Star Bulletin - Gathering Place

an old article; but very well said
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August 19, 2007

Kailua transformation -- all that glitters might not be gold

By Dan Bremner

The Star-Bulletin's story last Sunday "Transforming Kailua Town" makes us mindful of the threats to the future of Kailua and to the character traits that endear it to its residents. The glitter of "progress" via development is being dangled before our eyes again. It's a good time to remember that all that glitters is not gold and might not even be of value.

This "progress" has already dislodged many former "small town" merchants in Kailua. The future of others is on the block. Kailua is not alone in this concern. Recently, the advent of Whole Foods at the Kahala Mall coincided with the departure of several venerable tenants, creating a disquieting situation.

Into this arena, we ask the participants to seek a transcending goal as they try to "transform" our town. This goal is to preserve the desirable attributes, general character and pleasing atmosphere of Kailua. It is important that the so-called "growing pains" referred to in relation to "transformations" be prevented from becoming chronic diseases. That's why the community group Keep It Kailua is concerned with these changes to Kailua, and will be carrying out its goal of making sure that only change for the good of the community is embraced and other change is prevented.

What category does Kaneohe Ranch's desires for Kailua fall into? Well, we're not quite sure yet -- but we have seen that Kaneohe Ranch is a much more aggressive entity under its new CEO, Mitch D'Olier, than it had been previously. D'Olier, formerly CEO of the Victoria Ward Estate in Kakaako, did a lot of developing there, which was a distinct change for the previously semi-dormant Ward Estate. When he was through, Ward Estate was sold to General Growth Properties Inc., a national real estate giant and owner of the Ala Moana Shopping Center. Is that a scenario that might be repeated in Kailua?

Kaneohe Ranch owns about 45 acres in central Kailua. This is less than 1 percent of the whole town, but it is the "center" of town and what happens there can establish an image for the community. Otherwise, it is an insignificant portion of Kailua and this "tail" should not be allowed to swing the "dog" in the wrong direction. Kaneohe Ranch did conduct an extensive opinion survey in Kailua in 2004. The populace responded emphatically. They said the most important concern was to keep the "small town" feeling of Kailua and to manage growth accordingly. This same theme had been repeated by people making comments at the Kailua Town Party over many years.

One of the uncertainties about Kaneohe Ranch's intentions arises when its plans dislocate existing tenants for the purpose of accommodating a 40,000-square-foot store for the national retailer Whole Foods. Is this consistent with our "small town" atmosphere? Does this "small town" need and, more important, can its population of 40,000 plus 11,000 Marine families support five supermarkets and a health-food store within a half-mile radius, and seven supermarkets and a commissary within 1 mile or so of one another? Something might have to give.

Or will the proliferation of national retailers require market expansion beyond that available in Kailua for some to survive? Where would such market expansion come from? The official community plan for Kailua, the city's Ko'olaupoko Sustainable Communities Plan, indicates that Kailua has reached a growth saturation point and projects future change at the miniscule rate of 0.15 percent a year. Consequently, market expansion is not likely to come from growth. Kaneohe Ranch already has raised another question about its intentions by reaching out to other markets on Oahu with its "Shop Kailua" advertising campaign, begun around the time of the Kailua Pier 1 Imports opening.

Other potential for expanding markets for national retailers in Kailua exists in the area of tourism. Greed already is driving some to try to change the character of Kailua into a resort town. Not surprisingly this movement finds support in the small number of merchants in Kailua's business district and through them into the Kailua Chamber of Commerce. Kaneohe Ranch is a major mover in the Kailua Chamber of Commerce. Is Kaneohe Ranch counting on this direction for market expansion? We hope not, because the vast majority of Kailua's residents opted to live in a residential area, not a resort.

