Parker Ranch

Parker Ranch

Waimea Town Center Plan

The Waimea Town Center Plan (formerly known as Parker Ranch 2020) provides the long-term vision for the development of Parker Ranch’s lands within the immediate Waimea area. Richard Smart recognized the influence Parker Ranch had on the future growth and character of Waimea. He foresaw that unless Parker Ranch lands were made available, Waimea would continue to develop as a lineal town, extending from Mud Lane down towards Kawaihae. He hoped the Waimea Town Center Plan would allow Waimea to maintain its “traditional village” character through the expansion of the Town Center Area.

The original planning for the Waimea Town Center began in the early 1980’s. In 1992, approval of the original Plan was granted by the County through the adoption of Ordinance 92-65 which rezoned over 580 acres of land in the Waimea area for commercial, industrial, and residential activities, as well as for a wide range of community facilities.

Shortly after the Plan was approved by the County, Richard Smart died. He left the assets of the Ranch to the Parker Ranch Foundation Trust to support healthcare, education and charitable giving through named beneficiaries in the Waimea community. The four beneficiaries are Parker School Trust Corporation, Hawaii Preparatory Academy, North Hawaii Community Hospital (Lucy Henriques Medical Center has now merged with NHCH) and the Hawaii Community Foundation (which would in turn distribute its proceeds to non-profit organizations in Waimea). In doing this, he sought to provide for the educational, health and cultural needs of the town.

In 1994, Parker Ranch began to revise its Waimea Town Center Plan in response to community concerns and in light of the fiduciary responsibilities of the Parker Ranch Foundation Trustees to the beneficiaries to ensure that development proceeded in an economically viable manner. The following is a description of the revised Waimea Town Center Plan.

Goals and Objectives of Waimea Town Center Plan

  • Support and enhance the long term viability of Waimea as an attractive residential, cultural, business and service center.
  • Support the mandate of the Parker Ranch Foundation Trust to provide distributions from net income generated from assets of the Trust to its beneficiaries.
  • Concentrate development to maximize the use of existing and planned infrastructure to minimize potential impacts to the area’s road network.
  • Develop the property in a fair and responsible manner that provides appropriate mitigation measures commensurate with the project’s impacts.

Development Concept

  • Ensure projects and infrastructure systems are provided to service the needs of the community.
  • Provide needed community facilities, including parks, open space, and an expanded school site.
  • Provide a mix of residential neighborhoods to meet the broad spectrum of housing needs.
  • Provide a road circulation system that will enhance the circulation opportunities in conjunction with the project’s development.
  • Provide alternative transportation opportunities with equestrian, bike, and pedestrian linkages.
  • Expand employment and business opportunities through the development and expansion of industrial and commercial areas.
  • Enhance the visual character and beauty of Waimea through the preservation of important visual corridors, landscaping and perpetuation of the ranching architectural style and rural character.
  • Protect historical and cultural resources through the preservation of important sites and areas.

Project Schedule

The Waimea Town Center Plan is envisioned to be implemented over a 15 to 25 year period. The application to amend the existing zoning ordinance was approved in September 1996. The first project, a joint venture with Schuler Homes (a single and multi-family development) began in 2004. The Parker Ranch Center improvements are complete and tenants are open for business. The industrial park will proceed when market demand improves.

Waimea Town Center Zoning Map

A map depicting the Town Center Plans is available in Acrobat PDF format. View the Waimea Town Center Zoning Map. The file may take a few minutes to download on a dialup connection.
waimeatowncenter.pdf []