HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0675.095 2022-2024 From: Simmy
Sent: Monday, January 22, 2024 11:41 AM c)
ah
To: Council Testimony ,
Subject: Fwd: Comments to Bill 121 •
NJ (
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Aloha County Council,`
I wish to OPPOSE to Amends Chapter 25, Transient Accommodations rental. rs,)
I just read the front page of West Hawaii Today,January 21, 2024.
Bill 108 established 2018,to qualify for the license,you had to have had registered and paid taxes prior to
the new law. Unhosted TAR, was permitted, but now you want to change no grandfathering would be
permitted. I don't feel this is fair to the ones who paid
TAT taxes, by doing so, allowed by the State to do this vacation rental.
The County came in later after the fact to make up laws.All permitted ones went through a lengthily
process.
Ohana unit was allowed in the process as long as it was permitted within the County building permit, and
should not be taken away after the fact it was allowed. I'm reading unhosted TAR's would be permitted in
resort and commercial zones, but no exception or grandfathered would be permitted.This was allowed
prior 2018 and allowed in Bill 108.This should not be taken away years later,this will be hardship for my
kids and grand kids.
So,with this said, everything in permitted was approved and later paid extra taxes of 3%.Just saying to
please do not punish or make things difficult for the ones who followed the laws prior and during the
existing laws.
I feel this whole issue of targeting the ones who followed the rules, paid all the tat state taxes, and
licensed by County should Not be punished.
Everything is Challenging as it is...
Go after the ones who are illegal,for one "Glamping". should be your first, saying"we need to get ALL of
these rentals up to the same standard."
Glamping?what standard?Setting up tents, no building permits...Second, big push to maintain the
character of the island... ( Push character of the Island)we should be focused on clean water,take care
of the cesspool, and sewage dumps at Kealakehe,fix our water pumps, not allow major development of
more timeshares,town house in our Special Management Area where there is absolutely no emergency
escape for Tsunami, Big Wave, and Fire.
Third, addressing pressures on the housing market. In the old days whenever there was a Major
Development, they had to establish affordable within the project. Now it's all about the affordable credits
that were Stolen within the County and attorneys.
How is it that the luxury gated homes south of the Kona airport, are they contributing to the affordable
housing?Why are there not affordable with the establishment.
Seem to be the affordable credits was to segregate,the wealthy from the common people or the poor.
Notice many locals alongAli'i Drive of resorts, hotels,timeshares, locals cannot afford because of the
property taxes. Decades ago,you paid $200 in the 70's and 80's, now it's more than $9,000.00.To
purchase a residential home starting would be a million dollars. It's not like the old days;you can charge
cheap rents.Taxes, insurance, etc. is challenging.Vacation rental of this area allows a Local to keep
their home for their Ohana. (j
1 Comm. Not,. 41-S'g5
Ref. To: poo •
Ref. Date 4AW 2 3 2024
Please do not further the challenges. "Keep Kona Country"Ali'i Drive was once of Residential Homes for
the Chiefs I Ali'i.The Chiefs vacationed here, as the love of Sunsets,fishing, canoeing, agricultural,
farming, and Surfing.
Not of concrete Hotels, town houses, ESPECIALLY BLOCKING OUR OCEAN VIEWS FROM ALI'I DRIVE.
Seawalls built to protect, hardens the shoreline, and ruins our SURF.
"Keep Country Country"was a bumper sticker for the North Shore of Oahu, created by Country
Surfboards, Ed Searfoss.
"Keep Kona Country" is a bumper sticker for Kona, by Pacific Vibrations Surf Shop in 1978. Ed and I did it
together to
Keep our Surf for the next generation.
Please Oppose, and not make it difficult to survive in this Challenging of Hawai'i, its Paradise we call
home.
Charging more money constantly what will it be for my kids, and grandkids, as I never plan to sell, so,
please help
allow us Keep our lands.As the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. Don't punish us.
I'm a Kupuna, Born and raised in the Territory of Hawaii. Please Kokua to preserve our History, Cultural,
and Surf,
in this Holy Land for this now and future generation.
Mahalo,
Simmy McMichael
Kailua Kona
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