City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi wants a study to determine the effect of a double-decker Sam's Club and Wal-Mart at the Keeaumoku Street superblock. Kobayashi seeks
Wal-Mart studyShe wants the city to look at
possible effects on Keeaumoku trafficBy Gordon Y.K. Pang
gpang@starbulletin.com
In her resolution urging Mayor Jeremy Harris to do the study, Kobayashi said: "A project of this magnitude has the potential to have significant negative social, environmental, traffic and other infrastructure impacts on surrounding land uses and may also result in the loss of long-standing Hawaii businesses."
The complex is expected to include a Sam's Club and a Wal-Mart, both about 150,000 square feet, a four-story parking garage and small shops along Keeaumoku. Also planned are the realignment of Makaloa and Sheridan streets, and installation of traffic signals at the intersection of Kanunu and Keeaumoku streets, and possibly at the Rycroft and Sheridan streets intersection as well.
Wal-Mart officials already are anticipating spending about $3 million in off-site improvements to deal with traffic, placing utilities underground and other improvements, said Jon-Eric Greene, executive vice president of the chain's local real estate agent, Colliers Monroe Friedlander. An updated traffic study, to back up one done 18 months ago, is already under way, he said.
Much of the traffic expected to go in and out of Wal-Mart already is traveling on Keeaumoku Street to reach Ala Moana Center or other destinations, Greene said.
Kobayashi said area residents are particularly worried that their concerns will not be heard because the property is already zoned for mixed use.
"There's no variance or anything that's needed," she said. "All they need is a building permit."
Greene, however, said the city does have the authority to impose traffic mitigation measures as a condition of any building permits issued to Wal-Mart, and the chain is ready to abide by any such restrictions.
"They want to be a good citizen. They want to be a good neighbor," he said.
Officials with the world's largest retailer earlier projected that the megacenter could open on the block bounded by Keeaumoku, Sheridan, Makaloa and Rycroft streets by late 2003 or early 2004. Wal-Mart agreed last month to buy the vacant 10.5-acre parcel from the Wichman Family Trust for an undisclosed price.
Greene said much of the negative publicity tied to the project is being generated by unions representing grocery store workers unhappy that Wal-Mart is not unionized.
City & County of Honolulu
