2024-03-27 PL-CCI-2024-000003 Bill 121 Kathy Fitts Testimony

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From: Kathy Fitts To: WPCtestimony Subject: Long term residents opposed to Bill 121 Date: Wednesday,March 27,2024 7:00:25 PM Subject: Concerns Regarding Bill 121 from Long-Time Kailua-Kona Residents Chairman Dennis Lin Windward Planning Commission County of Hawaii 25 Aupuni St. Unit 1502 Hilo, HI 96720 Aloha Chairman Lin, My husband and I are 69-year-old long-time residents of Kailua-Kona, and we are writing to express our deep concerns regarding Bill 121. We own a one-bedroom condo that we operate as a full-time vacation rental. This rental is notjust a business for us; it's a crucial part of our retirement plan and a significant source of our income. We understand the need for regulations, but we believe that Bill 121, as it stands, could have unintended consequences that may harm local families like ours. We are particularly concerned about the lack of data supporting the need for such stringent measures. The County has not conducted adequate studies to understand the economic impact of this legislation on small property owners and the broader community. Without this data, it's challenging to see how the proposed changes will achieve the desired outcomes without causing significant harm to many families' livelihoods. Therefore, we respectfully request the Planning Commission to recommend conducting an economic impact study before moving forward with Bill 121. This study should assess the potential effects on property owners who rely on vacation rentals for their income, as well as the broader implications for the local economy and housing market. Additionally, we are concerned about the enforceability of the proposed regulations and the potential for inequity. We urge the Planning Commission to recommend streamlining the registration process and eliminating invasive requirements that could disproportionately affect small property owners.