Bill Text: HI HR72 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Resolution 72 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Urging The County Planning Departments To Provide Notice Of Traffic Flow Changes And Consider The Placement Of Utility Poles Prior To Approving Any Development.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-03-11 - Referred to TRN, FIN, referral sheet 40 [HR72 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-HR72-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	72
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

URGING THE COUNTy PLANNING DEPARTMENTS TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF TRAFFIC FLOW CHANGES AND CONSIDER THE PLACEMENT OF UTILITY POLES PRIOR TO Approving any development.

WHEREAS, various counties provide notice of development in neighborhoods but do not necessarily provide notice of changes in traffic flow patterns; and

WHEREAS, in the past five years, the City and County of Honolulu allowed construction of a fourteen-story student housing building on the corner of University Avenue and King Street; the site used to house a three-story walk-up commercial area called University Square into which traffic flowed through driveways from University Avenue and King Street, not to and from the adjacent side street; and

WHEREAS, notice of the pending construction of the fourteen-story student housing development was provided by advertisement; however, residents in the area were not aware that the entire traffic to and from the driveway of the fourteen-story student housing development would be funneled onto a narrow, privately-owned street adjacent to Kokua Market onto which traffic from the site never flowed into before; and

WHEREAS, when the City and County of Honolulu approved the change in traffic pattern and the addition of traffic from the original flow from University Avenue and King Street onto the narrow no sidewalk side street, it increased the danger to pedestrians who use the side street by not requiring utility poles to be moved to the side of the new student housing building; and

WHEREAS, the City and County of Honolulu had notice of the frequent use by pedestrians who used the side street before approving the funneled traffic because it constructed a crosswalk and a traffic light across King Street adjacent to the side street; and

WHEREAS, concerns have been raised that certain aspects of the counties' permit approval and planning process may not sufficiently address traffic flow and pedestrian safety issues; and

WHEREAS, to ensure pedestrian safety and minimize disruption to traffic flow, it is important to consider the location of existing utility poles as part of each county's planning and permitting process; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, that the county planning departments are urged to provide notice of traffic flow changes and consider the placement of utility poles prior to approving any development; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Mayor of each of the counties; Chairpersons of the Honolulu City Council, Maui County Council, Kauai County Council, and Hawaii County Council; and Director of the applicable county planning and permit department of each of the counties.