Category: O’ahu

It’s taken eight drafts and more than four years, but the state is close to finalizing zoning and infrastructure plans that will stimulate and shape redevelopment of the former Barbers Point Naval Air Station at Kalaeloa.

The sprawling 3,700-acre base was closed by the military in 1999 and largely turned over to the state. Plans in place since 2005 have envisioned up to 6,350 homes and 3 million square feet of commercial space.

But a major challenge has been how to arrange and accommodate such development given that the Navy’s old electrical, water, sewer and road systems require colossal upgrades.

The continued presence of a general-aviation airport and a Coast Guard station at the former base, as well as the possibility that the city might extend its planned rail transit line to Kalaeloa, further complicates planning.

One thing that seems certain is the old base between Kapolei and ‘Ewa Beach won’t be transformed into anything resembling other O’ahu communities.

“The characteristics of this district will be unique,” said Anthony Ching, executive director of the Hawai’i Community Development Authority, the state agency devising the area’s development rules. “It will not look like Kapolei.”

The latest draft of administrative rules directing development proposes five zoning categories. One zone is open space that includes a shoreline with as much white-sand beach as Waikīkī.

Another zone is devoted largely to recreational, cultural and energy production uses. This zone would allow for what Ching said could be five or more solar farms, including two on land owned by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, two on HCDA land and one on private property.

Urban development would be confined to three other zones with different density limits for mixed residential and commercial use.

The HCDA calls the proposed urban zoning “form-based” because it coordinates development by building heights and the amount of housing units and commercial space — not by the type of use.

“We have great hopes for the form-based rule,” Ching said.

finalizing plan

As proposed, the highest-density urban zoning would allow up to 60,000 square feet of commercial space or 60 residential units per acre in buildings up to five stories. Mid-density urban zoning would be limited to four-story buildings with up to 40,000 square feet of commercial space or 40 residential units per acre. The low-density zone would permit buildings no taller than three stories with up to 20,000 square feet of commercial space or 20 residential units per acre.

The latest draft of administrative rules follows a March summit attended by 80 individuals, including representatives of private landowners and government agencies.

The proposed rules will be discussed with landowners and other stakeholders next month, and then scheduled for a public hearing in June.

Tweaking the plan is expected based on feedback. After that, a final plan could be sent to Gov. Linda Lingle for approval in August.

If the timetable is realized, it would give landowners and developers certainty on how they may use parcels for redevelopment more than a decade after the Navy ceased operations as part of a federal base realignment decision.

Firm development rules would spur more wholesale development at the old base that is regarded by some as one of the worst examples of reusing a shuttered military installation.

While there has been some piecemeal development at Kalaeloa over the years that has included industrial businesses and plans for a new FBI headquarters, former bases on the Mainland have blossomed with hotels, shopping centers, homes, offices, universities and parks.

“We’ve been kicking the can down the road and nothing much has happened in the last 10 years,” Ching said. “I do think we’re now poised to do something here.”

20-year process

Detailed zoning rules were slow in the making largely because of challenges in determining how much new infrastructure would be needed to handle certain levels of development.

Much of the work over the past two years involved figuring out how to supply the area with upgraded power. A proposed power line layout has the endorsement from Hawaiian Electric Co., Ching said.

The HCDA estimates it will cost $550 million to improve roads, electricity, sewer and water systems to modern standards throughout the old base. Private landowners are expected to pick up the cost for most of the work, though the state anticipates being responsible for close to $200 million of infrastructure.

Previously, the HCDA had anticipated playing a larger role in developing Kalaeloa as a landowner, but the Navy last year conveyed 500 acres of land that was in limbo to private firm Ford Island Development.

Overall, redevelopment of Kalaeloa is expected to occur over 20 or more years.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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The Honolulu Advertiser reports that the Barbers Point Commissary is closing and that the property will be turned over to the private Ford Island Ventures.  How does a private business get excess public assets?   And who is Ford Island Ventures?

