2024-04-10 PL-CCI-2024-000003 Bill 121 H. Hokulani Porter

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From: H. Hokulani Porter To: LPCtestimony Subject: Fwd: Bill 121 Date: Wednesday,April 10,2024 10:42:36 AM Subject: Urgent Request for Reconsideration of Bill 121 Provisions Leeward Planning Commission Aloha Chairpersons, am writing to express my deep concerns regarding the current provisions of Bill 121,which I believe could have unintended negative impacts on our local community and economy.As a resident of Hawai'i, I understand the importance of maintaining the delicate balance between supporting our tourism industry and preserving the unique character of our neighborhoods. However, I am worried that Bill 121, in its current form, might not achieve these goals effectively. Firstly, I am concerned about the enforceability of the bill.Without clear guidelines and sufficient resources for enforcement,there is a risk that the bill could lead to inequitable treatment of property owners.This could inadvertently harm those who rely on short-term rentals for their livelihood, without effectively addressing the issues the bill aims to solve. Moreover,the bill's current restrictions on where hosts live and where guests stay seem to infringe upon private property rights.As long as the owner is in the same building, on the same parcel,or on an adjacent parcel, it seems overly restrictive to dictate where they can and cannot sleep.This not only impacts homeowners' rights but could also transform the character of our neighborhoods in ways that do not necessarily benefit the community.This Bill also affects those of us living in rural areas. I live near mile marker 88,a largely agricultural area. My family and I are farmers, however, because our state has prioritized tourism over producing our own food for sustainable income,we rely on our short-term rentals to keep us financially afloat. Without the support our rental brings in, we could not afford our mortgage that becomes more expensive every day because of surmounting costs in property taxes; another large discussion that is not being addressed here. I am a native Hawaiian born and raised in Hawai'i, if this bill passes, it will yet another catalyst adding to the horrible paradigm of being"priced out of paradise." Also,the enforceability of Bill 121 raises significant concerns.Without adequate human resources, the Planning Department may struggle to enforce the new regulations effectively, leading to a potential misallocation of staff and resources.This could inadvertently prioritize the enforcement of short-term rental regulations over other critical planning and development issues. Lastly,the lack of data supporting the need for such stringent regulations is concerning.Without a thorough economic impact study or an affordable housing study, it is difficult to understand the full implications of Bill 121 on our community. Therefore, I respectfully request the Planning Commission to consider the following recommendations: 1. 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. 2. Recommend conducting an economic impact study to better understand the implications of Bill 121. 3. Recommend streamlining the registration process and eliminating invasive requirements,to make compliance more accessible for property owners. believe these changes could help ensure that Bill 121 achieves its intended goals without causing undue harm to our community.