Plans for a five-tower condominium complex at the former site of the Kam Drive-In Theater in Aiea won a favorable recommendation by a 7-0 vote of the Honolulu Planning Commission on Wednesday,
The rezoning request for the 1,500-unit project, which will also include commercial space and possibly a small hotel, will now go before the City Council.
In a first for the city, developer Robertson Properties Group is asking for a development agreement that will "lock in" the zoning laws with which it must comply. In exchange, the developer "will commit to providing public infrastructure improvements and other public benefits beyond that which would be typically required" under a standard unilateral agreement, city Planning Director George Atta said in a memo to the commission in support of the rezoning.
John Manavian, Robertson executive vice president, said "certainty" is a priority when dealing with a project that has an estimated $750 million price tag.
"With a development agreement, we’re able to partner and make sure that the project that’s built is exactly as it was envisioned in these renderings and graphics," Manavian said.
Planned for the 15-acre site across Kaonohi Street from Pearlridge Center are five buildings — two with a maximum height of 150 feet, and one each with maximum heights of 350 feet, 300 feet and 250 feet. The current height limit is 60 feet.
Manavian said existing zoning allows for a commercial development with up to 2 million square feet of retail space.
Some area residents have voiced concerns about increased traffic and loss of view planes. Los Angeles-based Robertson Properties Group said it is making several million dollars in road improvements — including a new main street stretching from Moanalua Road to Kaonohi Street and signalized intersections to go with them.
The developer also said it has reconfigured its project to minimize the impact on view planes. Only support for the project and the development of new homes was heard Wednesday.
An affordable-housing provision would require Robertson to designate 30 percent of its stock in the "affordable" category as defined by federal housing guidelines. Half would be on-site.