Ford Island Ventures is a joint venture of Hunt Building Co. and Fluor Federal Services LLC. Special legislation in 1999 created a special arrangement in Hawai’i whereby excess Navy properties could be leased or transferred in fee to private entities in exchange for in-kind construction and infrastructure repairs on Ford Island.  This circumvented the usual process for transferring excess military lands.    The Navy gave the developers a 65 year lease of Iroquois Point/Puʻuloa (384 acres), a 34 acre parcel on Ford Island, and the 6.6 acre Hālawa Landing—all underutilized Navy properties. The developers also were allowed to purchase 695 acres of housing at Kalaeloa after three years and given outright ownership of the 515 acre former Waikele Naval Magazine.

The Hawaii Reporter posted a story that contained more information:

NAS Barbers Point closed in July 1999 as a result of the 1993 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) legislation. The Navy retained portions of the former base after its closure, including the area containing the commissary. The FY07 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) required the Navy to enter into a binding agreement to convey, by sale, lease or combination thereof, any public or private person or entity outside DoD a large part of those portions including the area containing the commissary by Sep. 30, 2008. In Feb. 2009, the Navy entered into a lease with FIV to fulfill the FY 07 NDAA requirement.

It seems that the transfer of land to the private entity was a special provision inserted into the Defense Authorization Act, a giveaway of public assets to private corporations.   Ford Island Ventures it seems has friends in high places.  Environmental watchdog Carroll Cox posted information on his website about Ford Island Ventures conducting illegal business activities in the former nuclear storage bunkers in Waikele gulch.   According to Cox’s investigation, Mayor Hanneman’s administration is allowing the illegal operations to continue despite formal complaints.

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http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100417/BREAKING01/304170013/Navy+to+close+Barbers+Point+Commissary+on+April+30

Updated at 7:59 a.m., Saturday, April 17, 2010

Navy to close Barbers Point Commissary on April 30

Advertiser Staff

The Navy said Friday that it plans to close the Barbers Point Commissary on April 30.

The building and property will be turned over to Ford Island Ventures on June 1.

A news release said that while the store continues to serve a number of customers, “the Navy has not had an operational presence in the area since (Naval Air Station Barbers Point) closed in 1999, and there is no longer Navy family housing in the area.”

The 20,000-square-foot store employed 41 people, all of whom have been extended job opportunities with the Defense Commissary Agency, the Navy said.

DeCA operates four other commissaries on Oahu — one at Schofield Barracks, two at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and one at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

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http://www.hawaiireporter.com/storyPrint.aspx?cb338aa9-dab6-4167-8059-4c9d1f8eb9dc

Barbers Point Commissary to Close for Business on April 30

By Agnes Tauyan, 4/16/2010 12:12:41 PM

PEARL HARBOR – The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) is planning to close the Barbers Point Commissary store on April 30 and turn over possession of the building and property to Ford Island Ventures (FIV) on June 1.

The 20,000 square foot store has 41 employees and is located on part of the 499 acres of land parcels at Kalaeloa that was conveyed by the Navy in February, 2009, to FIV. All 41 employees were extended opportunities for continued employment with DECA.

“The Barbers Point Commissary has served the Navy well for many years,” said Rear Adm. Dixon R. Smith, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii. “Although it continues to serve a number of authorized customers, the Navy has not had an operational presence in the area since the base closed in 1999, and there is no longer Navy family housing in the area.”

DeCA operates four other commissaries on Oahu: one at Schofield Barracks, two at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and one at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

The Navy Exchange will continue to operate the Touch ‘N Go Mini-Mart Gas Station through next year. The Subway Sandwich Shop and the child care center, now operating as Kama’aina Kids and serving military and civilian families in West Oahu, are operating under an agreement with FIV. The athletic fields are also open to the public, and the bowling center re-opened to the public earlier this year.

