PD Background Report (PL-USE-2023-000009)

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The Bed and Breakfast permit process has been around for decades and provides a well established way for owners like myself to make sure that we meet county requirements consistent with the goals of the General Plan and the desire of the community to regulate these types of accommodations in residential areas. Specifically in Volcano, Mauna Loa Subdivision, there are many existing transient accommodations operating under the law and in harmony with the neighborhood. This area is far from any resorts or hotels, yet is the home to the largest tourist attraction on the island, Hawaii Volcanos National park. Visitors that want to lodge near the park have few choices for lodging except for small B and Bs in Mauna Loa Estates or Volcano proper. The new regulations proposed for regulating hosted B and Bs will undoubtably tighten up the supply of transient accommodations by eliminating unpermitted substandard structures, and those not operating within the regulations. This lack of accommodation could adversely affect the visitor experience, adversely affecting other businesses in the area. Additionally, increased traffic from other parts of the island for visitors that cannot lodge near the park would create additional congestion. 4b- Per the discussion in section 4a, Volcano is a tourist destination, with many tourist oriented businesses including a large number of transient accommodation units. Most of the residents either work for the national park or are involved in businesses related to the tourist trade. The proposed use is already allowed under the county's hosted transient accommodation regulations, and the granting of this use permit would not expand the operation. The TMK proposed for this B and B permit has located on either side existing permitted transient accommodations. The property does not adjoin any property that is not a transient accommodation and the proposed use is already allowed on this TMK, therefore having a B and B in this location will have no additional impact to the properties in the immediate area. Transient accommodations comprise about 30% of the properties in the subdivision. In this immediate area and in the overall subdivision, a hosted Bed and Breakfast will be consistent with the current character of the area, and will not impact or substantially change the overall welfare of the residents in this area. 4c- This B and B will not require any additional infrastructure, nor will it significantly increase the wear and tear on existing infrastructure such as roads and utilities because nothing changes. There will be no additional students in the schools and should not require any additional police or fire services. The square footage of the existing and proposed structures along with improvements such as water and septic tanks have already been reviewed and approved by the county as part of the Ohana permit process. 5- See attached 6- Info uploaded to EPIC