Living in a tent on your private property.

[Bob Orts]

quote:

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Originally posted by KathyH

Also note this is only for Puna ag land, and it will not affect requirements for other zoning and areas.
Interesting they are passing this. Anyone know why?

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Currently, the law has an absolute prohibition on using "tents" as residences (Note UBC defines yurts and similar units as structures so they are classified as a building). People are doing it and enforcements is near impossible on a large scale basis. There is an apparent need to allow people to use a tent based on security and other factors that the Council feels is legitimate.

The Bill met with opposition the first time because the initial goal was to crack the absolute prohibition and would leave the rest of the items up for clarification at another time. That was a concern to the Council because they felt these details needed to be spelled out from the get go. There was also a lot of talk about time lines in that the original bill did not set a maximum time period. There was also talk about geographical limitations. All in all they accepted the rational for the Bill, but couldn't accept it as written.

These items are addressed in Draft 3 of Bill 103. Compare the original bill which removed the prohibition while a house is being constructed to current approved Bill which spells out all details and you’ll see the current Bill left nothing open to misinterpretation. All aspects are addressed.

Based on that the Council agreed it was a legitimate amendment worthy of passage.

WARNING - CONTAINS A VERY UNPOPULAR OPINION
Now, all things aside, there was one other item that is not mentioned in the press or in the sound bites of the elected officials. This Bill had absolutely NO CHANCE IN HELL of passage if it did not restrict the authorization to only Puna District. There was no way any Council Member was going to allow the ghetto'ing of their District with temporary tents and tent people no matter how well the Bill was written. The truth is, this Bill would have passed the first day without any requirements for sanitation, health, safety, or fire codes had it initially limited this to Puna. This Bill establishes that Puna is that "other side of the tracks". Unpopular and as insulting as it may sound, The Council Members of Hawaii County know the truth as to why this bill unanimously passed as now written. I apologize if this offends anyone.