HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-15 Bill 121 Sam Harrison From: STEWART HWI
To: LPCtestimonv
Subject: Urgent Plea for Reconsideration of Bill 121"s Impact on Family Livelihoods
Date: Monday,April 15,2024 3:19:42 PM
Chairperson Barbara Defranco
Leeward Planning Commission
County of Hawai'i
25 Aupuni St.
Unit 1502
Hilo, HI 96720
Aloha Chairperson Lin & Commission Members,
I am writing to you today as a recent investor in a vacation rental property in
Hawai'i, a decision my family and I made with the hope of securing our financial
future. The introduction of Bill 121 has brought us considerable anxiety, as its
implications threaten to undermine the very foundation we aimed to build for our
family. I respectfully request the Commission to reconsider aspects of Bill 121 that
disproportionately affect small property owners like myself.
The requirement for owners to swear that all property improvements are properly
permitted, coupled with the stringent restrictions on where hosts and guests may
reside, places an undue burden on homeowners. Many of us, due to historical
challenges with the permitting process, find ourselves in a position where
compliance is not just difficult but, in some cases, impossible without risking our
livelihoods.
In light of these concerns, I urge the Planning Commission to consider the
following recommendations:
Recommend the removal of restrictions about where hosts live and where guests
stay, ensuring that as long as the owner is in the same building, on the same parcel,
or on an adjacent parcel,they should not be restricted on where they can sleep.
Recommend streamlining the registration process and eliminating invasive
requirements that do not directly contribute to the safety or well-being of the
community.
Recommend that any fines for violations of these regulations be assessed only after
the final resolution of the host's due process rights,to ensure fairness and equity in
enforcement.
These measures, I believe,will address concerns of enforceability, inequity, and
private property rights,while still allowing the County to regulate vacation rentals
effectively.
I understand the challenges the Commission faces in balancing the needs of the
community with the rights of property owners. However, I firmly believe that with
thoughtful amendments, Bill 121 can achieve its objectives without causing undue
hardship to families like mine.
Mahalo for your consideration of these matters. I hope for a resolution that
supports both the growth of HawaiTs tourism industry and the financial stability of
its residents.
Me ka ha`aha`a,
Sam Harrison
Captain Cook