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From: STEWART HWI <br /> To: LPCtestimonv <br /> Subject: Urgent Plea for Reconsideration of Bill 121"s Impact on Family Livelihoods <br /> Date: Monday,April 15,2024 3:19:42 PM <br /> Chairperson Barbara Defranco <br /> Leeward Planning Commission <br /> County of Hawai'i <br /> 25 Aupuni St. <br /> Unit 1502 <br /> Hilo, HI 96720 <br /> Aloha Chairperson Lin & Commission Members, <br /> I am writing to you today as a recent investor in a vacation rental property in <br /> Hawai'i, a decision my family and I made with the hope of securing our financial <br /> future. The introduction of Bill 121 has brought us considerable anxiety, as its <br /> implications threaten to undermine the very foundation we aimed to build for our <br /> family. I respectfully request the Commission to reconsider aspects of Bill 121 that <br /> disproportionately affect small property owners like myself. <br /> The requirement for owners to swear that all property improvements are properly <br /> permitted, coupled with the stringent restrictions on where hosts and guests may <br /> reside, places an undue burden on homeowners. Many of us, due to historical <br /> challenges with the permitting process, find ourselves in a position where <br /> compliance is not just difficult but, in some cases, impossible without risking our <br /> livelihoods. <br /> In light of these concerns, I urge the Planning Commission to consider the <br /> following recommendations: <br /> Recommend the removal of restrictions about where hosts live and where guests <br /> stay, ensuring that as long as the owner is in the same building, on the same parcel, <br /> or on an adjacent parcel,they should not be restricted on where they can sleep. <br /> Recommend streamlining the registration process and eliminating invasive <br /> requirements that do not directly contribute to the safety or well-being of the <br /> community. <br /> Recommend that any fines for violations of these regulations be assessed only after <br /> the final resolution of the host's due process rights,to ensure fairness and equity in <br /> enforcement. <br /> These measures, I believe,will address concerns of enforceability, inequity, and <br /> private property rights,while still allowing the County to regulate vacation rentals <br /> effectively. <br /> I understand the challenges the Commission faces in balancing the needs of the <br /> community with the rights of property owners. However, I firmly believe that with <br /> thoughtful amendments, Bill 121 can achieve its objectives without causing undue <br /> hardship to families like mine. <br /> Mahalo for your consideration of these matters. I hope for a resolution that <br /> supports both the growth of HawaiTs tourism industry and the financial stability of <br />