Tamara Paltin referenced this new proposal that she will introduce at next Friday’s Council meeting to reduce the STRH caps to match the number of existing permits. This proposal as written does not account for applications in process.

NO. 20-194 - COUNCILMEMBER PALTIN. transmitting a proposed resolution entitled "REFERRING TO THE MAUl AND LANAI PLANNING COMMISSIONS A

PROPOSED BILL TO AMEND THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCE RELATING TO SHORT-TERM RENTAL HOME PERMITS ON MAUl AND LANAI".

https://mauicounty.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=8185303&GUID=03307D60-8199-4209-A290-7BB0E4C7E7D0

This item on the council agenda on Friday proposes to set the cap for all STRH permits at the current number of permits. This proposal would need to be sent to Planning Commissions for comments and then back to County council before any changes could be made to the current caps. 

A better study of all the current short term rental uses taking place sould be completed, including what the right number of short term rental homes in each area of the island should be.

Such a study should include analysis of current travel trends, current legal and illegal short term uses taking place and the benefits to Maui of each. Limiting further legal short term rentals could lead to meeting the market demand by illegal operations.

It may seem that reducing the caps is not that concerning. However, it is important to note that it was a communication item to set the cap for Molokai to 40 permits that ultimately morphed into a cap of zero and non-renewal of the existing 17 permits.

This item from Councilmember Paltin could possibly have the same effect as the phase-out proposal that we heard about at Friday’s community meeting.