What's Being Discussed

The Maui County Council's Housing and Land Use Committee is continuing a series of meetings (reconvened from earlier sessions) to discuss two resolutions related to short-term vacation rentals in coastal areas at risk from sea level rise.

• Resolution 26-129: Proposes sending two bills to the Maui Planning Commission that would change the official land use designations and zoning for eight apartment-zoned properties in Mā'alaea, Kīhei, and Lahaina to hotel zoning. This would allow those properties to legally continue operating as transient vacation rentals (short-term rentals). All affected properties are located within the Sea Level Rise Exposure Area, defined by a 3.2-foot sea level rise threshold.
• Resolution 26-130: Similar in purpose, this resolution would refer bills to the Planning Commission to rezone three additional properties — one in Kīhei (10 Walaka Street) and two in Lahaina (Makai Sunset Inn on Front Street) — from apartment to hotel zoning, also to allow vacation rental use to continue.

Decisions Expected

The committee may vote on whether to:

• Recommend adoption of either or both resolutions, with or without changes
• Add or remove specific properties from the proposed bills
• File (set aside) either resolution without further action

Who Should Pay Attention

• Property owners and residents in Mā'alaea, Kīhei, and Lahaina, especially near the coast
• Vacation rental operators whose permits or legal standing may be affected
• Neighbors and community members concerned about hotel zoning, tourism, or coastal development
• Anyone interested in sea level rise planning policy in Maui County