HONOLULU -- The Honolulu city Planning Commission unanimously voted against lifting a moratorium on bed-and-breakfast units, but the commission did support an effort to crack down on illegal operators.

For the past 20 years there has been a moratorium on any new bed-and-breakfast units.

The Planning Commission had two vehicles to lift the cap: one that would have made the bed-and-breakfasts a home occupation and possible in agricultural areas, and a second that would have limited it to single-family residential areas and possible with neighborhood board approval.

But the commission wasn't comfortable with either.

"It doesn't come with any funding for enforcement. It doesn't come with any plans to update the standards for infrastructure," Commission member Beadie Dawson said. "It opens the floodgates, and I think that's very dangerous."

"Legalizing B and B's is spot-zoning, and it's hard for me to justify the legalization of mini-resort use in a residential area," Commission Chair Karin Holma said. "I think this is a really slippery slope."

Bed-and-breakfast proponents said they were disappointed that they weren't able to sway commission members.

"We are not giving up. We are here to stay," bed-and-breakfast operator Angie Larson said.

But opponents of the bed-and-breakfasts said they were glad to have won this round.

"No more -- no more. Mostly because in 1989, we were all promised there would be no more," said Don Bremner, who has been a Kailua resident for 39 years.

Others said they thought Wednesday's vote could help with affordable housing. They said they are hoping owners of vacation rentals will look to long-term rentals instead.

"If they need to turn, rent to a student -- rent to a teacher," Jane Morris said, who has lived in Kailua for 49 years.

The decision, as it stands now, is only an advisory decision, and if it chooses to, the city council could override the commission's vote with a two-thirds majority vote.

The commission did give the nod to a plan to help city inspectors crack down on illegal operators.

Anyone advertising vacation units will have to post their addresses and certificate numbers at City Hall.