Kaneohe Ranch says it wants to keep Kailua, Kailua, but what do we measure, actions or words? When actions are inconsistent with words, we worry. We worry about the seeming inconsistency between the market needs of large national retailers and the continuance of "small-town" Kailua. We worry about Kaneohe Ranch's disavowal of a "resort" town desire when it already has made efforts toward market expansion beyond Kailua. We worry that an unnecessary parking structure poses a future loss of open-space parking for new buildings. We worry when Kaneohe Ranch says it aspires to a pedestrian-oriented town center, but acts to insert new streets in the interior of our already pedestrian-oriented super-block behind Macy's and Longs. Introducing through-traffic into a pedestrian-oriented area is not usually the way to make it more pedestrian-friendly!

We worry, and so we will watch and act to make sure the desirable traits of the Kailua community are not threatened by design, lost by inadvertence or otherwise circumvented under the guise of "progress."

Pacific Business News - article

Monday, November 29, 2010

Executive Chef to open at Kailua Town Center

Executive Chef will open its second location, this one at the Kailua Town Center in fall 2011. The cookware, bakeware and cutlery retailer has signed a lease with Kailua Town Center’s manager, Kaneohe Ranch, and will occupy 4,559 square feet of retail space next to Whole Foods Market, according to a statement from Kaneohe Ranch.

The third phase of Kailua Town Center, which is where the Executive Chef store will be located, is under construction and is scheduled to be completed next fall.

The Executive Chef already has a location at Ward Warehouse.

Big Box Tool Kit

Award-winning author, Stacy Mitchell -- "Big-Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America's Independent Businesses" -- has posted our Community's story to her website.  We are thankful for the national support our Community is being offered not only from Stacy Mitchell, but also from Al Norman.  Visit Stacy's website to educate yourself on the negative impacts big box stores like Target bring to communities like ours.

Kailua, HI (Nov. 21, 2010)

Hoping to smooth the way for a proposed 130,000-square-foot store in this small Hawaiian town, Target officials organized an "open house" at a local elementary school. But the event was quickly overtaken by more than 200 opponents, who showed up armed with signs, pointed questions, and their own bullhorn.

Several grassroots groups have sprung up to block the store, including Keep It Kailua, No Target Kailua and Choose Kailua.

Opponents complained that the "open house" format, a common tactic used by big-box retailers, gave citizens no opportunity to publicly voice questions and concerns about the development. As one resident said, "Why wouldn't you want to hold a meeting? An actual meeting, like a public meeting, where somebody's up there and we can ask questions?"

If approved, the Target store will destroy Kailua's small-town feel, create excessive traffic, and undermine the local economy, opponents contend. They note that the Kailua Sustainable Communities Plan prohibits big-box stores. Whether this plan carries the force of law is now in dispute.

Star Advertiser - Letter to Editor

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Shapiro ignores big differences

David Shapiro is missing important points in his column about the Target vs. Don Quijote stores ("1 giant store to replace another in Kailua, ho-hum," Star-Advertiser, Nov. 24).
Comparing those two is strictly apples and oranges. Target is a big-box, deep-discount retail outlet that will draw shoppers from miles around into the busiest street in Kailua. Don Quijote has limited appeal and few customers who drive long distances to get there.
Target's plans to mitigate traffic address only the street immediately fronting the site. It will do nothing to improve the congested roadways that lead into Kailua, most of them narrow, two-lane streets winding through residential neighborhoods -- bumper-to-bumper traffic even without the addition of 20 percent more cars coming to a Target.
The real problem for Kailua is the growing controversy with Kaneohe Ranch and its expansionist agenda. No, it was not OK to bring a huge Whole Foods business and building into Kailua any more than to insert a giant Target into a town that does not have the infrastructure or carrying capacity to handle either. Community groups have been spontaneously springing up to protest and other long-established groups have come out in opposition.

Mollie Foti
Kailua

Letter from Rep. Chris Lee & Rep. Cynthia Theilen

Letter from Rep. Chris Lee

From: "Rep. Chris Kalani Lee" repclee@capitol.hawaii.gov
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 3:42 PM

Aloha,

Thank you for taking the time to write about the proposed Target store in Kailua. I want to bring you up to date. Throughout the last year, I have heard widespread community opposition to Kaneohe Ranch's plans for a Target Store in Kailua. Hundreds of emails, letters and phone calls from residents have been received by myself and other area officials. Residents and local small businesses have been organizing in opposition, and the Kailua Neighborhood Board has passed a motion opposing the project.

