AIEA, Hawaii -- It was a packed house at the Aiea Neighborhood Board meeting Monday night, where developers outlined their plan for a huge retail and residential development at the old Kam Drive-In site.

The Los Angeles-based Robertson Properties group wants to build 180,000 square feet of retail space at the corner of Kaonohi and Moanalua Road. “A shopping center that includes a market as an anchor, with small shops and cafes that serve the immediate community,” said John Manavian, Vice President of Real Estate Development for the Robertson Properties Group.

Manavian said the group also wants to build three residential high rises, 30 stories each, with 1,500 to 1,800 residential units. “We’re not talking about luxury condos, but a housing project that supports the needs of this Aiea community,” said Manavian. “The young professional wanting to move back to the community. Or the senior citizen who’s decided that it’s time to downsize.”

The high rise development would require zoning changes. Manavian said they’re looking at roughly 300 feet. The property is currently zoned for 60 feet heights and only for retail.

Manavian said although their project is not dependent on rail transit, they are banking on the Honolulu City Council supporting transit-oriented development projects such as this. A transit stop is planned a half mile from the project site at the corner of Kaonohi and Kamehameha.

Despite the transit plan, Aiea residents said their number one concern with any development project, is traffic. I can just see the traffic every single day and that’s not just on swap meet mornings. It’s unbelievable. It’s just backed up,” said Aiea resident Robert McFarland.

Other residents said they are concerned about a concrete jungle. “I don’t want to be like Makiki, where it is all high rise. I’m just afraid that’s the direction they’re going with this development,” said Aiea resident Al Tober.

Steve DiRico said he is concerned about the environment and infrastructure stress. He’s also worried about losing the tradewinds once more high rises go up. “I don’t have air conditioning in my house because I’ve got such great access to the trades. So I don’t know if that’s going to be impacted,” said DiRico.

Manavian said construction is still at least two to three years away. The developer still needs city approvals to move ahead with the project.