Kula Community Association

 

    

Board Meeting Minutes

July 5, 2001

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by President Elliott Krash at 5:30 p.m. at the Kula Elementary School.

Attendees

Members present: Hari Ajmani, Frank Catanzano, Marjorie Hill, Alan Kaufman, Elliott Krash, Dick Mayer, Karolyn Mossman, Ron Nagata, Verna Nahulu, Steve Sutrov, and John Wilson

Members excused: Erwin DePonte, Gina Flammer, Dave Jenkins, Terry McBarnet, and Steve Sutrov

Members absent: Daryl Arita

Guests: From Maui Land and Pinapple:  Warren Suzuki, Bob McNatt, Donna Clayton, Scott Crockford, Myles Nakashima, Norman Hong, and Jeff Overton. Representative Kika Bukoski, residents Paul Meyer, Mitch Hirano,  Barbara Long, and Charlie Jencks.

Treasurer's Report

The Treasurer's report was unavailable for the meeting.  A copy received by the Secretary the following day showed a balance as of July 5th as $2,820.58 with year to date income of $3,435.09 ( $8.09 interest income, $17.00 refreshments, $1,870.00 in t-shirt sales, $200.00 donation, 2001 dues $1,105.00, 2002 dues $10.00, and $225 deposit refund) and year to date expenses of $1,721.98 ($125.00 mail permit, $30.00 p.o. box, $500 filming of election forumns by AKAKU, $243.58 administrative expenses, and $821.40 newsletter).

Secretary's Report

The secretary's report of the June meeting was approved as submitted by Secretary Gina Flammer.

Communications

Agendas listing communications were circulated.  

Committee Reports

Health/Safety: Elliott Krash reported that Kula will have another 2 hours a day in ambulance service beginning October 1st.  An extra $50,000 was appropriated by this year's legislature.  It was asked if the money was for this year only or permanently in the budget.  (President Krash asked Representative Bukoski at the meeting break who responded that once appropriations are made they generally become part of the permanent budget.)  Thank you notes will be sent to the Maui News and to individuals for their work with the ambulance appropriation. 

Planning: Church Sign: Steve Sutrov reported that he, Barbara Long, and Elliott Krash attended the Urban Design Review Board meeting on the Upcountry Church sign, but the item was deferred until July 17th because Reverend Finberg had to officiate at a funeral.

Planning: Outdoor lighting: Steve Sutrov reported that he is working with Mike Maberry of the University of Hawaii Astronomy Center and others on a draft lighting ordinance and that the issue will be on the agenda at Mike Molina's 8/15 Council PWT Committee.

Unfinished Business:

Program for August KCA/MAUCA Meeting:  Dick Mayer reported on the program for the August KCA/MAUCA Meeting to be held on Thursday, August 23, 2001, at the Kula Community Center.  There will be a second meeting held at a later date in the Makawao/Haiku area.  The purpose of both meetings is to exchange information.  Community representatives will be asked to say what they would like in their community and land owners and developers will be asked to share their plans.  Charmaine Tavares will discuss the planning process and it was suggested that since John Summers has been working on the open space ordinance, it might be a good idea to invite him to the meeting.

New Business:

BWS Vacancy: Peter Rice is the new Chairman of the Board of Water Supply since Elmer Cravalho's resignation.  There is a vacancy on the Board.  The association may want to suggest a name for consideration.  Steve Sutrov suggested Barbara Long.  Barbara suggested several names be submitted.

Kulamalu Project Status: Dick Mayer reported that he and other Board Members have received inquiries about the project.  Hari Ajmani will research if the senior housing portion of the project is required to be built concurrently with the commercial portion.  Hari will also ask the County if Mr. Dowling would like to change his project plans, would he be required to come back to the community.  Dick Mayer said Mr. Dowling would be at the August 23rd Kula/MAUCA meeting.  Dick will write a letter to Mr. Dowling asking him to update the group at that meeting.

ML&P Briefing on Pukalani Triangle Project: Norman Hong and Jeff Overton of Group 70 International, Inc. presented the ML&P Upcountry Town Center project.  The following comments/questions were discussed:

1.        John Wilson asked how long would it take the trees to grow.  Ans.  It will take time.

2.        John Wilson asked how high are the commercial buildings.  Ans.  Two stories.

3.        John Wilson asked would you put the utilities underground?  Ans.  ML&P would like to keep the old telephone poles for the country town look.  It might be necessary to place some utilities underground.

4.        John Wilson asked if you develop all the commercial designations in Upcountry, is there enough draw for them to survive?  Ans.  Our market studies indicate there is.

