Due to uninhabitability, toxic waste problems, polluted water, plummeting value and no real definable end to this nightmare, I hope you can vote positively to provide us with this much needed relief. Thank you.
Jeffrey Sommers
272 Pualei Drive, Lahaina
I wish to strongly encourage the committee to recommend passage of this bill. I am a homeowner in Puamana. Although my home did not burn down, it is unusable now and will be for some time. I have no water or sewer and the property is likely contaminated and will need extensive decontamination. The value of my property has plummeted and I cannot use it myself nor am I able to rent it out. Furthermore, I expect that I will have considerable other costs that may not be covered by insurance.
For these reasons, I urge you to recommend passage of this bill. We, as many others, will need financial relief in the coming years and clearly our property taxes will be paying for something that, at least at present, we cannot use. Thank You.
Richard and Jill Bridges
31-1 Puamelia Pl., Lahaina, HI
My name is Peter Horovitz. I am a Wailuku based attorney and live in Makawao. While I have many long-term clients and friends who were impacted by the fires, I offer my thoughts on my own behalf. I feel all three bills are very good, and each have something to add. I would suggest that they be combined as follows:
1. I would start with the bill 91 language. That encompasses all properties, regardless of zoning, and includes properties that may still be standing but can’t be used.
2. I’m not sure how B(1) of bill 91 works - I know that County has a “Destroyed” designation, but they would need to create an “uninhabitable” designation.
3. I would then add subsection (b) from Bill 102. I like the sunset provision in the event someone sells to a speculator, etc.
4. I would add sections C and D from Section 2 of bill 95. That provides reasonable and appropriate tax incentive for properties that have opened themselves up to disaster victims - many of which are condos taxed at the STRH or Hotel rates. Again, appropriate and necessary.
5. I would also include a provision that those short-term/tvr/hotel properties that do house fire victims and obtain tax benefits will do so without jeopardizing their short-term/tvr/hotel permits or permissions. The County Code does contain various provisions relating to use that are "use it or lose it" We don't want someone with a permit or allowed use who would otherwise open their property to a fire victim to decide not to out of concern that they may lose an existing permit or use. I would suggest the following language: "Any property used to house persons or families displaced by the August 2023 wildfires on a temporarily or on a long-term basis shall be entitled to do so without the loss of, or jeopardy to any existing permit, permission, or allowed non-conforming status."
I thank you for the opportunity to provide comments and for your efforts on this important matter.
TO: Maui County Council
Subject: Support for Bill 95
From: Leann Strasen-Weasler Puamana Unit 272-3 Pualei Drive
I own Puamana Unit 272-3 Pualei Drive that is an intact unit after the fires. I support Bill 95 and specifically the new section 3.48.551 that provides a two-year exemption from Real Property taxes for all properties in Lahaina Tax zone 4, sections 5 and 6. My property is rental property when I’m not there . I lived in the unit for 15 years until I moved to Las Vegas after my husband died. I am retired and the rental income from my unit supports me as my only other income is from Social Security. Given the damage of the August7 fires to Lahaina town, the neighborhood and the 94 units, clubhouse and pools that Puamana has lost, I will not received any vacation rental income from my unit radically affectingmy standard of living.
Specific issues that affect my loss of rental income from my unit include:
1) We have no water or sewer, and our properties are covered and filled with toxic smoke and ash.
2) Our homes won’t be safely habitable until the Lahaina Town toxins have been cleared and removed.
3) Our home's property values have been decimated.
4) All of Lahaina Town needs Tax Relief including our unsafe uninhabitable smoke-filled homes.
5. Property taxes are based on property values. Our property values have been decimated by the destruction of Lahaina Town and our neighborhoods.
4. Environmental assessments have discovered numerous toxic cancer-causing pollutants were released throughout Lahaina Town in the fire.
5. We have recently been told by experts in toxic cleanup that because our homes have been sitting in the Lahaina heat for months with toxic ash inside and out the porous walls and siding have soaked up the toxins requiring more than just mitigation cleaning. We will need to replace the insulation and drywall.
