Here is why resolution 22-70 will not aid current housing shortages and in fact make it worse for ALL residents of Maui. The obvious is loss of tax revenue and then there is the not so obvious consequences which I will explain. While it is the job of the council to address the needs of the citizens, whom elected them, the un-intended consequences of this resolution would be devastating to the very people this resolution is trying to help. We all know how deeply the County is reliant on tax revenues, which of course would fall drastically if this resolution passes. Then there will be the sharp decline in passive income to the county. The spending power of the tourist is greater the shorter length they stay (1). The average Maui tourist stays 7 days, which is the optimal spending length of stay for most money spent per day. Not only does the short term renter's spending power keep the local resident's businesses and services profitable, the county collects taxes on this spending as well. Additionally, I believe the council is amiss to think that part-time resident homeowners will now simply rent their properties long term, and thus add to the housing pool available. No this will not aid in the housing shortage. These homeowners will allow their homes to be vacant during the months there are not staying personally. Now, this creates a double entendre loss revenue for the county. Not only is the county missing out on the taxes and fees that go along with the rental itself, they have lost the tourist spending which would have occurred as well. Additionally, the very employment of the army of citizens that help maintain these properties will also be in jeopardy. The house cleaners, the repair persons, the gardeners, the realtors, the carpet cleaners, the window washers, etc... It takes a small army of people to "run" these properties and keep them in top shape. How many of these citizens have been made aware that the resolution to 'help housing shortages' will NOT help with housing availability, but will also place in danger their livelihoods. All citizens of Maui, who voted for you, will be hurt by this Resolution. I own a unit in Puamana, and I rent it out short term. I can attest to you that I will not rent my unit it long term, where would I stay when I visit? I can attest that many of my friends share the same view. We will not sell, we will not rent long term, but we will enjoy paying less taxes, and have less headaches maintaining our properties.
According to a very knowledgeable person that attended this meeting, this bill is not simply “capping” TVA’s. The summary posted by this committee is a LIE.
It would destroy 80% of the current TVA condo business. This would simply return the economy of Maui back into the same shape it was in during lockdown. There iS NO OTHER SOURCE OF INCOME FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF MAUI if tourism is taken away. Tourism is the only source of tax revenue on Maui. Wake up and do not pass this bill. The only people that will be able to afford to live on Maui will be those that are very very wealthy.
Make the committee prove me wrong! They must provide hard evidence.
Based on this meeting, 90% of Maui’s current rental condos would no longer be rentable if this is passed. This is not simply capping the current condos. Doing this would destroy the tax base of the island. The summary stated by the committee appears to be a LIE. Those few full time residents remaining would see their taxes at least quadruple (x4). The tourists you hate are paying for at least 80% of the cost of running Maui today and employing 80% of the workers on Maui. If you don’t have millions of dollars available, you will have to leave Hawaii. Wake up !
Hello, I own a condo in Pohailani complex. My condo is on Mauka side. We purchased this condo in 2007. We checked with the County that our unit was allowed to be rented nightly, and the clerk gave us answer "Yes". Our complex was in "Condo-hotel" list as well. My family used this unit for multiple years, but eventually we started to rent our unit to the Airbnb guests to offset the expenses. From a day one we were paying the transient accommodation taxes. We were not contacted by any authority until now. Suddenly, we received a letter from the county telling us that we are not allowed to rent our unit as a vacation rental. We completely object this claim on the grounds that the County was charging us a transient accommodation tax rate for multiple years. Additionally, 83 units out of 114 in Pohailani are paying transient accommodation tax rate. I believe the County's behavior is described in the legal system as Estoppel by silence. By accepting the vacation rental tax rate for multiple years, the County have accepted the fact that the whole Pohailani is a vacation rental complex. Ocean side of Pohailani is in hotel zoning. Swimming pools, tennis court, laundry building is located on Mauka side. Due to this mix zoning this complex is not suitable for a long stay. Noisy visitors who are using the facility on North Side do not mix well with the locals who want quiet living. I request the county to allow Mauka side to be rented on a nightly basis (if the owner wishes to do so). We have a "grandfather" right to continue rent our properties.
