HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-07-16 Kona CDP Action Committee Testimony Given at 7-16-26 LPC Meeting John Pelletier, Chair
Raymond Kirchner
C. Kimo Alameda, Ph.D. Vacant
4. Shane Palacat-Nelsen
Mayor ;�',� � Charles Young
., • Nancy Pisicchio,Vice Chair
Charla Thompson
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or ,..w Roselyn Molina
County of Hawaii
KONA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE
Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720
(808) 961-8288 • Fax (808) 961-8742
July 14, 2026
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Dean Au, Chair
and Members of the Leeward Planning Commission
County of Hawaii
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Email: LPCtestimony(a�hawaiicounty.gov
Dear Chair Au and Members of the Leeward Planning Commission:
SUBJECT: Bill 147 — Unhosted Transient Vacation Rentals
The Kona Community Development Plan (CDP) Action Committee appreciates the discussion
that followed the Committee's May 14, 2026 testimony regarding Bill 147 and would like to
clarify its recommendations in light of Councilmember Heather Kimball's June 29, 2026
testimony.
As stated in previous testimony, the Kona CDP Action Committee recommends amending Bill
147 to exclude unhosted vacation rentals as an allowable use in the Multiple-Family Residential
(RM) district. In response to Councilmember Kimball's June 29 testimony, the Committee
understands that Bill 147 does not change the permitted use of short-term vacation rentals
(STVRs) in the RM district. However, the Committee suggests that the introduction of Bill 147
presents an opportunity to correct a housing policy adopted in 2019 through Bill 108, which
made STVRs a permitted use in the RM district. With that in mind, the Committee supports the
language Councilmember Kimball provided, which reads:
c) In any district or area not identified in subsection (a), an STVR may operate with a
nonconforming use certificate issued pursuant to Ordinance No. 18- 114 [-] or, in the RM
district, provided the STVR was in operation prior to the effective date of this ordinance.
In addition, the Committee also recommends amending Bill 147 to remove unhosted vacation
rentals as an allowable use in the Neighborhood Commercial (CN) districts. Please note that
STVRs are currently not permitted within Neighborhood Commercial (CN) districts
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Dean Au, Chair
and Members of the Leeward Planning Commission
July 14, 2026
Page 2
under Hawaii County Code, Section 25-4-16 (1) (A). We do not believe it is in the best interests
of the County to further expand STVRs into additional Districts, as is recommended in Bill 147.
The Committee suggests that consideration of STVRs as a permitted use within the CDH,
Downtown Hilo Commercial District, be deferred until the future South Hilo CDP is adopted.
The Committee offers the following proposed amendments to Bill 147:
Section 25-4- . Short-term vacation rentals; where permitted; nonconforming use
certificate.
a) An STVR is permitted in the following zoning districts:
1) [-RM,] V, CG, [CN,] CV, [and CDH];
2) Any residential district [, other than RM,] that is wholly situated within any of the following:
A) A Resort or Resort Node area, as designated in the General Plan; or
B) An area designated as Open in the General Plan that is adjacent to an area identified in
subparagraph (A) and that is located along the shoreline; and
3) A project district, where consistent with the uses allowed in the underlying zoning district.
b) An STVR is not permitted in a multiple-family dwelling, unless the dwelling is defined and
governed as a condominium property regime under the Hawaii Revised Statutes, chapter
514B.
c) In any district or area not identified in subsection (a), an STVR may operate with a
nonconforming use certificate issued pursuant to Ordinance No. 18- 114 [-] or, in the RM
district, provided the STVR was in operation prior to the effective date of this ordinance.
d) In the event that the director, pursuant to section 6-of this Code, cancels the TVR registration
of a TVR operating under a nonconforming use certificate, such cancellation shall also cause
and constitute revocation of the nonconforming use certificate.
e) An STVR operating under a nonconforming use certificate may increase the number of
bedrooms available to rent; provided that the number of rooms available to rent does not
exceed five and that the owner registers the change with the director.
Mahalo for your consideration.
Ke aloha no,
van ozetax‘i,
John Pelletier, Chair
Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee
JH
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