` DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Ali‘i Drive Banyans Parking Lot TMKs: (3rd) 7-6-015:012 and 013 North Kona District, Hawai‘i Island, State of Hawai‘i County Job No. E-4034 January 2011 Prepared for: County of Hawai‘i Department of Public Works 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 7 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Ali‘i Drive Banyans Parking Lot TMK: (3rd) 7-6-015:012 and 013 North Kona District, Hawai‘i Island, State of Hawai‘i County Job No. E-4034 PROPOSING/ APPROVING AGENCY: County of Hawai‘i Department of Public Works 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 7 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 CONSULTANT: Geometrician Associates LLC PO Box 396 Hilo, HI 96721 CLASS OF ACTION: Use of County Funds This document is prepared pursuant to: The Hawai‘i Environmental Protection Act, Chapter 343, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS), and Title 11, Chapter 200, Hawai‘i Department of Health Administrative Rules (HAR). [this page intentionally left blank] TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY............................................................................................................................. ii PART 1: PROJECT DESCRIPTION, PURPOSE AND NEED AND EA PROCESS ... 1 1.1 Project Location and Description...................................................................... 1 1.2 Purpose and Need ............................................................................................ 1 1.3 Environmental Assessment Process.................................................................. 1 1.4 Public Involvement and Agency Coordination ................................................ 7 PART 2: ALTERNATIVES............................................................................................. 8 2.1 No Action ......................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Alternative Locations or Strategies .................................................................. 9 PART 3: ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING, IMPACTS AND MITIGATION ................ 9 3.1 Physical Environment ....................................................................................... 9 3.1.1 Climate, Geology, Soils and Geologic Hazard ..................................... 9 3.1.2 Drainage, Water Features and Water Quality....................................... 10 3.1.3 Flora, Fauna and Ecosystems ............................................................... 11 3.1.4 Air Quality, Noise and Scenic Resources............................................. 13 3.1.5 Hazardous Substances, Toxic Waste and Hazardous Conditions......... 14 3.2 Socioeconomic and Cultural ............................................................................ 14 3.2.1 Socioeconomic Characteristics ............................................................. 14 3.2.2 Cultural and Historic Resources ........................................................... 16 3.3 Infrastructure .................................................................................................... 20 3.3.1 Utilities ................................................................................................. 20 3.3.2 Roadways and Traffic........................................................................... 20 3.4 Secondary and Cumulative Impacts.................................................................. 21 3.5 Required Permits and Approvals ...................................................................... 22 3.6 Consistency With Government Plans and Policies........................................... 22 3.6.1 Hawai‘i State Plan................................................................................. 22 3.6.2 Hawai‘i State Land Use Law ................................................................. 22 3.6.3 Hawai‘i County Zoning and General Plan............................................ 22 3.6.4 Kona Community Development Plan ................................................... 24 PART 4: DETERMINATION ......................................................................................... 26 PART 5: FINDINGS AND REASONS........................................................................... 26 REFERENCES ......................................................................................................................... 28 LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1 Location Map ................................................................................................... 2 FIGURE 2 TMK Map ......................................................................................................... 3 FIGURE 3 Project Site Photographs................................................................................... 3 FIGURE 4 Site Plan ............................................................................................................ 5 i Ali‘i Drive Banyans Parking Lot Environmental Assessment LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1 Plant Species on Project Site............................................................................. 12 TABLE 2 Selected Socioeconomic Characteristics........................................................... 15 LIST OF APPENDICES APPENDIX 1a Comments in Response to Early Consultation APPENDIX 2 Archaeological Inventory Survey APPENDIX 3 Flood Zone Map SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED ACTION, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES The Hawai‘i County Department of Public Works intends to construct a 17-space paved parking lot near Banyans surf site on Ali‘i Drive to alleviate congestion and safety issues caused by excessive roadside parking. The properties will be leased by the County of Hawai‘i for a term of eight years, after which the landowner and County may negotiate to continue the lease. The project will include clearing and grubbing, excavation/grading, paving, fencing, and installation of ADA parking stalls. The site for the lot is on the mauka side of Ali‘i Drive. The parking lot will be fenced and gated and locked at night. Construction of the parking lot is expected to have no more than a minor and temporary effect on traffic. The site has previously been disturbed and no significant biological, archaeological or cultural resources are present. ii Ali‘i Drive Banyans Parking Lot Environmental Assessment PART 1: PROJECT DESCRIPTION, PURPOSE AND NEED AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS 1.1 Project Location and Description The Hawai‘i County Department of Public Works (DPW) intends to construct a 17-space paved parking lot near Banyans surf site on the mauka side of Ali‘i Drive to alleviate congestion and safety issues caused by excessive roadside parking. The parking lot would be constructed on properties identified as TMKs 7-6-015:012 and 7-6-015:013 (see Figures 1-4 for maps and photos), which have been disturbed by construction activities including house construction and demolition in the past. The properties will be leased by the County of Hawai‘i (the County) for a term of eight years, after which the landowner and County may negotiate to continue the lease. The project will include clearing and grubbing of the site, excavation/grading, paving, and fencing. Several existing trees and portions of the rock walls currently present on the site will be left in place. The parking lot will be fenced and gated and locked at night. It will include two parking stalls designed in accordance with guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The County plans to finish design of the parking lot in March 2011, after which it will proceed with construction, either in-house or through a contractor. Construction would take about 30 to 40 working days, and the value of the improvements will be $124,000 or less. The monthly lease rent on the property will be $500.00. 1.2 Purpose and Need The Hawai‘i County Department of Public Works is undertaking this project in order to resolve problems associated with roadside parking by surfers, spectators and beachgoers at the surf site known as Banyans on the north side of Hōlualoa Bay. The area has a long history of surfing, as Hōlualoa Bay was a favorite surfing spot for the Hawaiian Ali‘i, including Kamehameha I. There are many surfers in West Hawai‘i but relatively few surf sites, and Banyans is one of the most popular not only because of the quality of the wave when it breaks but also because it responds to various swell directions and thus breaks frequently. The County prohibits parking along the narrow right-of- way of two-lane Ali‘i Drive in order to keep the heavily used bike lanes clear. The shortage of available parking frustrates surfers and can lead to conflicts with private property owners, blocking of the bike lanes, congestion, and safety problems. Construction of the 17-space parking lot will not solve all parking, congestion or safety problems in the area but it will generally contribute to a safer and less congested area. 1.3 Environmental Assessment Process This Environmental Assessment (EA) process is being conducted in accordance with Chapter 343 of the Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS). This law, along with its implementing regulations, Title 11, Chapter 200, of the Hawai‘i Administrative Rules (HAR), is the basis for the environmental impact Ali‘i Drive Banyans Parking Lot Environmental Assessment 1 Figure 1a Location Maps Ali‘i Drive Banyans Parking Lot Environmental Assessment 2 Figure 2 TMK Map Source: Hawai‘i County Real Property Tax Maps, portion of Plat Map. Some labels added. Figure 3 Project Site Photographs 3a Airphoto Ali‘i Drive Banyans Parking Lot Environmental Assessment 3 Figure 3 Project Site Photographs, continued 3b Project Site from