A city agency has thrown its weight behind Outrigger Enterprises Inc.'s proposal for a $300 million redevelopment in Waikiki, but the department faulted the plan for not having enough parking and open space. City agency OKs
Outrigger plansThe project is faulted for a lack
of parking and open spaceStar-Bulletin Staff
The city Department of Planning & Permitting is recommending approval for permitting requests by Outrigger for the project, which is supposed to break ground in 2004.
The City Council has 60 days to act on the recommendation, which it received Monday. The Council can seek an extension. A public hearing was held on the project last month.
Outrigger's plan is 87 parking stalls short of the 1,170 total spaces required, the permitting department said. It recommends Outrigger be required to provide the stalls. The department is also concerned about Outrigger's proposal to get 250 of the parking stalls from the Fort DeRussy Saratoga parking lot, where permission to use the stalls can be rescinded on 30 days' notice.
Outrigger is seeking to increase density for the area, which draws concern about open space, the city said. Under the plan, the project's total size would go to roughly 1.86 million square feet from the current 1.5 million square feet. Given that, the city department is against several of Outrigger's proposals to intrude into open space, and is recommending that the project's open space be increased by 3,100 square feet.
The city is also asking for more study of Outrigger's proposal to close a section of Helumoa Road between Beach Walk and Lewers Street. Concerns about traffic have been raised by the owners of the nearby Sheraton-Waikiki and Halekulani hotels, as well as Police Chief Lee Donohue, who has said the closure who hurt police services.
Outrigger has said it is receptive to concerns and criticism as part of the development process. The firm needs the city approvals to secure financing for the massive project.