HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0739.383 2016-2018 COUNTY CLERK COMP/Cowd .M, 759
COUNTY OF HAWAII
Nov.2,2018 21118 NOV — I AN 10; 29
Hawaii County Council
Re: Bill No.108(Draft 5)
Aloha:
My name is Charles Young and I reside in Kealia South Kona. I am submitting comment on Bill 108(Draft
5)which is scheduled for First Reading on the Nov.2,2018.
I am opposed to short term rentals in general particularly where they have been allowed to take root in
non-resort, rural and/or residential neighborhoods.Clearly they are aimed at providing visitors with
alternatives to resort accommodations and they change how residents and neighborhoods chose to
interact or participate in the visitor Industry, basically without consent. Perhaps at the outset the short
term rentals helped families cope with the high cost of home ownership but it has also opened up an
opportunity for those with sufficient capital to invest for profit. Hawaii's high cost of living is directly
related to the high cost of home ownership.Short term rentals incentivize investment for profit and
exacerbate the high cost of home ownership by driving up the demand to cost ratio.
I support the Ihtetit of Bill 108(Draft 5)to define where this use will be allowed,to establish provisions
and standards to regulate this use and provide an avenue for existing use deemed to be improper by
this ordinance,to apply for a nonconforming use certificate that would allow them to continue to
operate in a non-permitted district. However I oppose the provision In Section 25-4(a)(1) (C)to permit
use in the"RM District,for multiple family dwellings with a condominium property regime as defined
and governed by Chapters 514A or 5148, Hawaii Revised Statutes."This provision would permit current
and new condominium multiple family dwellings to operate as short term rentals.The provision
incentivizes Further development and proliferation of short term rentals In RM districts and again
exacerbates the high cost of home ownership for residents, I urge the Council to delete this provision
and reinsert the provisions of draft 4 which would prohibit short term rentals in single family or
multifamily districts and allow pre-existing ones to be grandfathered in.
I also urge the Council to take measures to enact an impact fee on short term rentals particularly those
that are located In rural or non-permitted zones. I live in a rural area. I am a director for a non-profit
organization, KUPA Friends of the Hookena Beach Park. Our organization has a Memorandum of
Understanding(MOU)with the Hawaii County Parks and Recreation to co-manage the camping and daily
activities at Hookena Beach Park.We have seen an increase in visitor traffic to the Park to where on
many occasions the Park is now overcrowded and beyond its carrying capacity.Airbnb and other
vacation rental operators in our district advertise the Park as a perk. In effect they offer up the
community as a benefit.The community is welcoming but the Park and its'recreational value belongs
first to the community who pay the taxes for its'upkeep.Those who profit from selling the community's
attributes should help support in sustaining those attributes.
I urge the Council to adopt the provisions of Bill 108(Draft 5)except the above mentioned Section 25-4
(a) (1)(C). Lastly,I urge the Council to consider consulting with the Kona Community Development Plan
Action Committee before taking final action on the Bill.Short term rentals bring with them a very
different path for development than envisioned in the KCDP and on the surface may actually contradict
the intent of having greater individual community input.
Comm. No.1Y1''"
Ref. To: P/C-ounC A
Ref. Date NOV 0I 2018
140.10L \14
Mahalo for this opportunity to provide comment.
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Charles Young
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PO Box 505
Honaunau,Hi 96726