Representative Cynthia Thielen, Councilman Ikaika Anderson and myself have continued to meet with Target and speak with Kaneohe Ranch about their plans. It has been frustrating that despite our previous requests, the community has not been made a real part of the process, and a real discussion about many of the issues has not yet been had. I will continue to push for an open dialogue between Kaneohe Ranch, Target, and our community. Until the community is brought on board, and until our local small businesses' concerns can be met, I remain opposed to the opening of a Target in Kailua.

Building a large big-box retailer in Kailua ignores the spirit and purpose of our planning guidelines that the community worked hard to create. The Koolaupoko Sustainable Communities Plan, "intended to help guide public policy, investment, and decision-making through the 2020 planning horizon," is specifically "oriented toward maintaining and enhancing the region's ability to sustain its unique character and lifestyle."
The plan explains that any future planning and development "should prevent the introduction of "big box" retail stores," because "development of a "big box" store or discount center would be inconsistent with the vision for Koolaupoko's future."

Concerns about the negative impact on our community from a new Target store are not limited to development. Traffic congestion in Kailua is worse now than it was six years ago, when a 2004 community survey of 2,932 Kailua residents found that "An overwhelming 86% of respondents agreed that there were traffic congestion problems in Kailua." Five community forums sponsored by Kaneohe Ranch in 2004, and a study prepared for Kaneohe Ranch in 2005, recommended that "community desires for a small town sense of place can be enhanced by pedestrian-scale development," where a parent "would feel comfortable letting a child walk ahead of them with minimal supervision."  However, all Target traffic would flow directly through the recommended pedestrian friendly district, and add to the existing congestion in Kailua.

The largest concerns are about the loss to the small businesses that have been dedicated to our community for decades. Making Target a "one stop shop" would mean that there is little reason for customers to go anywhere else. It has been difficult for many businesses to voice their concerns because Kaneohe Ranch is their landlord. Many that have contacted us feel they must choose between either losing their business once Target comes to Kailua, or losing their lease if they speak in opposition. Kailua's success and distinction is owed to the iconic small businesses that have come to define it.

Following the Kailua Neighborhood Board's motion opposing Target, Kaneohe Ranch asked the board to rescind its motion and informed the board that Kaneohe Ranch could pursue legal action for "compensation and damages" related to their opposition to Target. Our neighborhood board is elected by our community to speak on behalf of the people of Kailua, and I have attached a letter responding to Kaneohe Ranch's threat of legal action.

Other elected officials and I are continuing to meet with Kaneohe Ranch and Target officials on behalf of the residents and small businesses of Kailua, and I will continue to push to make sure any concerns are heard and addressed. As we await the next steps by Kaneohe Ranch and Target, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Mahalo,


Representative Chris Lee
51st House District
State Capitol, Room 313
415 S. Beretania St. Honolulu, HI 96813
Ph: (808)586-9450 Fax: (808)586-9456
repclee@capitol.hawaii.gov

Neighborhood Board - powers, duties & functions

Neighborhood Boards

2008 NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN

POWERS, DUTIES, AND FUNCTIONS

§2-13-101  Purpose.  The purpose of this neighborhood plan and the neighborhood boards is to increase and assure effective citizen participation in the decisions of government. [Eff] (Auth: RCH §14-103(a)) (Imp: RCH §§14-104)

§2-13-102  General powers, duties, and functions of the boards.  (a)  The boards are responsible for actively participating in the functions and processes of government by identifying, addressing, communicating, and seeking solutions to neighborhood issues and concerns, both within and outside of their respective neighborhood areas.  Their actions should reflect the needs, wants, and interests of the neighborhood.  Boards may take the initiative in selecting and prioritizing their activities, and provide reasonable means to increase and assure effective citizen participation in the decisions of government.

