Laserfiche WebLink
Leeward Planning Commission, April 11, 2024 <br /> First off, I want to start with thanking you all for your service to our community. I'm <br /> writing this on behalf of my family, our employees and local business we support, <br /> in opposition of several portions of Bill 121. <br /> 1 moved to the island 20 years ago as an African American woman because I fell in <br /> love with the island and the reputation of the islands being more welcoming to <br /> those of mixed race. Our 5 children were born and raised on the island. My <br /> husbands and his family were athletic coaches for local school and we were all <br /> very involved in our community. We have both long term rentals and one short <br /> term rental and several amazing local people who work with us to keep them in <br /> operation. During COVID, like many other people, my husband lost his job in the <br /> hospitality industry due to heavy restrictions placed on the island. Our boys, high <br /> school football players, were also just short of being forced to get the "Mrna jab" <br /> (despite health conditions that prevent us from doing so) in order to play the sport <br /> they loved. We had to make a hard decision, and despite our plan to never leave <br /> the island, our home,friends and family...we were forced to move to the mainland <br /> with just one week notice. We knew we would do everything to keep our forever <br /> home, the one we worked so hard for, that we all put in sweat equity to remodel. <br /> Financially it didn't make sense for us to rent it long term, however, we didn't want <br /> to sell it.That is when we decided to short term rent it. Our tenants who live on <br /> property next door, a local family who have lived there since we purchased it, <br /> agreed to be our on site hosts and property managers. They were able to stay in <br /> their home at an affordable price and we were able to supplement their income in <br /> a declining economy. <br /> We have put in a lot of work to create a nice place for visitors to stay.We have had <br /> zero issues with guest and no complaints. We do not allow large gatherings and <br /> ensure we properly vet who will be staying in our home. We live in an agricultural <br /> zone and chose this when we purchased it to have sustainability. Sustainability <br /> with farming, chickens, and also the space to potentially rent in the future. We <br /> employ 9 people to help support their families at this property, as well as <br /> providing affordable long term housing for 12 people.We pay all GE,TA, HCTAT, <br /> non homeowner exclusion nor cap property taxes, and income taxes...for a total <br /> of 38%to the County and State. Our property taxes have doubled in one year. <br /> Our insurance has increased significantly to cover the cost of short term rentals <br /> and kept it with a local insurance company.We are making just enough to cover <br />