The City Planning Department is seeking means to control high rise construction along the makai side of Punchbowl down to the Lunalilo Freeway.

Purpose of the control is twofold: To prevent any marring of the crater as a historical landmark, and to insure clear and unobstructed view of Punchbowl from the proposed State Capitol.

Frank Skrivanek, City Planning Director, has proposed an ordinance restricting the area to low and medium density and place a 40-foot height limitation on all construction. That’s about four floors.

The area is presently zoned to permit almost any type of construction, including residential, commercial and hotel- apartment.

The program came as the result of a meeting yesterday between Skrivanek, members of the City Council and the State Civic Center Policy Committee, headed by Val Marciel, State Comptroller.

The committee was concerned that the present zoning along Punchbowl would prove detrimental to the beauty of the Capitol complex if high rise were permitted.

All concerned felt something should be done, regardless of whether the Legislature passes the Governor’s request for money to finance the Capitol.

“It will be back in two years, anyway,” said Council Chairman Herman G.P. Lemke, referring to the bill requesting the funds. “So, regardless of what happens in the Legislature, we should be doing something.”

The 40-foot restriction was proposed by Marciel. But it was picked up by the Council and Lemke asked Skrivanek to draw up a plan that would be “legally plausible.”

Skrivanek, noting the area already has “bad street problems,” said action should be taken quickly because there are now several buildings constructed or planned for construction that exceed the 40-foot limit.

More specifically, the area in question is that between the crater and Lunalilo Freeway, bounded by the Pali Highway, Milo and Madeira Streets ewa, and Victoria, Thurston and Magazine Streets on the Diamond Head side.

Every Sunday, “Back in the Day” looks at an article that ran on this date in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. The items are verbatim, so don’t blame us today for yesteryear’s bad grammar.