(b)  The powers, duties, and functions of boards shall include:

(1)  Increase and assure effective citizen participation in the decisions of government by providing additional and improved opportunities for public input and interaction, and communicating that input to the appropriate persons and agencies;

(2)  Initiate, review, comment, and make recommendations concerning any general plan, development and sustainable communities plan, zoning, planning, permitting, and other land use issues within the city;

(3)  Identify, prioritize, review, comment, and make recommendations concerning any government capital improvement proposal, plan, or project;

(4)  Assist with evaluations of the efficiency and effectiveness of government services and programs, whether provided by government agencies or their contractors;

(5)  Initiate, review, comment, and make recommendations concerning any other substantive issue reasonably related to the processes or decisions of government;

(6)  Encourage understanding of the decision-making processes of government; and

(7)  Encourage the role of the board as a public and informational forum on community and governmental issues.

     (c)  Boards, in compliance with this plan and all other applicable laws, may communicate and cooperate with each other, especially on a regional basis, to promote general awareness and understanding of issues of mutual concern, explore opportunities for collaboration, and foster beneficial relationships to further increase and assure effective citizen participation in the decisions of government.

(d)  Each board may express its neighborhood's view, opinion, or advice on matters within the scope of the board's jurisdiction to properly fulfill its duty.  No deference is required of a board to any other board.

(e)  Boards may cooperate and collaborate with persons, agencies, and community organizations so long as the cooperation and collaboration does not exceed the powers, duties, and functions of boards as allowed by law.

(f)  The commission shall provide reasonable assistance and reasonable operating expenses for the boards for the performance of their powers, duties, and functions.  [Eff] (Auth: RCH §14-103(a)) (Imp: RCH §14-104)

HONOLULU CITY CHARTER

 (As of February 20, 2001)

Section 6-1511. Adoption of the General Plan and Development Plans22 --

1.      The council shall adopt the general plan or revisions thereof by resolution and development plans or amendments thereto by ordinance. Resolutions adopting or revising the general plan shall be laid over for at least two weeks after introduction. Such resolutions shall be advertised once in a daily newspaper of general circulation at least ten days before adoption by the council. Upon adoption, every such resolution shall be presented to the mayor, and the mayor may approve or disapprove it pursuant to applicable provisions governing the approval or disapproval of bills. (emphasis added)

The general plan and all development plans shall be kept on file in the department of planning and permitting.

2.      Any revision of or amendment to the general plan or any existing development plan may be proposed by the council and shall be processed in the same manner as if proposed by the director. Any such revision or amendment shall be referred to the director and the planning commission by resolution, which resolution shall be accompanied by supporting documentation sufficient to satisfy the director's usual requirements for the commencement of processing. If the planning commission disapproves the proposed revision or amendment or recommends a modification thereof, not accepted by the council, or fails to make its report within a period of either thirty days after the close of its public hearing or ninety days after its receipt by the commission, whichever occurs first, the council may nevertheless adopt such revision or amendment, but only by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of its entire membership.

Any revision of or amendment to the general plan or any existing development plan which has been processed as an "unendorsed proposal" shall, in the absence of an affirmative recommendation from the planning commission, require for its adoption the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the entire membership of the council.

3.      Public improvement projects and subdivision and zoning ordinances shall be consistent with the development plan for that area, provided that development plan amendments and zoning map amendments may be processed concurrently.23        If any provision of the general plan or development plans places the receipt of federal funds in jeopardy, the council may, after a public hearing, set aside the general plan or development plans, but only to the extent necessary to resolve the conflict which jeopardizes federal funding.

Footnote

{22Charter does not give city council carte blanche authority to engage independent contractual services in the interest of its legislative policy-making and investigative powers. Each branch of the government is expected to cooperate with the other. The executive branch is primarily responsible for initially proceeding to conduct in-depth studies relating to city planning. Only if that branch has been requested to do so by the legislative branch, and has failed to comply with the request, may the council commission such studies as an incidental exercise of its power to amend or revise an existing general plan or development plan. Akahane v. Fasi, 58 Haw. 74, 565 P.2d 552 (1977).

