INFO - traffic concerns

In 2004, Kailua residents responded to a survey commissioned by Kaneohe Ranch – 86% agreed traffic congestion was a problem.  In 2010 traffic congestion is still a problem and getting worse.   In April 2004, Kaneohe Ranch Management Limited, and Ward Research mailed a four-page survey to 17,105 residents in the 96734 zip code of Kailua.   2,832 or 16.5% of those surveys were returned.  In Kaneohe Ranch's report to the Kailua Neighborhood Board on the status of the Community Planning Process in February 2005, the report claims the survey "provided 'Sound Community Feedback'...view report at:

http://www.kaneoheranch.com/planning/documents/Group70CommunityPlan.pdf

Through “Sound Community Feedback” from Kailua residents, the following sub-themes were identified in this survey:

      Community friendly to small business

      Buildings and shops at an appropriate scale

      Not crowded

      Design new “old” buildings with character and charm

      Historic Continuity

      An area for a town square, plazas, fountains, etc

The million dollar question to Kaneohe Ranch:  How does a retailer like TARGET align with any of the Sub-themes identified in the survey they conducted?  Was the research really conducted to have an influence on the Community Planning Process?  If so, how can supporting Kailua's “Sound Community Feedback” ignore these Sub-themes?

In August, 2005, Charlier Associates, Inc., a Boulder, CO company, prepared a report for Kaneohe Ranch on Downtown Kailua – Pedestrian Environment Guidelines. The plan was intended to provide Kaneohe Ranch, The City and County of Honolulu, and other interested parties with the details needed to implement the vision of the residents of Kailua.  The plan was prepared to manage the region’s growth so that “an undesirable spreading of development is prevented” (pg .1) ... see report: 

http://www.kaneoheranch.com/planning/documents/DowtownKailua-PedestrianEnvironmentGuidelines.pdf

The report noted that Kailua is special to its residents because it has maintained its “small town feeling”.  Charlier Associates Planning Guidelines infact recommended pedestrian-scale development and the creation of pedestrian supportive street corridors to enhance the community’s desire for a ‘small town sense of place!! How does a Big Box retailer like TARGET align with a ‘small town sense of place’??

With Target comes TRAFFIC! In the 2004 survey,  Kailua’s residents responded to the issue of traffic.  An overwhelming 86% of respondents agreed that there were traffic congestion problems in Kailua.

Building any big box store in Kailua would only add to the congestion that residents have already identified as a major issue!!

Why all the surveys if the outcome is ignored in Kaneohe Ranch’s management of its Kailua properties?  The Sub-themes identified through their own survey speak for themselves:

“Buildings and shops at an appropriate scale” (?) -- THEN, No Big Box Store (40-foot high) in Kailua!

“Design new ‘old’ buildings with character and charm” (?) -- THEN, building restoration, NOT building demolition (Why has Kaneohe Ranch demolished 4+ existing structurally-sound buildings to replace it with a Whole Foods ‘new building’??)

We must hold Kaneohe Ranch ACCOUNTABLE to what they have already acknowledged to be important guidelines to follow!

Please share your concerns by contacting Kaneohe Ranch:  info@kaneoheranch.com.... ph:(808)263-8900

In 2010, Kaneohe Ranch says it has no influence regarding the Target-Don Quijote lease negotiations because there is no landowner consent provision in Don Quijote’s lease.  Does this absolve Kaneohe Ranch of its responsibility to be concerned about the health and future of its current tenants, including some locally owned businesses?  We think not and Kaneohe Ranch says it cares about its tenants and the Community.

If Kaneohe Ranch has long-term interests in supporting the health of all its tenants and in the health of the Community, then now is the time for us to let Kaneohe Ranch know that we are concerned about how a store of Target’s scale will impact the long-term health and viability of our community as a special place with a small-town feel, which small-town atmosphere depends to a large extent on the long-term survival of small independent stores and businesses that make Kailua special.  And importantly, that small-town atmosphere depends in large part on the absence of a big box retailer of Target’s scale entering the Community and further diluting what is special about Kailua.  Increased traffic, the unchecked entry of retailers out-of-scale with the Kailua Community and a further loss of the small town Kailua we love will irreversibly and negatively impact the ‘sense of place’ that Kailua must hold on to if it is to remain unique and distinct amongst the proliferation of big box, chain and strip mall communities that are part of Honolulu’s communities island-wide.  Let’s seriously consider whether we want that for Kailua!