Kaua‘i County Planning Department officials want the owners of the Kaua‘i Village shopping center and Waipouli Town Center to build a pedestrian bridge between the two shopping malls to comply with a county law and, hopefully, reduce vehicular traffic congestion
Kaua‘i County Planning Department officials want the owners of the Kaua‘i Village shopping center and Waipouli Town Center to build a pedestrian bridge between the two shopping malls to comply with a county law and, hopefully, reduce vehicular traffic congestion on Kuhio Highway fronting both malls.
Government officials plan to send a notice to the owners of the two shopping centers, reminding them of the mandate.
If the owners don’t comply, they could be subject to legal action by the county, and monetary penalties.
The government action is warranted because Passco Diversified II, based in Irvine, Calif., and Waipouli Town Center Partners, based on O‘ahu, have not complied with an amended ordinance requirement approved by the Kaua‘i County Council last August, county officials said.
That requirement calls for substantial construction of the pedestrian bridge by this month this year.
No major work has started yet, contends at least one resident who filed a query with The Garden Island. The citizen insisted government agencies compel the shopping center owners to act, in compliance with the law.
Some government watchdogs insist government officials now take quicker action against alleged violators of county laws.
That push has come because of the perception by some residents that some county officials reacted too slowly to un-permitted grading on coastal land near Kilauea owned by North Shore landowner James Pflueger and his associates.
The un-permitted work exacted its toll in November 2001, when torrential rains created mudslides that inflicted damage to a home by Pila‘a Bay, and stormwater debris caused damage to some reef areas.
Since then, county officials have strengthened the county’s grading law, and have intensified monitoring efforts against un-permitted grading throughout the island.
Related to the bridge requirement for the two Waipouli shopping centers, a county ordinance amended last year called for the owners to share the cost of building it.
The owners also are to negotiate with state agencies for its construction.
Should the negotiations fail to lead to an agreement, the shopping-center owners shall still be responsible for the design, construction and the perpetual maintenance of a “separate pedestrian accessway bridge across the canal,” the ordinance reads.
Detailed plans are to be submitted to county officials, and substantial construction of the bridge “shall commence within one year” from the day of the passage of the ordinance. The measure was passed by the council in August of last year, county officials said.
Work on the bridge is to be completed and open for public use within two years from day of the passage of the ordinance.
If nothing is done, the Kaua‘i County Planning Commission and the planning director may take steps to enforce compliance through legal means, followed up by the possible imposition of penalties.
Representatives for CB Richard Ellis, a Honolulu company that manages the Kaua‘i Village shopping center, were not immediately available for comment.
A spokesperson for MHDC Partners said company leaders are working with Passco leaders to comply with the county law.
A county official, who asked for anonymity, said it was his impression the construction of the bridge was a requirement for the development of the Kaua‘i Village shopping center in the early 1990s.
Previous owners had plans to build a 100-unit condominium project on the shopping center grounds, and wanted the bridge available for use by condominium occupants, the county official said.
The residential project never became a reality, and exclusive commercial use of the shopping center was pursued, the official said.
In subsequent years, some business folks in Kapa‘a said building the pathway bridge would be pointless because a sidewalk on Kuhio Highway fronting the two shopping centers had been enlarged.
The work was done as part of a road-improvement project undertaken by the state Department of Transportation Highways Division.
Some residents, however, said the small bridge would be helpful in alleviating traffic between the two shopping malls. Shoppers could use the bridge to walk to either shopping center. The bridge is needed more so today, some supporters of the project have said, due in part to the scheduled construction of a $100-million, 196-unit luxury beachfront residential condominium project in Waipouli. The project is located across Kuhio Highway from the two shopping centers, and is anticipated to generate more traffic. Groundbreaking for the project is expected in a few months, leaders with the project have said.
Lester Chang, staff writer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) or lchang@pulitzer.net.