5.        John Wilson commented that it is important to define a town.  The Pukalani Bypass Hwy. does seem to divide Makawao and Pukalani.

6.         Dick Mayer asked how much of the proposed project plan will be written into the entitlement documents and will ML&P be forced to follow through on these plans or can they change them?  Ans.  The PD ordinance will set forth the amount of acreage for each element.

7.        Steve Sutrov stated he is concerned about the right turn in and right turn out onto the Bypass Hwy.  He stated the Jesus Is Alive Church visitors cut right across the bypass.  Ans.  Norman Hong said a barrier would have to be put in place to prevent such actions.

8.        Steve Sutrov asked if ML&P would consider making the roadway around the Village Green one way for safety and better traffic flow.  Ans.  Norman Hong said ML&P would look into that.

9.        Barbara Long asked when ML&P would stop planting pineapple on the site.  Ans.  Warren Suzuki said the last crop has been harvested.  There is no plan to replant.  The existing plants will be left in place and weeds allowed to grow to prevent dust and erosion.

10.        Frank Catanzano stated he was excited about the spirit behind this plan.  He suggested that the Village Green be located in the center of the project and mix the planned uses more, rather than have the uses in clumps.

11.       Alan Kaufman asked if a recycling center would be possible on this site.   Ans.  Norman Hong said ML&P would consider the idea.

12.       Charlie Jencks asked what the Pukalani Community Association had to say about the plan.  Ans.  Norman Hong said they liked the plan and asked to be kept informed.

13.        Barbara Long stated she had toured the Corn Mill site with Mr. And Mrs. Jio, former residents of Corn Mill Camp.  Mr. Jio said there were approximately 50 people living at Corn Mill in 1926 and the camp was used for auto work and storage.  Barbara said the buildings there were not all built at the same time.  She asked if ML&P would be willing to restore at least one of the old buildings?  Ans.  Norman Hong said ML&P plans to relocate Wai Ulu Farms into the most mauka Corn Mill Camp building.  That building will be retained.  Paul Meyer added the oldest building with the paymaster window is very badly infested with termites.

14.           Dick Mayer said he is concerned that with the Upcountry Town Center project and Kulamalu there would be two major developments in the area.  Dick stated that he was on the CAC when the Kulamalu and Upcountry Town Center projects were proposed and Kulamalu project was the only project approved by the CAC.  Suzuki responded to Dick that he was also involved when the Council reviewed the amendments to the Upcountry Community Plan.  At that time the Council informed ML&P that there were concerns about how Pukalani Superette would be impacted with a commercial development directly across the street from their store.  The Council further informed ML&P that the request for commercial designation would not be approved until some sort of understanding was reached with Pukalani Superette.  Due to time constraints also being placed on ML&P on reaching an understanding with Pukalani Superette, ML&P advised the Council that the request for commercial designation would be withdrawn.  At the same time ML&P advised the Council that the company strongly felt that the site is a logical location for some level of commercial development and ML&P would be proposing development of the site sometime in the future.

15.           Dick Mayer was concerned about sidewalks to bring the students down into Pukalani.  Ans.  A sidewalk recessed back from traffic along the Old Haleakala Hwy. is planned.

16.           Hari Ajmani asked if a realistic traffic study is planned.  Ans.  Yes, it is in progress at this time.  Jeff Overton reminded the group that all three intersections that border this site are signalized.  No new signals are planned.

17.        Barbara Long questioned the need for more commercial.  She asked if the market study would take into consideration the optimum amount of retail space Upcountry.  She is concerned the new center will suck the life out of the old centers.  Ans.  Norman Hong said the market study would take into account existing and anticipated retail.

18.        John Wilson is concerned with traffic turning left onto Makawao Ave. when leaving the center.  Ans.  Norman Hong said that frequent site visitors would learn to exit onto the Old Haleakala Hwy. to go into Pukalani.  Some will turn out onto Makawao Ave.  However, traffic speeds will be slow there and this should be no problem.

19.        Charlie Jencks said there is no light industrial space available Upcountry.  The planned light industrial on this site is needed.

20.        Steve Sutrov spoke for Maggie Sutrov who was unable to attend.  Maggie said that Pukalani Superette would not survive if their parking is not close to the store.

21.        Steve Sutrov expressed concern that students would be walking right by the senior housing.

22.           Dick Mayer asked for a contact at ML&P.  Jeff Overton was designated as the contact.  His address is:

Jeff Overton                                                                tel: 441- 2104

Group 70 International, Inc.                                fax: 523-5874

925 Bethel Street, 5th Floor                                                email: [email protected]

Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at  7:35.     

 

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