HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0739.325 2016-2018 P/Pc-
COUNTY CLERK NI(I I l D8
COUNTY OF HAWAII
RECEIVED ((
From: Axel Kratel Time 1 V OO� By O.
To: Council Testimony
Date ����J/(�o
Cc: Eoff.Karen
Subject: Written testimony for Bill 108
Date: Monday,October 15,2018 8:59:08 AM
While I am in overall support of bill 108, there are items in the most recent revision being
considered that have me seriously concerned as to what impact they will have on the district of
Puna. By requiring that all vacation rentals must be fully permitted with a final permit, an
additional 100-200 rentals in Puna might get shut down, adding to the already 500 rentals lost
during the eruption. This will have economic consequences on Puna. We all know that many
structures in Puna aren't properly permitted. I ask that the county council reconsider the code •
requirement. Of course homes should be up to code, but there is no reason to couple the two
issues together, especially with such an unforgiving timeline. We all know the hotel industry is
eager to shut down as many vacation rentals as possible and they are the ones who are pushing
for this requirement,this will only serve the interest of the hotel industry, not the people of
Hawaii.
If you insist on keeping the code requirement, then give owners appropriate time to correct the
issue as opposed to make a blanket shut down of those rentals.
In addition, I feel that the county council should reconsider and provide a plan for Puna so that
Puna can recover the lost rentals in a way that protects local neighborhoods, and keeps
vacation rental density low.
Please note that I am not a Puna resident, and that I do not own an unhosted vacation rental in
Puna. However, I am the president of the board of the Unitarian fellowship in Puna so I feel it
is my civic duty to speak up to protect the people of Puna and help with the economic
recovery of Puna. But I am also speaking up as a concerned Hilo resident. An impoverished
Puna district is a terrible thing not just for Puna, but for all of Hawaii, it will,significantly
increase the crime rate on the Big Island.
Comm. No.1N k 329
Ref.To: P I P&
Ref. Date OCT 1 5 2018