6. Our insurance companies will only pay once for cleaning, painting, and or replacement of drywall, siding, and insulation.
7. Cleaning and replacement of siding and drywall can't start until all the hazardous debris and toxins in Lahaina Town are safely removed or we might have to pay twice. Toxic mitigation cleaning is averaging $35,000 per property.
8. The clean-up of Lahaina Town will take at least a year once it finally starts. 9. Once we have water it will take several months before the water is not toxic.
Thank you in advance for your attention to my request.
Leann Strasen-Weasler
808-280-7860
lweasler@gmail.com
Aloha
First, I’d like to say a heartfelt mahalo for introducing council bill 95. This whole process is a real challenge for every poor soul who has lost so much. At 73, visiting Maui for 55 years and living here for over 35, and retired this whole process is a bit overwhelming as well. If this bill passes there is hope and the light at the end of this very long tunnel is not a train.
Like many I was getting buried with the combination of mortgage payment, property tax payment and the whole insurance process. Like many I thought that I was fully covered by insurance, but the actual costs are mind boggling.
The time it will take to navigate and assist families in Lahaina will take years. Our homes won’t be safely habitable until the Lahaina Town toxins have been cleared and removed.
After attending the community meetings and from what I read the actual potable water and sewer system challenge may easily take up to 18 months or more. I was starting to feel panicked. Your bill was like a huge weight was lifted. Thanks for your insight, level headedness and aloha!
Thomas Clements
Totalmente de acuerdo en apoyar con vivienda completa cocina y lavadora e invitar a la personas afectadas a buscarles una vivienda para que urea quedar el o los hoteles disponibles para los turistas
I support Bill 95 because it will incentivize owners of STR condos with kitchen and laundry to rent to fire survivors. The lack of inventory of residential dwellings is the single largest crisis Maui County faces right now. Bill 95 is a step in the right direction to solving this critical problem.
Due to uninhabitability, toxic waste problems, polluted water, plummeting value and no real definable end to this nightmare, I hope you can vote positively to provide us with this much needed relief. Thank you.
Jeffrey Sommers
272 Pualei Drive, Lahaina
I wish to strongly encourage the committee to recommend passage of this bill. I am a homeowner in Puamana. Although my home did not burn down, it is unusable now and will be for some time. I have no water or sewer and the property is likely contaminated and will need extensive decontamination. The value of my property has plummeted and I cannot use it myself nor am I able to rent it out. Furthermore, I expect that I will have considerable other costs that may not be covered by insurance.
For these reasons, I urge you to recommend passage of this bill. We, as many others, will need financial relief in the coming years and clearly our property taxes will be paying for something that, at least at present, we cannot use. Thank You.
Richard and Jill Bridges
31-1 Puamelia Pl., Lahaina, HI
My name is Peter Horovitz. I am a Wailuku based attorney and live in Makawao. While I have many long-term clients and friends who were impacted by the fires, I offer my thoughts on my own behalf. I feel all three bills are very good, and each have something to add. I would suggest that they be combined as follows:
1. I would start with the bill 91 language. That encompasses all properties, regardless of zoning, and includes properties that may still be standing but can’t be used.
2. I’m not sure how B(1) of bill 91 works - I know that County has a “Destroyed” designation, but they would need to create an “uninhabitable” designation.
3. I would then add subsection (b) from Bill 102. I like the sunset provision in the event someone sells to a speculator, etc.
4. I would add sections C and D from Section 2 of bill 95. That provides reasonable and appropriate tax incentive for properties that have opened themselves up to disaster victims - many of which are condos taxed at the STRH or Hotel rates. Again, appropriate and necessary.