Thank you. Natalia Saxvik
I strongly oppose this. My name is Camille Ala. We purchased our condo in Puamana 21-1 in 2019. We purchased it because it was grandfathered in for allowing short-term rentals. We live in Alaska. I needed a place to come during the dark winter months and hotels no longer fit our family. We purchased a one bedroom with the intent of remodeling it to a three bedroom. We have three boys. We have been working on our building permit for 3.5 years. We never thought Maui would be this difficult. We purchased the condo knowing that we can do short-term rentals. This makes it affordable for us to offset the significant costs, and it also keeps the condo in use instead of sitting unattended while we are away. I love Maui; however, we feel this new rule is very unfair as we were told Puamana was grandfathered in for short-term rentals.
Council Members;
My name is Gary Wetsel my wife and I have owned unit 15-3 in Puamana for over 20 years. During that period there have been very mixed messages relevant to legal TVR's in Puamana. This has caused great stress among owners that depend on the income from TVR's to support their investment. Finally in 2015 this was clarified and the issue was put to rest. I do not kno how this propose bil could have a material effect on the Councils goals. It will only complicate a bill that clarifies TVR for the owners and the Planning Commission.
Therefore i oppose this bill and are asking that the bill be returned to the committee to allow the Planning Commission to complete their review. We request that the Planning Committee recommend the removal of the proposed changes to section 19.32.040 1 for planned developments to the Maui City Council. This section of the County Code only to units in Puamana and Kaanapali and Alaeloa that were built and used for Transient Vacation rental prior to April 20, 1989. This part of the county code was established in 2013 to clarify the long standing legal TVR uses in these specific projects and helps the planning department when approving building permits NS SMA exemptions for remodels and renovations of these older units. It was created specifically to prevent there ever being any question about the rights for units in these communities to be used for short term rentals. It does NOT allow new visitor accommodations to be built or converted from residential to TVR use as they have been used for this purpose since their development in the late sixties/ seventies. The proposed deletion of this part of the existing turns the legal TVR use into N " EXISTING NON CONFORMING " use and makes any renovations or remodels difficult to get permit approvals. The Planning Commission should be allowed to do their work and provide their recommendation.
Please oppose this bill. I feel that more voices need to be heard and do not feel this bill has been a collaborative effort.
The committee should study the economic impact of losing the tax revenue from all of the TVR. Where would this lost revenue come from? How would Maui County fund existing services that are funded from tourist tax revenue?
The planning commission should be allowed to give their recommendation and they have not been allowed to do their work.
I ask that Bill 159 return back to committee to allow the Planning Commission to complete their review.
I was recently informed of a new bill that the County Council is attempting to pass, #159. As a homeowner in Puamana, Lahaina I respectfully request that the County Council restore the language proposed for deletion in 19.32.040 I
My reasons for this request to include 19.32.040 I are many:
This section of the County code applies only to units in Puamana, Kaanapali Plantation and Alaeloa that were built and used for Transient Vacation rental prior to April 20, 1989. It does not allow ANY new visitor accommodations to be built or converted from residential to TVR use.
This part of the County code was established in 2013 to clarify the long standing legal TVR uses in these specific projects and helps the planning department when approving building permits and SMA exemptions for remodels and renovations of these 40-60 year old units.
The proposed deletion of this part of the existing code turns the legal TVR use into an “existing non conforming” use and makes any renovations or remodels difficult to get permit approvals.
I feel that more voices need to be heard and do not feel this bill has been a collaborative effort.
The planning commission should be allowed to give their recommendation and they have not been allowed to do their work.
I ask that Bill 159 return back to committee to allow the Planning Commission to complete their review.
Thank you
Thomas G Staubitser
71-3 Puapake Pl.
Lahaina, HI 96761
I own a vacation rental for over 30 years. I think it is wrong for you the county to change the rules. You should allow the current areas to still have vacation rentals. Limit new areas if you want but leave the rest of us alone.
You complain about not having money to do anything but get get a lot of money from these short term rentals. Heck you even get more now with the new tax. Please just stop.
Let things be left alone for current areas and owners. As well as allowing rentals to continue if a owner sale it.
