2024-04-02 PL-CCI-2024-000003 Bill 121 Nicholas Lepisto Testimony

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From: Nicholas Lepisto To: WPCtestimonv Subject: Urgent Need for Reconsideration of Bill 121 Provisions Date: Tuesday,April 2,2024 9:38:44 AM Chairman Dennis Lin Windward Planning Commission County of Hawaii 25 Aupuni St. Unit 1502 Hilo, HI 96720 Aloha Chairman Lin, I hope this letter finds you well. My name is Nicholas Lepisto, and I am a resident of Hawaii, living at 76-6312 Mahuahua PI. I am writing to you today to express my concerns regarding Bill 121 and to offer some recommendations that I believe could benefit our community and address some of the issues raised by the bill. Firstly, I am concerned about the enforceability of the bill and the potential inequity it could create among property owners. It is crucial that we ensure equal treatment for all, regardless of whether a property owner lives on-site or if the operator is a lessor or caretaker living on-site. This fairness is essential for maintaining the aloha spirit that defines our community. Moreover, the bill's current stance on where hosts live and where guests stay seems to overreach. As long as the owner is in the same building, on the same parcel, or on an adjacent parcel, it should not be the county's place to dictate where individuals can and cannot sleep. This restriction feels unnecessarily invasive and contrary to the values of privacy and autonomy. Lastly, the bill's approach to alternative accommodations such as tiny homes, tents, trailers, and other non-traditional living spaces lacks clarity. It is vital for the commission to recommend that Hawaii County provide clear guidelines for these types of accommodations. This clarity will help preserve the diverse and inclusive nature of our island's accommodations, ensuring that all forms of housing are recognized and appropriately regulated. In light of these concerns, I kindly request the Planning Commission to consider the following recommendations: 1. Recommend equal treatment of property owners who live on-site and operators who do not own the property but live on-site as lessors or caretakers. 2. Recommend the removal of restrictions about where hosts live and where guests stay, as long as the owner is in the same building, on the same parcel, or on an adjacent parcel. 3. Recommend that Hawaii County provide clarity for tiny homes, tents, trailers, and other alternative accommodations.