5. I would also include a provision that those short-term/tvr/hotel properties that do house fire victims and obtain tax benefits will do so without jeopardizing their short-term/tvr/hotel permits or permissions. The County Code does contain various provisions relating to use that are "use it or lose it" We don't want someone with a permit or allowed use who would otherwise open their property to a fire victim to decide not to out of concern that they may lose an existing permit or use. I would suggest the following language: "Any property used to house persons or families displaced by the August 2023 wildfires on a temporarily or on a long-term basis shall be entitled to do so without the loss of, or jeopardy to any existing permit, permission, or allowed non-conforming status."
I thank you for the opportunity to provide comments and for your efforts on this important matter.
Peter Horovitz
TO: Maui County Council
Subject: Support for Bill 95
From: Leann Strasen-Weasler Puamana Unit 272-3 Pualei Drive
I own Puamana Unit 272-3 Pualei Drive that is an intact unit after the fires. I support Bill 95 and specifically the new section 3.48.551 that provides a two-year exemption from Real Property taxes for all properties in Lahaina Tax zone 4, sections 5 and 6. My property is rental property when I’m not there . I lived in the unit for 15 years until I moved to Las Vegas after my husband died. I am retired and the rental income from my unit supports me as my only other income is from Social Security. Given the damage of the August7 fires to Lahaina town, the neighborhood and the 94 units, clubhouse and pools that Puamana has lost, I will not received any vacation rental income from my unit radically affectingmy standard of living.
Specific issues that affect my loss of rental income from my unit include:
1) We have no water or sewer, and our properties are covered and filled with toxic smoke and ash.
2) Our homes won’t be safely habitable until the Lahaina Town toxins have been cleared and removed.
3) Our home's property values have been decimated.
4) All of Lahaina Town needs Tax Relief including our unsafe uninhabitable smoke-filled homes.
5. Property taxes are based on property values. Our property values have been decimated by the destruction of Lahaina Town and our neighborhoods.
4. Environmental assessments have discovered numerous toxic cancer-causing pollutants were released throughout Lahaina Town in the fire.
5. We have recently been told by experts in toxic cleanup that because our homes have been sitting in the Lahaina heat for months with toxic ash inside and out the porous walls and siding have soaked up the toxins requiring more than just mitigation cleaning. We will need to replace the insulation and drywall.
6. Our insurance companies will only pay once for cleaning, painting, and or replacement of drywall, siding, and insulation.
7. Cleaning and replacement of siding and drywall can't start until all the hazardous debris and toxins in Lahaina Town are safely removed or we might have to pay twice. Toxic mitigation cleaning is averaging $35,000 per property.
8. The clean-up of Lahaina Town will take at least a year once it finally starts. 9. Once we have water it will take several months before the water is not toxic.
Thank you in advance for your attention to my request.
Leann Strasen-Weasler
808-280-7860
lweasler@gmail.com
Aloha
First, I’d like to say a heartfelt mahalo for introducing council bill 95. This whole process is a real challenge for every poor soul who has lost so much. At 73, visiting Maui for 55 years and living here for over 35, and retired this whole process is a bit overwhelming as well. If this bill passes there is hope and the light at the end of this very long tunnel is not a train.
Like many I was getting buried with the combination of mortgage payment, property tax payment and the whole insurance process. Like many I thought that I was fully covered by insurance, but the actual costs are mind boggling.
The time it will take to navigate and assist families in Lahaina will take years. Our homes won’t be safely habitable until the Lahaina Town toxins have been cleared and removed.
After attending the community meetings and from what I read the actual potable water and sewer system challenge may easily take up to 18 months or more. I was starting to feel panicked. Your bill was like a huge weight was lifted. Thanks for your insight, level headedness and aloha!
Thomas Clements
Totalmente de acuerdo en apoyar con vivienda completa cocina y lavadora e invitar a la personas afectadas a buscarles una vivienda para que urea quedar el o los hoteles disponibles para los turistas
I support property tax exemption for short term rentals that house fire victims.
I support Bill 95 because it will incentivize owners of STR condos with kitchen and laundry to rent to fire survivors. The lack of inventory of residential dwellings is the single largest crisis Maui County faces right now. Bill 95 is a step in the right direction to solving this critical problem.