For Immediate Release: August 30, 2013
Press Release by:
Councilmember Don G. Couch, Jr.
Chair, Planning Committee
Committee seeks input on home-based business bill
WAILUKU, MAUI, HAWAII – The Planning Committee will consider a bill to permit and regulate home-based businesses in certain County zoning districts, on Thursday at 9 a.m., Committee Chair Don Couch announced today.
The meeting will be held in the Council Chamber on the 8th floor of the Kalana O Maui building, 200 S. High St. in Wailuku.
“I want to encourage entrepreneurship and support residents who want to earn a living from home,” said Committee Chair Couch. “However, we need to address what constitutes a ‘nuisance’ potentially impacting community character and quality of life for neighbors.”
Committee Chair Couch said he hopes the committee can agree on allowable types of home-based businesses and appropriate regulations for particular operations.
“The bill provides that repair of automobiles and other vehicles with combustion engines shall be restricted to no more than two at any time,” said Committee Chair Couch who introduced the bill two years ago. “It also restricts hours of operation and limits customers to two at any given time.”
The Council has been waiting for the comments of the planning commissions before acting on the bill, based on a requirement of the County Charter for land use legislation.
The Maui Planning Commission recommended prohibiting automobile repairs and deleting restrictions on floor area limitations, retailing and deliveries. The Molokai and Lanai planning commissions each recommended exempting their island entirely from the legislation.
Committee Chair Couch said representatives from various departments will address concerns relating to fire protection, water usage, land use enforcement and zoning restrictions. He urges community input on the bill, which he said is “a very important matter.”
The agenda and proposed bill are available online at www.mauicounty.gov/committee/pc for review. The public may testify in the Council Chamber, at the Council District Offices in Hana, Lanai City or Kaunakakai or via e mail at pc.committee@mauicounty.us.
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Copy of agenda: http://www.mauicounty.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/18241
Copy of Home-based Business Bill: http://www.mauicounty.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/17930
