By CHELSEA JENSEN Stephens Media ADVERTISING The Ka’u District Gym and Shelter is on track to meet a tight deadline or risk losing state funding. A draft Environmental Assessment for the much-needed Pahala gymnasium that would also serve as an
By CHELSEA JENSEN
Stephens Media
The Ka’u District Gym and Shelter is on track to meet a tight deadline or risk losing state funding.
A draft Environmental Assessment for the much-needed Pahala gymnasium that would also serve as an emergency shelter was released Thursday by the Department of Health Office of Environmental Quality Control. The county anticipates a finding of no significant impact.
“We’re pretty tight, but everybody’s been working hard,” said Department of Public Works Director Warren Lee. “We’ve got our eyes focused on the ball and the target to make the deadline. It’s an optimistic schedule and so far we’ve been close to it.”
Lee, during a December two-day planning charrette, said the draft would be available in February.
On Thursday, he said the project will go to bid in March and be awarded to a contractor by June 30, the date millions in state funding is set to lapse. Construction would begin this fall and wrap up in 2014, he said.
The department will construct the Ka’u District Gym and Shelter with some $16.9 million in state funding released in October by Gov. Neil Abercrombie. The funding covers the cost to design and construct the building on state property makai of the Ka’u High and Pahala Elementary schools’ present gymnasium.
The money was first appropriated by the state Legislature in 2009, however, former Gov. Linda Lingle did not release it. Because the funding was re-appropriated by Abercrombie, the county is on a tight June 30 deadline to award the project, Lee said.
The approximately 28,000-square-foot building will comprise athletic courts, recreation and multi-purpose rooms, restrooms, a locker and shower room and an athletic training room, according to the assessment. It will have a 1,500-person maximum capacity.
The facility will be managed by the county Department of Parks and Recreation and be used jointly by the school and community, according to the assessment. It will also serve as a vog shelter and be able to withstand a Category 3 hurricane, which according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale has sustained winds between 111 mph and 130 mph.
According to the assessment, the gym and shelter will provide “improved and more diverse athletic and recreational opportunities to a larger residential community in Ka’u for school and community use … a more adequate and larger meeting and gathering place … an adequate shelter to ensure residents are protected during the event of a natural disaster … and provide a shelter to aid in post-disaster recovery.”
Potential adverse impacts include distraction to night-flying birds, noise and obstruction of view for a few residents. The assessment expects no impact to endangered species.
To mitigate avian impact, the design will include shielded security lighting and the stipulation that exterior lighting only be used as needed. All activities at the facility will cease by 10 p.m. to reduce noise.
Other considered alternatives include taking no action, renovating current school facilities, and constructing the facility elsewhere.
People may comment on the document through March 23.
The document may be downloaded from the OEQC’s website at hawaii.gov/health/environmental/environmental/oeqc/index.html. It is also available at the Naalehu and Pahala public libraries.
Email Chelsea Jensen at cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com.
