The City and County of Honolulu has budgeted $60 million to improve the sewer lines at two Central Oahu sites. However, until the sewer lines can be repaired or replaced, new residential and commercial real estate projects from between Halawa and the Pearl City area will be forced to put on hold, since no new sewer connections will be allowed. The repair project is expected to take at least four years to complete.
According to the city’s Department of Environmental Services, the Pearl City pump station has reached its limit of 28.4 million gallons of wastewater per day. If any additional flow were to be added, it would place the pump station over capacity, creating a high risk of sewage spillage. Director of Environmental Services, Tim Steinberger, stated, “Our whole focus is responsible management of the system.” Steinberger did note that applications for sewer permits will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and may be approved if a sewer connection already exists. Home additions may be allowed as well, but no new residential units or homes will be allowed.
Among the projects that will be severely impacted by this decision include the five residential towers that Robertson Properties Group were hoping to build on the site of the former Kam Drive-In theater as well as MW Group’s plan to build another senior living center on a vacant lot in Pearl Highlands. The developers are working with the city to see if a creative solution would still allow them to build their projects. Steinberger added, “They’re coming in with a plan, and they said that they believe they have a workable plan, so that’s what we want to see. When you leave it up to the engineers to come up with something, usually they’re pretty good about coming up with something.”
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 5-14-2012, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
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