The Barbers Point Golf Course, the picnic area and cottages at White Plains and Nimitz Beaches continue to be operated by the Navy’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) department. These facilities were not affected by BRAC and are not part of the 499 acres of land parcels conveyed to FIV.

NAS Barbers Point closed in July 1999 as a result of the 1993 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) legislation. The Navy retained portions of the former base after its closure, including the area containing the commissary. The FY07 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) required the Navy to enter into a binding agreement to convey, by sale, lease or combination thereof, any public or private person or entity outside DoD a large part of those portions including the area containing the commissary by Sep. 30, 2008. In Feb. 2009, the Navy entered into a lease with FIV to fulfill the FY 07 NDAA requirement.

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http://www.carrollcox.com/WaikeleStorage.htm

Mayor Mufi Hannemann Denies Public’s Right to Recreational Areas

For the past three or four years the Hannemann Administration has known about illegal businesses being conducted by a group called Ford Island Ventures, located in a P-2 preservation zone known as the ”Caves at Waikele.” At the same time, the Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) has been struggling with Hannemann’s desire to keep the illegal activities going.

The site, known as “the caves” is a former military munitions storage area. For zoning purposes, it was originally classified as military F-1, but, after it was abandoned by the military and no longer used for munitions storage, it was automatically rezoned or reclassified as a P-2 general preservation district.

Although the DPP has no zoning authority over F-1 military, the DPP does administer the zoning code in P-2 districts.   Land Use Ordinance Section 21-3.40  states that the purpose of the preservation districts is to preserve major open spaces and recreational lands.  The purpose of F-1 military zoning is to identify military areas and permit all military activities.   Section 21-3.40 clearly states “should land be removed from either the state designated conservation district or from federal jurisdiction, all uses, structures and development standards shall be as specified for the P-2 general preservation district”.    Therefore, the land is zoned P-2 and that was confirmed by the DPP in their January 7, 2008, letter to the agent representing the business, Ford Island Ventures.

Furthermore, the DPP produced a zoning report dated October 1, 2008, which states that “self storage rental use is not permitted in the P-2 district and is a violation of the zoning code”.  Furthermore, DPP Planner Raymond Young placed an advisory on the property on September 11, 2008, saying that “industrial activity is unauthorized”.

The DPP’s January 7, 2008, letter also states that the Central Oahu Sustainable Community Plan designates Waikele Gulch as part of the Central Oahu Open Space Network and is to be preserved for its scenic resources and recreational values. The plan is for a ravine recreational network, featuring trails and passive open spaces. The DPP stated “the operation of a commercial storage facility within the subject parcel is inconsistent with the Sustainable Community Plan”.

For more than a year I have complained to the Hannemann Administration that legal actions should be taken to shut down the facility and open up the area for public enjoyment, as required. Instead, Hannemann’s administration has ignored my complaints and my queries into this illegal activity, and has ignored its own Department of Planning and Permitting which has already determined that my complaint is valid and the property is in violation of zoning laws. Instead of doing what is legally required, Hannemann is now employing other delaying tactics, such as claiming that I gave them the wrong tax map key numbers or the advisory by the planner was not relevant.

Since receiving my complaint they have asked the Corporation Counsel to determine if DPP has any jurisdiction over the Waikele Caves Storage and its industrial uses, in the Central Oahu Open Space Network and the Sustainable Community Plan,  or zoning authority over P-2 preservation zoned property.  As if these excuses weren’t lame enough, Mr. Alex Sugai, Building Inspector Supervisor, offered more lame excuses in response to my compliant.  He told me that the numerous letters written by the former DPP Director, Henry Eng, and his staff, did not matter.  He said it is now being handled by David Tanoue, the current Director of DPP, and only what he says matters.   Mr. Sugai was instructed to tell me to contact Mr. Tanoue if I didn’t like his answer or response.  Hopefully, Hannemann will do the right thing, and open the area to the public so they can enjoy and appreciate this beautiful canyon.