Kapolei Smart Growth Assistance

Environmental Protection Agency (sub to ICF Incorporated)

DC&E was part of a multidisciplinary team that provided assistance on smart growth and sustainable development to the Ewa Region of Oahu, Hawaii. As the primary growth area on Oahu, the Ewa region has become the fastest growing region of the State and has grown in population by 60 percent in 10 years. Unfortunately, much of this growth has been characterized by conventional subdivisions, strip development, and traffic congestion, with little relationship to the natural environment or the unique culture of Hawaii. The consultant team developed recommendations on how to modify both the comprehensive plan for the Ewa Region and the Urban Design Plan for the City of Kapolei, Oahu's designated "second city," which lies at the heart of the region. The recommendations included focusing growth around neighborhoods and village centers, creating a finer grained transportation network, creating nodes of high-density "transit-ready" development, providing standards for the preservation of natural resources, and creating a "main street" in the downtown of Kapolei.