HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-02 PL-CCI-2024-000003 Bill 121 Justin Cleveland Testimony From: Justin Cleveland
To: WPCtestimonv
Subject: Bill 121 Testimony
Date: Tuesday,April 2,2024 10:57:14 AM
Hawaii County Planning,
I want to submit my OBJECTION to bill 121.
This bill will harm current owners that are using their property as a STVR. Since the housing market on the island is
similar to the Bay Area,many people choose to buy a home with the ability to rent to vacationers to be able to afford
their property.If you take away this constitutional right many will be forced from their homes or will need to sell the
property with losses.Not to mention the people that will lose work from these properties such as cleaners,
maintenance workers,gardeners,pool professionals etc...
I agree that there needs to be a way to get a permit and pay taxes that are due from operations of a STVR.But this
bill is not it.A process needs to be developed where current property owners can maintain their status quo and pay
permit fees but when the property changes hands then a new regulation could be imposed. The current proposal does
not account for this and only takes away owners current rights to use their property which falls under a government
taking without due compensation.This will set up the county of Hawaii for many lawsuits in which they do not have
the means to pay out and it will cost the county millions in legal fees.It is best to put that wasted money back into
the local economy.
Given the main source of revenue to the island is through tourism,the county should know that if you cut the
tourists off you cut off all the funding that goes back into making the island great.Most tourists do not want to stay
in a hotel. Times are changing and the county needs to embrace this change in the way travelers vacation.They want
to spend time with their families privately and have a kitchen to cook in,yards for kids to play in,a private pool that
is not contaminated by loads of others. Do not fall for the Hotel chains ploy to eliminate STVRs.Plus all the Hotel
money goes back the corporations which are not even based in Hawaii.
I do not support this Bill 121 as it stands.
Justin Cleveland