2026-06-30 Council Member Kimball Testimony

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HEATHER L. KIMBALL Phone: (808)961-8828 Council District 1 (North Hilo, Fax: (808)961-8912 Hamiikua, and portion of Waimea) Email:Heather.Kimball@hawaiicountv.gov HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL 25 Aupuni Street, Ste. 1402 Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 DATE: June 29, 2026 TO: Leeward Planning Commission, Chair Dean Au Windward Planning Commission, Chair Louis Daniele, III and Members of the Leeward and Windward Planning Commissions FROM: Heather L. Kimball, Council Member Council District 1 SUBJECT: Unhosted Transient Vacation Rental in RM Zoning Aloha Chair Au, Chair Daniele, and members of the Leeward and Windward Planning Commissions, Testimony regarding Bill 147 relating to Transient Accommodations from the Kona CDP Action Committee seemed to indicate that this bill was changing existing County Code to allow for unhosted transient vacation rentals or Short-Term Vacation Rentals (STVRs) in the Residential Multi-Family Zoning District (RM). On the contrary, Bill 147 does not change the permitted use of STVRs in RM. Under the current County Code, STVRs are permitted in RM in Resort or Resort Nodes, and in other areas when under a Condominium Property Regime (CPR)pursuant to Hawai`i Revised Statutes, Chapter 514B. However, since this issue was raised by the Kona CDP Action Committee, the Council may benefit from the discussion for this issue by the Planning Commissions before the bill is returned to Council for consideration. For the purposes of discussion only, the amendment to the bill would be as follows: Section 25-4- . Short-term vacation rentals; where permitted; nonconforming use certificate. (a) An STVR is permitted in the following zoning districts: (1) [RM,] V, CG, CN, CV, and CDH; 'd at 9JDagg by 'd , Read, Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. ,I.COPY