The Kauai County Council yesterday approved a resolution proposed by Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura for an integrated land transportation plan aimed at significantly reducing traffic congestion on Kaua’i. The resolution, voted on during a council meeting at the historic Kaua’i County
The Kauai County Council yesterday approved a resolution proposed by Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura for an integrated land transportation plan aimed at significantly reducing traffic congestion on Kaua’i.
The resolution, voted on during a council meeting at the historic Kaua’i County Building, points to the need for the administration of Mayor Bryan Baptiste to work with the state Department of Transportation to update a long-range land transportation plan it produced in 1997 as an integrated land transportation plan.
The resolution also asked the Kaua’i County Planning Department and the Kaua’i County Public Works Department provide input into the effort because of their expertise.
The resolution also urged those who create an updated and integrated land transportation plan for Kaua’i strive to develop a sustainable system.
This system should “best retain Kauai’s rural character,” complement Kaua’i’s visitor industry and support economic development by allowing for easy access of commercial trucks and vehicles on island roads. The system should also be cost-efficient.
The resolution doesn’t call for allocation of any government funds yet to make transportation improvements. Such requests are likely to come when those improvements are closer to being implemented.
In other action, the council sent back to the county planning commission a bill proposing to restrict development on about 450 acres of golf course land and open space land at the Princeville Resort.
The council didn’t vote on the bill because of issues dealing with public notice cited by the county attorney’s office.
The proposed bill could be restructured into a new bill because of major changes to it, it was said at the council meeting.
The bill has created a controversy over whether the land can be developed or not developed. Princeville Corp officials said the company never committed to any condition removing the option for development on the land.
But owners of up to 25 properties adjoining the golf course land and open space say they bought their properties based on sales representations the land would not be developed.
Others supported the current bill because it proposes to preserve view planes.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net
