The planning commission is advisory, which means both measures can still go before the City Council. Still, the views of the commission can make or break a proposal. It's unclear when the City Council will take up the amendments.

About 80 people turned out for the commission hearing today.

Commission members voted 7-to-0 against repealing a ban on bed-and-breakfast homes passed in 1989. The measure would have allowed bed-and-breakfast operations, while also setting up ways for neighbors to block them.

The second proposal, which the commission supported in a 7-to-0 vote, requires transient vacation units, including bed-and-breakfasts, to include the permit number and addresses for units in advertisements.

And it establishes a fee schedule for noncompliance.

The amendments were meant to dramatically overhaul the city ordinance on short-term rentals passed in 1989, which forbade opening new bed-and-breakfasts.

They went before the city Planning Commission in November.

Opponents of allowing more bed-and-breakfasts say the businesses chip away at the sense of place in neighborhoods and disrupt residents. Supporters argue the businesses thrive around the world and give tourists a unique experience.

Currently, there are fewer than 100 legal bed-and-breakfasts operating under nonconforming use permits from the city, permitting officials have said. Bed-and-breakfast operations can take in renters for less than 30 days.

Many other vacation rentals are operating without permits.

Henry Eng, director of the Department of Planning and Permitting, said today that people on both sides of the discussion will get a chance to sound off on the issue again when the measures go before the City Council.

The measures could also be amended and again go before the commission.

Reach Mary Vorsino at mvorsino@honoluluadvertiser.com or 754-8286.

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