Mary 707-480-4121
Here is why resolution 22-70 will not aid current housing shortages and in fact make it worse for ALL residents of Maui. The obvious is loss of tax revenue and then there is the not so obvious consequences which I will explain. While it is the job of the council to address the needs of the citizens, whom elected them, the un-intended consequences of this resolution would be devastating to the very people this resolution is trying to help. We all know how deeply the County is reliant on tax revenues, which of course would fall drastically if this resolution passes. Then there will be the sharp decline in passive income to the county. The spending power of the tourist is greater the shorter length they stay (1). The average Maui tourist stays 7 days, which is the optimal spending length of stay for most money spent per day. Not only does the short term renter's spending power keep the local resident's businesses and services profitable, the county collects taxes on this spending as well. Additionally, I believe the council is amiss to think that part-time resident homeowners will now simply rent their properties long term, and thus add to the housing pool available. No this will not aid in the housing shortage. These homeowners will allow their homes to be vacant during the months there are not staying personally. Now, this creates a double entendre loss revenue for the county. Not only is the county missing out on the taxes and fees that go along with the rental itself, they have lost the tourist spending which would have occurred as well. Additionally, the very employment of the army of citizens that help maintain these properties will also be in jeopardy. The house cleaners, the repair persons, the gardeners, the realtors, the carpet cleaners, the window washers, etc... It takes a small army of people to "run" these properties and keep them in top shape. How many of these citizens have been made aware that the resolution to 'help housing shortages' will NOT help with housing availability, but will also place in danger their livelihoods. All citizens of Maui, who voted for you, will be hurt by this Resolution. I own a unit in Puamana, and I rent it out short term. I can attest to you that I will not rent my unit it long term, where would I stay when I visit? I can attest that many of my friends share the same view. We will not sell, we will not rent long term, but we will enjoy paying less taxes, and have less headaches maintaining our properties.
References
1. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09669582.2018.1529771
Enough already!!!! It needs to stop. What will my children and grandchildren have to deal with its bad enough as is. We are not a theme park.
I oppose the proposed change to TVRentals as a taxpayer and Puamana owner. BH
According to a very knowledgeable person that attended this meeting, this bill is not simply “capping” TVA’s. The summary posted by this committee is a LIE.
It would destroy 80% of the current TVA condo business. This would simply return the economy of Maui back into the same shape it was in during lockdown. There iS NO OTHER SOURCE OF INCOME FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF MAUI if tourism is taken away. Tourism is the only source of tax revenue on Maui. Wake up and do not pass this bill. The only people that will be able to afford to live on Maui will be those that are very very wealthy.
Make the committee prove me wrong! They must provide hard evidence.
Based on this meeting, 90% of Maui’s current rental condos would no longer be rentable if this is passed. This is not simply capping the current condos. Doing this would destroy the tax base of the island. The summary stated by the committee appears to be a LIE. Those few full time residents remaining would see their taxes at least quadruple (x4). The tourists you hate are paying for at least 80% of the cost of running Maui today and employing 80% of the workers on Maui. If you don’t have millions of dollars available, you will have to leave Hawaii. Wake up !
Hello, I own a condo in Pohailani complex. My condo is on Mauka side. We purchased this condo in 2007. We checked with the County that our unit was allowed to be rented nightly, and the clerk gave us answer "Yes". Our complex was in "Condo-hotel" list as well. My family used this unit for multiple years, but eventually we started to rent our unit to the Airbnb guests to offset the expenses. From a day one we were paying the transient accommodation taxes. We were not contacted by any authority until now. Suddenly, we received a letter from the county telling us that we are not allowed to rent our unit as a vacation rental. We completely object this claim on the grounds that the County was charging us a transient accommodation tax rate for multiple years. Additionally, 83 units out of 114 in Pohailani are paying transient accommodation tax rate. I believe the County's behavior is described in the legal system as Estoppel by silence. By accepting the vacation rental tax rate for multiple years, the County have accepted the fact that the whole Pohailani is a vacation rental complex. Ocean side of Pohailani is in hotel zoning. Swimming pools, tennis court, laundry building is located on Mauka side. Due to this mix zoning this complex is not suitable for a long stay. Noisy visitors who are using the facility on North Side do not mix well with the locals who want quiet living. I request the county to allow Mauka side to be rented on a nightly basis (if the owner wishes to do so). We have a "grandfather" right to continue rent our properties.
