HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-02 PL-CCI-2024-000003 Bill 121 Heather Korotie Testimony From: Heather Korotie
To: W PCtesti mono
Subject: 4/4/2024 Windward Planning Commission meeting:Written Testimony Bill 121, 122
Date: Tuesday,April 2,2024 1:30:40 PM
From: Heather Korotie
Bill 121: Concern
Bill 121 is about regulating TARs that are owned and operated by locals. My biggest concern
is how Bill 121 will negatively impact small farms that currently operate TARs. I
encourage the commission members to look deeper into how this bill and set of related bills could be altered to
protect and encourage the future of agricultural tourism on the Big Island,which is something that needs
support based on our General Plan and CDPs. Small farms need a clear path forward to more
easily participate in agricultural tourism.
One issue that is surely going to inadvertently cause hardship for many owner/operators, is
that the proposed bill significantly limits both the types of structures that the owner host can
live in and rent out. A farmer will no longer be able to live in his/her guesthouse, tiny home,
ohana, secondary dwelling or detached bedroom. A farmer will also be limited to what
structures they can rent out as a TAR. This may seem insignificant, but these rules will
change the ability for people to make ends meet.
My last concem is that I encourage the commission to advocate for the local economy -specifically by giving owner
occupied and hosted TARs favorable operating conditions when appropriate.If there is any sector of the TAR
industry to support,it would be agricultural tourism and owner and hosted rentals because these are our resident's
businesses.
Bill 121: Opposition
I would like to advocate for small farms who want to operate an agricultural-tourism business on their farm. I am
against the repealing of bed and breakfast as a permitted use because if this bill passes,local residents will no
longer be able to establish a B&B as there is no B&B designation in any of the current TAR bills. Some residents
prefer to own/operate a B&B because TARs are very stigmatized and also not often recognized as a business(as in
the case of Covid assistance). Repealing this permitted use would remove an option for residents to pursue a
business that is well respected and acknowledged as a viable business.
Also if anything ever happens to revoke special use permits for owner occupied and hosted TARs,there really
should be a clear pathway for operating a B&B as well as agricultural tourism business for small farms.
I hope the planning commission will consider leaving the current administrative process to remain as-is for now,and
reconsider when the TAR landscape has stabilized for a significant period of time. Alternatively,adding a
designation of B&B into this set of Bills could be considered.