HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0739.342 2016-2018 Plk#
COUNTY CLERK OOMMU 1
COUNTY OF HAWAI'I
(MOW
From: Xinxin Guo Time O%O6 By de.
To: Council Testimony Date 10/1&/18
Cc: Xinxin Guo
Subject: Proposed County Bill 108
Date: Monday,October 15,2018 8:09:10 PM
Dear members of Hawaii County Council,
I'd like to take this opportunity to express my concerns about the
proposed Bill 108.
Firstly, while the revised bill provides a relief to homeowners in the resort
areas, owners of seaside homes located in between resorts are unfairly
punished. An example of such community is Puako, which has historically
been a popular vacation rental community for many decades, well before
the arrival of Four Seasons Huaualai. Vacation rentals in Puako have
contributed significantly to our local economy by attracting families to
vacation on the island and by providing many job opportunities for the
hospitality industry. With its unique settings and beach homes, Puako does
not compete with hotels and resorts for guests. By excluding Puako from
vacation rental permitted zoning, the bill arbitrarily takes away its
homeowners' historical right to operate their homes as vacation rentals.
Secondly, Hawaii is a premier destination for affluent travelers, especially
for couples and families. By restricting or eliminating access to luxury
rentals other than those in the resort areas, many of these affluent
travelers will have no choice but to spend their money elsewhere, i.e.,
other tropical countries where such homes are readily available. This
would have a negative impact on our local economy. Moreover, there is no
evidence that restricting luxury homes from operating as vacation rentals
would alleviate the affordable housing problem. Currently the definition of
"Short Term Vacation Rental" excludes homes with six or more bedrooms.
I don't 'understand the rationale behind the number ofbedrooms
requirement as six seems so arbitrary to me. A more appropriate approach
would be to exclude homes with a nightly rental rate in excess of a certain
threshold as determined by the Council.
Finally, I found it unreasonable that the bill does not give a grace period or
warning to homeowners under Paragraph 25-4.1(d)(4)(c), as the
repercussion can be quite onerous if one fails to renew the permit before
its expiration.
Thank you for your consideration.
X%v�x%vu cl u.o
Puako Resident
Comm. No.—M.342
Ref. To: p PC
Ref. Dote CI 15 2018