Enactment of and amendments to development plans constitute legislative actions of the City Council and as such are entitled to a presumption of validity. Lum Yip Kee, Ltd. v. City and County of Honolulu, 70 Haw. 179, 767 P.2d 815 (1989).

23State not required to conform with charter requirement that public improvements must implement an area's development plan when the public improvement in question is expansion of the University of Hawaii campus. Kunimoto v. Kawakami, 56 Haw. 582, 545 P.2d 684 (1976).(As of February 20, 2001)}

4.         No person shall construct, operate or maintain any street railway or bus or other motor vehicle common carrier line or transit system on any street or route within the city unless the location and extent thereof has been submitted to and approved by the director as being in conformity with the general plan and the development plan for that area. (1998 General Election Charter Amendment Question No. 1(III))

NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION WEBSITE

The Neighborhood Board is full citizen participation in government so that the powers of the City can

properly serve and advance the aspirations of its citizens. Through the Neighborhood Board system, every resident has the opportunity to participate in government decision making which affects his or her

community. The system applies the concept of participatory democracy, involving communities in the

decisions affecting them. It establishes an island wide network of elected neighborhood boards as

communication channels, expanding and facilitating opportunities for community and government interaction.
.....

.In a continuing effort to make government more accessible to people and expand public input for the Neighborhood Board process, we have built a home page for each Neighborhood Board. Moderated and

overseen by the board, here you can check agendas of upcoming meetings, download minutes of past

meetings, leave messages and discuss community issues through a "message board" system to elected

board members and give your input on issues the board submits for public discussion.
 Please return often

as each board moves into its new on-line home.

Kailua Sustainable Communities Plan

To stimulate the revitalization of the town centers of Kailua and Kaneohe, land use and zoning policy should prevent the introduction of “big Box” retail stores or shopping centers consisting predominately of discount or factory outlet stores within the region. This type of commercial development often results in inappropriate building scale, localized traffic and parking demand impacts, and the economic decline of existing businesses. Koolaupoko does not yet have this type of commercial development, although the region’s population is large enough to support at least one of these stores.  (Pg. 2-17 hard copy)

More faorable sites have been found for this type of commercial development in Leeward and Central Oahu, where large development parcels are more readily available and better situated to capture patronage from the island’s major population growth area. The opening of H-3 Freeway has also made these “value retail” stores more accessible to Koolaupoko’s residents. Development of a “big box” store or discount center would be inconsistent with the vision for Koolaupoko’s future expressed in this Sustainable Communities Plan; land use policy and zoning regulations should specifically prohibit retail and warehouse businesses over 90,000 square-feet in size. (pg 2-18 hardcopy)

Thank You

We would like to thank each individual who showed up at Target's open house on Saturday..

It was very nice to see the great amount of support Kailua has in this effort to keep Target out of our Kailua town! 

It was very telling as one perused each Target station (economic impact, traffic impact, building design, sustainability) that many of Target's representatives' answers did not adequately address the flood of the Community's pointed questions.

Like we have said before, this still is NOT A DONE DEAL!  We encourage you all to continue to write, call, email all the people on our "CONTACTS" list.  It is important for all these people to hear our voices!!

Star Advertiser - article

 (please note our corrections in RED per conversations, meetings, & facts we have collected)

Kailuans take on Target

Promises to make traffic improvements do not assuage fears of angry residents

By Gordon Y.K. Pang

A planned Target store in Kailua will draw about 10 percent to 15 percent 30 percent more traffic into the business core of the town, the retailer said yesterday in pledging to make traffic improvements.

But most of the estimated 250 residents attending a Target-sponsored open house at Kailua Elementary School left unsatisfied and remain convinced that the big-box store's arrival in 2012 will increase congestion and diminish the Windward town's charm.

Eric Padget, a Target senior development manager, told residents the company would spend more than $1 million in traffic improvements for the area. The Target store will be built at the existing Don Quijote store site, between the post office and a Safeway store.

