KAILUA-KONA — The county’s Leeward Planning Commission on Thursday recommended the County Council adopt an ordinance that sets minimum parking requirements for accommodations occupied for less than 180 days out of the year.
The measure is intended to ensure adequate off-street parking at short-term and vacation rentals around the island.
The proposal, as recommended by the commission, would require owners of certain homes, including single-family, double-family and duplexes, that are occupied less than 180 days a year to provide one space for each rented bedroom plus one space for the dwelling if rooms are rented out individually. If the house is rented as a whole, two parking spaces must be provided.
The zoning code already requires two parking spaces per single-family, double-family or duplex housing unit, “a commonly accepted rate in other communities around the state and country,” according to a report prepared by the Count of Hawaii planning department.
However, the report says there currently aren’t any specific requirements when it comes to off-street parking for short-term rentals. The county currently doesn’t regulate such land uses.
During Thursday’s meeting, the Leeward Planning Commission unanimously agreed to send a favorable recommendation of the proposed ordinance to the County Council.
The planning department report also states that the Department of Public Works traffic division gets “very few complaints associated with short-term home rentals.”
If adopted, the proposal’s parking requirements would be the strictest in the state regarding vacation rentals and short-term home rentals.
“This may have the effect of reducing the number (of) visitors to our island if these short-term rental homes and vacation rentals cannot provide sufficient parking to meet this new requirement,” state the report.
Noting that short-term rentals could be supporting certain markets, such as those looking for lower-priced rentals and in areas without hotels, “the planning director suggests any changes to the off-street parking and loading requirements for vacation rentals and short-term rentals be made thoughtfully so that the safety and convenience of surrounding neighbors is balanced with the economic benefits of providing a mix of visitor accommodations,” states the report.
Staff planner Maija Jackson said the Windward Planning Commission has already made a favorable recommendation on the proposal.
It still must get final approval from the County Council before it is enacted.