HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0675.261 2022-2024HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL
POLICY COMMITTEE ON PLANNING, LAND USE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Councilinember Ashley Kierkiewicz, Chair, Dr. Holeka Inaba, Vice Chair
MEETING DATE: Monday, July 8, 2024
J
TIME: 9:00 am
CD
PLACE: Hilo
�..
RE: BILL NO, 121-24
W Wr
Dear Chair Kierkiewicz, Vice Chair Inaba, and Council Committee Members:
w>
Thank you for the hard work and copious hours spent crafting, revising, and considering all the
community input on this bill. If adopted, the recent amendments proffered by Chair Kimball will help
remove many of the most harmful provisions in this bill. I fully support all the recommended
amendments.
I'd like to offer comments on the bill to provide some thought for additional amendments that may
further provide clarity and opportunity for residents.
1. The bill does not address the many tiny homes, trailers, yurts, cabins or campers that
residents offer as unique traveler accommodations. These structures tend to be non -
intrusive, non -permanent, and a fairly light footprint on the land which benefits mindful
tourism while providing the hosts a way to offer untraditional experiences and
supplement their income. The number of these units is not insignificant.
a. To encourage full registration of all rentals, it would be helpful to allow existing
structures like these to be grandfathered into the process, even if no further
allowances will be made for such unperrnitted structures.
2. The complaint process (including notice of complaint filing, investigation process,
communication to/from the homeowner, and criteria for determination of violation, is
very opaque.
a. To create clarity and fairness in the complaint and violation process, which can
result in hefty fines, the bill should outline the entire process, criteria and
timeframes for such actions to provide a framework for home owners faced with
this scenario.
b. Further, the bill should allow for an annual reset of the successive violation fine
structure to not punish owners who may have violations over several years.
3. The need for housing and jobs near where we live is real, particularly for folks living in
the non -urban areas of the island. Allowing operator -hosted rentals provides an
Comm, of r
Ref, To:
Ref. Date _ LU�s
opportunity for residents to live and work in their immediate community. It also negates
the need to create specific zoning to address the need for traveler accommodation in these
areas. I understand the prospect of off -island ownership is untenable at this time, but with
ownership so far out of reach for many residents, until the greater issues on the island are
addressed, this scenario creates an opportunity for additional housing and jobs for long-
term tenants while offering accommodation for visiting ohana.
4. Finally, I wish to request that real effort is made to create goals and metrics, along with
processes to track and measure the success of this ordinance against the stated purpose on
an annual basis. An economic study of the effects of industry on this island, and this
ordinance in particular, would go a long way to ensuring our regulations in
implementatimi not doing more harm than good.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Wilkinson