KULA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
�P.O.
Box 41 - Kula, HI 96790
http://kulamaui.com
The vision of the
Kula Community Association is to preserve open space, support agriculture,
maintain a rural residential atmosphere,
and to work together
as a community.
The specific purpose of this association is to
improve the quality of life for the residents of Kula, to promote civic welfare
and generally to
benefit the community of Kula.
August 16,
2002
Mr. Glenn
Tadaki, Planner
Munekiyo &
Hiraga, Inc.
305 High Street,
Suite 104
Wailuku, HI
96793
Subject:����������� University of Hawaii, Institute for Astronomy (IFA)
Advanced Technology Center (ATC) and Advanced Technology Research Center (ATRC),
Kulamalu Commercial Subdivision, Kula, Maui
Dear Mr.
Tadaki:
Thank you
for inviting the comments of the Kula Community Association (KCA) on the proposed
IFA Centers at the Kulamalu Commercial Subdivision in Kula, Maui. We are aware
of the limitations of the current site in Waiakoa and the need for a new
state-of-the-art facility. We also understand that the project is planned to be
completed in two phases, with construction of the ATC scheduled to begin in
2003 and completion estimated for mid 2004.�
The KCA Board
of Directors supports the current proposals for the Kulamalu project as presented
by Mr. Dowling at a recent KCA Board Meeting. His vision of Kulamalu is a small,
country town with mixed uses including single and multifamily residential,
parks and open space, research, technology, education, services, and
family-oriented businesses and activities. This is also congruent with the
Kulamalu �Country-Town Business� project as outlined in the
Pukalani-Makawao-Kula Community Plan.
The
proposed IFA project is conceptually consistent with the Kulamalu plan. For the
vision to become reality, however, many details must be resolved. Listed below
are a few of the issues we would expect to be satisfactorily addressed in the Environmental
Assessment (EA) and other phases of the project.
�
The EA
should analyze traffic related issues such as employee and visitor car trips,
truck and other vehicle traffic, hours of operation, and noise generation. The
impact of such activities on the Kula Highway and other nearby roads and should
be studied for the eventual build-out and use of the facility.
�
The proposed
project will consist of two large buildings and parking for almost 200 cars on a
lot of less than three and a half acres. Therefore, it is essential that the buildings
and parking areas be planned, arranged, and constructed on the site in such a way
as to not have an adverse impact on the aesthetics and scenic vistas of the general
area. The building shapes, exterior materials, landscaping, and color schemes
should be chosen to reflect the country town atmosphere.
�
The
concerns and comments of all residents and businesses in the area should be
addressed in the EA. The public hearings and meetings to hear residents�
concerns should be held in Pukalani or Kula and preferably in the evenings to
make it convenient for Upcountry residents to attend. �
We hope our
comments are helpful in preparing the EA. Should you want to discuss them
further or arrange a meeting, please call either our KCA Planning Committee
chair Hari Ajmani (878-3702) or me (878-1342). We look forward to continuing
participation in the process as the project progresses.
Yours
truly,
Elliott
Krash, President
Cc:������ Alan AhSam, University of Hawaii
����������� Don Fujimoto, Kulamalu Science LLC