Planned as a vibrant community, Ho'opili is designed to complete the long-term vision for the 'Ewa region that began with the forethought of the Estate of James Campbell in the 1950s and now culminates in the city's directed growth policy for the 'Ewa region, the 'Ewa Development Plan.

To address the housing and work needs for O'ahu's future generations, the city slated 'Ewa and the Primary Urban Center (Honolulu) to accommodate population growth, employment and development activities on O'ahu over the next 25 years. These areas are identified as the Development Plans. Wai'anae, North Shore, Ko'olauloa, Ko'olaupoko, East O'ahu and Central O'ahu are envisioned for little growth and preservation of rural and agricultural lifestyles. These are called Sustainable Communities Plans.

In these long-range plans, the city identifies areas where growth can and cannot occur through the Urban Growth Boundary. The Urban Growth Boundary in the 'Ewa Development Plan identifies the areas planned for urban expansion in 'Ewa and Central O'ahu, as well as areas that will remain in agriculture or open space.

If this area is removed from the Urban Growth Boundary, as some have suggested, growth will be directed to another area or community — perhaps even one that is currently identified as sustainable — to address the projected population growth and housing/employment needs over the next twenty years.

Given the current level of investment in the infrastructure being planned and constructed in the 'Ewa region, the Urban Growth Boundary is appropriately located.

PLANNING FOR FUTURE

The decision to build Ho'opili is no whim, and is nothing new or controversial. The lands representing Ho'opili have long been an important part of the 'Ewa Development Plan and are well within the growth boundary.

Through years of input from community and business leaders from Kapolei, Makakilo, 'Ewa, Kunia, Waipahu, Waikele and elsewhere, Ho'opili was designed to help complete this dream for a second urban center on O'ahu, as well as incorporate the values that existing residents and businesses wanted to see in our development — a connected, mixed-use community where families can have a home, go to school, build a career or business and socialize all in one area.

Ultimately, the success of the second urban center will depend on creating or relocating quality, knowledge-based employment opportunities, which will allow residents the opportunity to live and work in the same community and avoid the need to commute to Honolulu on a daily basis. This is central to Ho'opili's plan.

In addition to the community, we have been working with surrounding developments to get the needed infrastructure in place to fulfill the long-term vision of a second city. Ho'opili's plan has also been closely coordinated with plans for the adjacent University of Hawai'i-West O'ahu campus, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands' East Kapolei project, the state Department of Transportation's North-South Road Highway project, the Hawai'i Community Development Authority — Kalaeloa, Campbell Estate's affiliates and other developers of the City of Kapolei.

Despite being in the early phases of planning, we have entered into development agreements with our surrounding neighbors resulting in the upfront investment of millions of dollars for infrastructure improvements. Additional major funding commitments are to come.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Finally, we are also working on a community-based planning effort for the three proposed East Kapolei transit stations for the Honolulu rail-transit project, and we intend to set aside land for these transit stations.

In the meantime, the list of improvements presently under construction in the 'Ewa region to address immediate traffic concerns is long: A new interchange with North-South Road Highway, with more than 40 acres contributed by our company; widening Fort Barrett and Fort Weaver roads; and construction of segments of Kapolei Parkway. These will provide better connections between Kapolei and 'Ewa Beach.

The vision for the 'Ewa region began with Campbell in the 1950s and, with Ho'opili, it will be completed some eighty years later in 2030. The development plan process is not short-term, but establishes a vision of the future and allows for periodic modifications.

However, it is inherent to have the discipline and commitment to implement the plan or we will never realize all the benefits of developing a second urban center.

Dean Uchida is vice president of Ho'opili, D.R. Horton - Schuler Division. He wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.