Traffic improvements would include a new traffic signal at Hahani Street, new left-turn lanes and crosswalks, and reducing the number of driveways to the shopping center from five to two, Padget said. Target also will do a traffic study after the store opens to see whether further improvements are needed, he said.

Diane Para, 41, who lives at the nearby Windward Harbour condominium complex, grilled Padget about why Target's traffic study did not consider traffic conditions beyond its own boundaries.

Para pointed out that a new Whole Foods outlet is scheduled to open a few blocks away next year while the 200-unit Ironwoods condominium project also is being developed in the area.

"I'm only allowed to make traffic improvements to property I have permission and rights to," Padget replied.

"We don't have the infrastructure to have that kind of traffic," said Jean Fernie, 65, of Enchanted Lake. "It just doesn't belong here."

Para said Target, the other developers and the city need to work together on a traffic impact analysis for the greater Kailua community because customers are expected to come from as far as Hawaii Kai and Kaneohe.

Padget said the company has talked to property owner Kaneohe Ranch about a broader traffic study.

Target officials said the current Don Quijote store is 116,000 square feet less than 90,000 square feet while the new store, after expanding the existing building, would be 130,000 square feet.

Construction is scheduled to begin in mid-2011, with the opening expected a year later, said Sarah Bakken, Target communications manager.

Several organized community groups opposed to the project collected signatures outside the cafeteria. Members of Keep It Kailua, No Target Kailua and Choose Kailua said they added 500 signatures to the 2,000 they already had.

Not everyone was opposed.

Olomana resident Joe Bussen, 37, said the site is zoned for commercial use and that Target wants to spruce up an aging area. "I don't even like Target, I loved Holiday Mart and A&W. But times change," he said.

Keoni Webster, 29, of North Kainalu said he supports a Target because his wife likes to shop there, adding that the family drives to the Honolulu Target about three times a month.

"Traffic is going to get worse no matter what," he said. Webster, a construction worker, said the last thing he wants to see is the building sitting vacant like the nearby theaters have been for years.

Brook Gramann, who owns two businesses on Kailua Road, said she expects Target will be good for businesses by drawing people into the area.

Target won't compete, as other merchants fear, because it will bring a different type of product, she said. "Target coming into Kailua is a good thing as long as they meet the parking problems."

The Kailua Chamber of Commerce has chosen to take no position on the issue. Chamber President Puna Nam said the 190-member group is split evenly among those who support and oppose a Target.

The Kailua Neighborhood Board voted Nov. 4 to oppose the project.

Opponents expressed concerns that Kailua is losing its small-town feel.

Sally McCully, 58, said she feels Kaneohe Ranch "took the easy way out" by attracting Target when it could have redeveloped the area with a mix of medium-sized businesses that better fit the area, she said.

Kalaheo Hillside resident Steve Spencer, 56, said he grew up in Kailua. During an impromptu rally started by Target opponents at the cafeteria stage, he said, "Part of living in Kailua is so we don't have this crap." Spencer said he and his family plan drives to Honolulu if they need to shop for things they can't find in Kailua.

Ruby Luzon, 78, said her biggest disappointment will be the loss of the Don Quijote, which she calls "Don Q."

The Keolu Hills resident said she meets friends there and that the store "caters to elderly people" by bringing in Asian food products and other hard-to-find items.

Target has attempted to bring in more local vendors and products at its other Hawaii stores, and Luzon said she might visit the new store if it carries some of the things she finds at Don Quijote.

"But if there's too much traffic, I don't think I'll be going there at all," she said.

T-shirts

Thank you to those who bought & wore the shirts to support this effort on Saturday at the Open House!

We have received additional inquiry from those who want to purchase these shirts.  So, we have decided to extend the offer!

If you are interested in purchasing a shirt, please pre-order by emailing us at: notargetkailua@gmail.com

Each shirt is $4

We would like to give special thanks to Lunar Teeʻs (one of Kailuaʻs local merchants) for helping us with designing and printing our shirts!  If you are interested in printing shirts for your future events, contact Trenton at LunarTees@gmail.com.