Thank you. Natalia Saxvik
I strongly oppose this. My name is Camille Ala. We purchased our condo in Puamana 21-1 in 2019. We purchased it because it was grandfathered in for allowing short-term rentals. We live in Alaska. I needed a place to come during the dark winter months and hotels no longer fit our family. We purchased a one bedroom with the intent of remodeling it to a three bedroom. We have three boys. We have been working on our building permit for 3.5 years. We never thought Maui would be this difficult. We purchased the condo knowing that we can do short-term rentals. This makes it affordable for us to offset the significant costs, and it also keeps the condo in use instead of sitting unattended while we are away. I love Maui; however, we feel this new rule is very unfair as we were told Puamana was grandfathered in for short-term rentals.
no campers help homeless
Council Members;
My name is Gary Wetsel my wife and I have owned unit 15-3 in Puamana for over 20 years. During that period there have been very mixed messages relevant to legal TVR's in Puamana. This has caused great stress among owners that depend on the income from TVR's to support their investment. Finally in 2015 this was clarified and the issue was put to rest. I do not kno how this propose bil could have a material effect on the Councils goals. It will only complicate a bill that clarifies TVR for the owners and the Planning Commission.
Therefore i oppose this bill and are asking that the bill be returned to the committee to allow the Planning Commission to complete their review. We request that the Planning Committee recommend the removal of the proposed changes to section 19.32.040 1 for planned developments to the Maui City Council. This section of the County Code only to units in Puamana and Kaanapali and Alaeloa that were built and used for Transient Vacation rental prior to April 20, 1989. This part of the county code was established in 2013 to clarify the long standing legal TVR uses in these specific projects and helps the planning department when approving building permits NS SMA exemptions for remodels and renovations of these older units. It was created specifically to prevent there ever being any question about the rights for units in these communities to be used for short term rentals. It does NOT allow new visitor accommodations to be built or converted from residential to TVR use as they have been used for this purpose since their development in the late sixties/ seventies. The proposed deletion of this part of the existing turns the legal TVR use into N " EXISTING NON CONFORMING " use and makes any renovations or remodels difficult to get permit approvals. The Planning Commission should be allowed to do their work and provide their recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted
Gary Wetsel
Cap tourist accommodations and no camper rental!!
Please oppose this bill. I feel that more voices need to be heard and do not feel this bill has been a collaborative effort.
The committee should study the economic impact of losing the tax revenue from all of the TVR. Where would this lost revenue come from? How would Maui County fund existing services that are funded from tourist tax revenue?
The planning commission should be allowed to give their recommendation and they have not been allowed to do their work.
I ask that Bill 159 return back to committee to allow the Planning Commission to complete their review.
I support caps on transient accommodations and no more campers on our beaches!
I was recently informed of a new bill that the County Council is attempting to pass, #159. As a homeowner in Puamana, Lahaina I respectfully request that the County Council restore the language proposed for deletion in 19.32.040 I
My reasons for this request to include 19.32.040 I are many:
This section of the County code applies only to units in Puamana, Kaanapali Plantation and Alaeloa that were built and used for Transient Vacation rental prior to April 20, 1989. It does not allow ANY new visitor accommodations to be built or converted from residential to TVR use.
This part of the County code was established in 2013 to clarify the long standing legal TVR uses in these specific projects and helps the planning department when approving building permits and SMA exemptions for remodels and renovations of these 40-60 year old units.
The proposed deletion of this part of the existing code turns the legal TVR use into an “existing non conforming” use and makes any renovations or remodels difficult to get permit approvals.
I feel that more voices need to be heard and do not feel this bill has been a collaborative effort.
The planning commission should be allowed to give their recommendation and they have not been allowed to do their work.
I ask that Bill 159 return back to committee to allow the Planning Commission to complete their review.
Thank you
Thomas G Staubitser
71-3 Puapake Pl.
Lahaina, HI 96761
I own a vacation rental for over 30 years. I think it is wrong for you the county to change the rules. You should allow the current areas to still have vacation rentals. Limit new areas if you want but leave the rest of us alone.
You complain about not having money to do anything but get get a lot of money from these short term rentals. Heck you even get more now with the new tax. Please just stop.
Let things be left alone for current areas and owners. As well as allowing rentals to continue if a owner sale it.
Mary 707-480-4121