sustainable Communities Plan indicates residential and commercial development should occur. See the discussion of development priorities in Section 2.2.10.

2.2 KEY ELEMENTS OF THE VISION

The vision for Central Oahu's future will be implemented through the following elements:

!    The Urban Community Boundary,

!    Retention of Prime and Unique Agricultural Lands,

!    The Network of Open Space and Greenways,

!    A major Regional Park at Waiola,

!    Revitalization of the Waipahu and Wahiawa town centers,

!    A Network of Master-planned Residential Communities,

!    Communities designed to support non-automotive travel,

!    A Rapid Transit Corridor through Waipahu,

!    Conservation of Natural Resources,

!    Preservation and Enhancement of Cultural Resources, and

!    Requirements for Adequate Infrastructure.

Each of these elements is discussed below.

2.2.1        Urban Community Boundary

The Urban Community Boundary for Central Oahu was drawn to give long-range protection from urbanization for 10,350 acres of prime and unique agricultural lands and for preservation of open space while providing adequate land for residential, commercial and industrial uses needed in Central Oahu for the foreseeable future. It is the intent that urban zoning not be approved beyond this Boundary.

The Urban Community Boundary for Central Oahu is illustrated in Exhibit 2.1, and is shown in greater detail on the four conceptual maps in Appendix A.

Criteria. Criteria for establishing whether an area should be considered inside or outside the boundary are given below:

!    areas outside of the State Urban District, with the exception of Koa Ridge Makai, portions of Waiawa, and Waiawa Castle & Cooke, and a portion of Royal Kunia;

!    areas inside the State Urban District which are in either the Preservation or Agriculture Zoning Districts, with the exception of the Phase II of the Mililani Technology Park (which has Development Plan approval for urban use, but had not been rezoned as of February 1999); the portions of Waiawa that have not been rezoned, and a residential project of about 100 acres proposed for a site in Mililani Mauka previously proposed for the University of Hawaii West Oahu campus.

Objectives. The main objectives of the Central Oahu Urban Community Boundary are to:

!    Support General Plan policy;

!    Support diversification of agriculture and preservation of the viability of the pineapple industry in Central Oahu;

!    Allow residential development in specified master-planned communities;

!    Promote an efficient pattern of urban development and support the full development of the Primary Urban Center and the Secondary Urban Center;

!    Avoid development of hazardous areas; and

!    Protect natural and scenic resources.

These 10,350 acres have been rated, in the most authoritative studies, as potentially among the most productive lands in the State for diversified agriculture, and as lands uniquely suited for pineapple production. The State Department of Agriculture's November 1977 study, Agricultural Lands of Importance to the State of Hawaii (Revised) (ALISH), indicates that the lands along Kunia Road, north of Wahiawa, and surrounding Mililani are uniquely suited for pineapple production. The ALISH study also identifies the former sugar lands along Kunia and a portion of the lands on the Waipio Peninsula as "prime" agricultural lands which generally produce the largest yields and the best quality crops for the least expenditure of energy.

The University of Hawaii Land Study Bureau's December 1972 bulletin, Detailed Land Classification - Island of Oahu, rated productive capacity of the former sugar fields in Kunia as A and B and the Waipio Peninsula lands as B and C. Pineapple lands along Kunia Road, north of Wahiawa, and surrounding Mililani were predominately rated as B. (An A rating was given to the highest productivity lands and E was given to the lowest.)

One reason for the high ratings for the Kunia sugar lands is that they have unique advantages in infrastructure, water availability from the Waiahole Ditch, and access to the local markets of Honolulu and to the export markets through Honolulu International Airport.

Successful agricultural operations are currently being pursued both on the Kunia, Wahiawa and Mililani pineapple lands and on the former sugar lands in the Kunia area. Seed crops, potatoes, melons, and other truck crops are being grown on the Kunia sugar lands. The Navy recently requested proposals for agricultural activities on its lands surrounding the West Loch Naval Magazine, and is evaluating the responses.

2.2.3        OPEN SPACE NETWORK

Large agricultural areas, parks, golf courses, and other open space areas will be linked by a network of ravines and greenways to create an Open Space Network. See the Open Space Map in Appendix A. Table 2.1 lists the major components of the Central Oahu Open Space Network.

