HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-07-02 Jasmine Crusat Opposition Testimony
From: Jasmine Crusat
To: Council Testimony; Planning WPC Testimony
Subject: Testimony Bill154(2026)
Date: Thursday, July 2, 2026 10:19:45 AM
Attachments: bill154.pdf
Aloha!
Please see my opposition to Bill154.
Mahalo Nui Loa,
Jasmine Crusat
Regional Offices USA : Alaska, California, Florida, Hawaii Islands, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington
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The State of Hawaii consist of eight main islands: Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and the Big Island
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Testimony: OPPOSED
To: POLICY COMMITTEE ON PLANNING, LAND USE, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Sent to Email: COUNCILTESTIMONY@HAWAIICOUNTY.GOV
REG. BILL 154: AMENDS CHAPTER 25 ARTICLES 1, 5, AND 7, OF THE HAWAI’I COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION,
AS AMENDED) RELATING TO COMMERCIAL PARKING LOTS AND GARAGES
Removes commercial parking lots and garages as a permitted used in the general, village, commercial, industrial-
commercial mixed, limited industrial, general industrial, and Downtown Hilo commercial zoning districts.
Hawaiʻi County Council to reject or defer Bill 154 until a full legal, transportation, economic, and cultural impact analysis is
completed.
Bill 154 effectively bans future privately operated paid parking facilities countywide, preventing private property
owners from charging for parking on their land this is a significant restriction on private property rights that goes
beyond traditional zoning regulations.
The County has not demonstrated why existing regulatory tools—such as permits, traffic studies, operational
standards, and site-specific conditions—are insufficient to address concerns associated with commercial parking
facilities.
The bill's findings are criticized as speculative, relying on statements that paid parking "may contribute" to
congestion without supporting evidence such as traffic studies, environmental reviews, or economic analyses.
Planning Department acknowledged there may be situations where commercial parking serves a public need,
supporting case-by-case review rather than a blanket prohibition.
Concerns are raised about legal ambiguity, including exemptions discussed during committee meetings that do
not appear in the actual ordinance text and expanded definitions that may broaden regulation without sufficient
explanation as to excluding hotels and resorts.
Treating public and private parking differently, allowing public entities to charge for parking while prohibiting
private property owners from doing the same. Traffic impacts stem from the use itself, not ownership.
As an alternative, limiting time parking at the County municipal parking lot aka triangle park restoring public access
to parking at the Pier and Hale Hālāwai, which the County previously allowed, before restricting private parking
options.
The bill would negatively affect local businesses, small property owners, and Native Hawaiian landowners who rely
on flexible land uses and supplemental income to maintain and steward family lands.
Bill 154 may conflict with the County's General Plan goals, including support for local businesses, economic
resilience, and balanced land-use regulations.
I conclude that the County has not provided sufficient evidence that a countywide ban on future privately operated paid
parking is necessary or more effective than existing regulatory approaches. The Council is urged to reject the bill or
postpone action until comprehensive studies and less restrictive alternatives have been evaluated.