2024-04-15 Bill 121 Arianna Feinberg

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From: Arianna Feinberg To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Oppose or Alter Bill 121 Date: Monday,April 15,2024 1:38:56 PM Dear Leeward Planning Commission, I strongly encourage you to oppose or alter Bill 121. I am concerned about the unintended consequences of changing the definition of a TAR from 30-night minimum to 180 nights. Many oceanfront and high-value homes are rented out to snowbirds for 1-3 months every year to help subsidize the extremely high property taxes and other expenses related to being on the ocean. Local families can then enjoy these homes in the summer. They still pay state and county TAT taxes because these rentals are less than 180 days but they do not have county TAR licenses as many are outside of resort zoning. The nature of a 1-month rental is very different than a truly short-term stay (like 1-5 days) and does not stress local infrastructure with the constant turnover and party attitude of vacationing guests. Alternatively,in an earlier iteration of Bill 121 there was a concept of nodes. Many houses in Napo'opo'o/Manini Beach are grandfathered in TARS. Adding any extra vacation rentals does not change the character of the neighborhood. Kealakekua Bay is a Marine Life Conservation District and Historic Park. The area is also close to other tourist attractions such as Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park as well as many coffee farm tours but there are no resorts nearby. Additional vacation rental permits should be allowed in certain neighborhoods outside of resort zoning such as Napo'opo'o/Manini Beach and Volcano Village. Please use logic to think about areas that benefit from tourism vs those that make sense for actual affordable housing. Please alter Bill 121 to add the option of nodes or add Napo'opo'o/Manini Beach and Volcano Village as areas where TAR are allowed. Thank you for your hard work and consideration, Arianna Feinberg