The ravines will remain free of further urbanization, preserving their scenic, natural resource, and recreational values. They provide natural open space breaks between the agricultural fields and urbanized areas, define boundaries, and provide view amenities for the master-planned communities. At some point in the future, they could become part of a ravine recreational network featuring trails and passive open space.

Where possible, drainage, transportation, and utility corridors will be used to create a system of linear greenbelts or greenways characterized by landscaping and bikeways which will connect existing and planned communities.

An important new element in the Central Oahu Open Space Network is the Central Oahu Regional Park at Waiola which provides needed open space, recreational opportunities, and a point for access to the Kipapa and Waikele Gulches when they become part of the proposed ravine recreational network.

The Waipahu Shoreline Park will restore public access to the Pearl Harbor West Loch and Middle Loch shoreline, provide passive and active recreational facilities, and help create the Pearl Harbor Historic Trail, a path shared by bikers and pedestrians running from the Rainbow Marina near Aloha Stadium to Nanakuli.

TABLE 2.1: CENTRAL OAHU OPEN SPACE NETWORK Mountain and Agricultural Areas Waianae Range Conservation District Lands Agricultural Lands along Kunia Road Agricultural Lands North of Wahiawa in Poamoho Agricultural Lands Surrounding Mililani Agricultural Lands in the Waipi'o Peninsula Blast Zone Military Training Areas (west of Schofield Barracks and East Range) Ko'olau Range Conservation District Lands Natural Gulches and Drainageways Waiawa Stream Waikele Stream/Gulch Kipapa Stream/Gulch Panakauahi Gulch Waikakalaua Stream Kaukonahua Stream (North and South Forks) Shoreline Areas Pearl Harbor access points Wetlands and Wildlife Habitats Pouhala Marsh Pearl Harbor Ponds Parks Waipahu Cultural Garden Park Waipahu District Park Waipahu Shoreline Park (planned) including the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park Central Oahu Regional Park (Waiola) Mililani District Park Mililani Mauka District Park

Two Enterprise Zones (as shown in Exhibit 2.2) have been approved by the City Council in the Central Oahu Sustainable Communities Plan Area. The northernmost Zone includes industrial and commercial areas in Wahiawa and Mililani Technology Park. The southernmost Zone includes areas along Kunia Road and in Waipio Gentry, Waiawa, and Waipahu (as well as Pearl City's Manana area which is located in the Primary Urban Center Development Plan Area).

Medium density residential and commercial development will be developed at two transit nodes whose general location is indicated on the Public Facilities Map in Appendix A. Transit nodes are meant to be located at activity focal points which would serve as natural points for transferring from one transportation mode to another.

!    Identifying and protecting endangered species habitats and other important ecological zones from threats such as fire, weeds, feral animals, and human activity;

!    Retaining the major Central Oahu ravines as flood plains and open space resources by restricting further development and minimizing grading or other disturbance of the gulch walls;

!    Designing the regional drainage and wastewater treatment system to minimize nonpoint source pollution of the ocean and Pearl Harbor;

!    Protecting prime watershed recharge areas and the Pearl Harbor potable aquifer which underlies the Central Oahu area; and

!    Protecting valuable habitats for endangered waterbirds located on the shoreline of Pearl Harbor at Pouhala Marsh and Pearl Harbor Ponds.

See Exhibit 3.2 in Chapter 3 for a conceptual mapping of key natural resources.

2.2.9        PRESERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF HISTORIC AND CULTURAL             RESOURCES

Central Oahu's historic and cultural resources will be preserved and enhanced by:

!    Preserving significant historic and prehistoric features from the plantation era and earlier periods, including

[]    The Waipahu Sugar Mill and surrounding related features,

[]    The OR&L right-of-way,

[]    Kunia and Poamoho Villages and other remnants of the plantation era, and

[]    Native Hawaiian cultural and archaeological sites; and

!    Retaining visual landmarks and significant vistas, including:

[]    Distant vistas of the shoreline and Pearl Harbor from the H-2 Freeway and Kunia Road above the Ewa Plain;

[]    Views of the Waianae and Ko'olau Mountains from Kunia Road, Kamehameha Highway, and H-2 Freeway;

