Is it time to store your boat for the winter? If you’re like many fishermen that doesn’t happen until you have hard lakewater. There are however a great number of boaters who retire their boats after Labor Day or when the weather starts to turn. That brings up the question of storage. Where do I store the boat until spring?
Many of you take them to storage facilities. Some people have garages that are available and others store them outside. The outside storage issue was one that the Planning Commission and the City Council had worked on for almost a year but finally been adopted. This ordinance attempts to keep Breezy Point free of the clutter of boats and trailers but recognizes the need for common sense, use and storage of these. As a recreationally orientated community it can be hard to keep things in balance.
One stumbling block was that of storage. What is storage? Moving trailers in and out on a regular basis such as that of a contractor is not storage. Regular use of your boat parked in the driveway is not storage but when the use ceases for the season, parking becomes storage. Then we get into time periods and sizes of recreational vehicles. If it is over 30 feet in length outside storage is limited to 21 cumulative days per year. If it is under 30 feet in length, parking is limited to 21 consecutive days however storage of these types of recreational vehicles does have specific caveats and exemptions.
Storage over 21 days can occur if parked on the side or rear yard of a property but must be at least behind the front wall of the principal structure and must be less than 30 feet in length. The recreational vehicle must have a current license and/or watercraft registration.
Exceptions include units that are maintained for year round usages. Water craft under 9 feet do not have to meet regulations and if your property is in excess of 1 acre or there is no visibility from other properties, such as screening, these rules don’t apply.
This may seem confusing but if you have questions feel free to stop by. Copies of the change in ordinance are available. Questions are also welcome.