[]    Views of Pearl Harbor from Farrington Highway in the vicinity of Waipahu High School;

[]    The view of the Waipahu Sugar Mill from Waipahu Depot Road,

[]    The view of the Waianae Mountains from the Waipahu Cultural Garden;

[]    The view of the Waianae Mountains from Mililani High School, from Meheula Parkway near Keaolani Street, and from Mililani District Park;

[]    The view of Diamond Head and Pearl Harbor from Mililani Recreation Center No. 2; and

[]    The view of the upper Central Oahu plains toward Waialua from the end of Koa Street in Wahiawa;

[]    The view of West Loch and of the Waianae Range from Kamehameha Highway while passing the Central Oahu Regional Park; and

!    Limiting building heights outside of Waipahu and Wahiawa to low rise structures to protect panoramic views and the character of the built environment.

2.2.10        DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES

Development in Central Oahu shall be characterized by:

!     Completion of existing and approved master-planned residential developments and proposed developments at Koa Ridge and Waiawa (see the Central Oahu Phasing Map in Appendix A and Table 2.2 below);

!     Moderate growth of commercial centers in Central Oahu Urban Fringe Areas to primarily serve the needs of the surrounding residential communities;

!     Coordinated Public-Private Infrastructure and Project Development that supports the directed growth strategy of the General Plan. (Examples include a number of transportation projects on the H-2 Freeway.)

Table 2.2, which follows, provides estimates of the approximate size and scale of projects shown in Exhibit 2.3 and on the Land Use Map and Phasing Map in Appendix A. Most projects shown have previously received Development Plan and zoning approval and are at various stages in the development process. Proposed projects would require land use approvals to proceed.

Annual absorption of housing units (housing built less demolitions) in Central Oahu averaged 1,400 units per year from 1990 to 1995, but slowed to about 450 per year between 1996 and 1998. At the higher 1990 - 1995 rate, almost 20 years worth of development capacity is provided within the Urban Community Boundary (UCB) in Central Oahu.

The Department's most recent projections of likely growth for Oahu, prepared in October 2000, project annual housing absorption from 2000 to 2025 for Central Oahu to average 450 units per year. At that rate, over 50 years of residential development capacity is provided within the UCB in Central Oahu.

Table 2.2 shows the estimated number of housing units and the approximate gross acreage by land use category for both the previously approved projects and the proposed projects.

TABLE 2.2: PHASING OF CENTRAL OAHU DEVELOPMENT
	Land Area (Gross Acres)
Project Area	Housing Units	Resid.	Comm.	Ind.	Tech./Med. Park	Total
Urban Expansion (1) Previously Approved Launani Valley Mililani Mauka (2) Mililani Technology Park (3) Royal Kunia I Royal Kunia II Waiawa Gentry (4) Total Previously Approved Proposed Project Koa Ridge Makai (5) Pacific Health Center Medical Park (6) Waiawa Castle & Cooke (5) Waiawa Gentry (7) Royal Kunia	82 1,830 438 2,000 7,095 11,445 2,950 1,100 5,000 900	7 248 72 327 546 1,200 400 150 750 150	22 20 119 161 10	103 103	195 195 100	7 270 195 72 450 665 1,659 410 100 150 750 150
Total Previously Approved & Proposed	21,395	2,650	171	103	295	3,219
NOTES: See Exhibit 2.3 for location of projects. (1) Lands included in the urban expansion area would be eligible for processing zoning changes and other development applications starting with adoption of the Plan. Previously approved residential projects listed already have both Development Plan and zoning approvals, except for some parts of Waiawa Gentry which need a zone change. (2) Includes Mililani Mauka Phase III which received Development Plan and zoning approval in 2002. (3) Phase II of Mililani Technology Park (135 acres) needs zoning approval. (4) Commercial acreage includes 68 acres in Commercial/Industrial Mixed Use. Zoning approval is needed for 226 acres. (5) Estimates based on EIS Prep Notice filed October 2002. Will need zoning approval. (6) Pacific Health Center Medical Park will need Plan Review Use approval. (7) Will need State Land Use and zoning approval. Department of Planning and Permitting estimates of acreages and housing units capacity as of June 2002.