Can you Camp in Breezy Point?

There has been history in Breezy Point with camping throughout the city. At one time the city allowed camping to occur throughout the city. This became problematic with constant recreational fires, loud partying, and lack of sanitary facilities. The city reacted with a ban on camping, sort of.

The code continued to provide for camping in the more rural areas of the city with large parcels of property, 5 acres or more. This is on property with or without a structure. This is called Temporary Camping. Camping within the camping clusters is also allowd.

The code didn’t provide for camping in your backyard. Camping in any lot within the city wasn’t allowed but there were problems. The issue was the code had provided for “Limited Camping”. This allowed camping on a temporary basis on a residential lot for up to 14 days at a time and no more than 30 days in a calendar year. So what’s a residential lot? This wasn’t defined specifically. The zoning code provides for this as a lot zoned for residential use. This takes us back to allowing camping almost everywhere, at least in those areas zoned residential.
The Planning Commission looked at this a number of different ways. They had proposed allowing for camping in all residential lots, essentially clarifying the code in that way. They looked at allowing camping by permit for camping on vacant lots. They addressed the issue of allowing camping for those parties that have taken out a building permit to do construction. They also looked at camping only on residential lots with structures. In the end the ordinance was clarified and approved by the city council.

What is now in place allows camping on residential improved lots. These are lots with residential structures. This camping would be for a period of 14 days continuous or up to 30 days in a calendar year. They also allow camping by owners of up to 6 months cumulative time on a lot where construction is occurring. That is a building permit must be issued and the camping activity needs to meet appropriate setbacks. Parking an RV on the street in front of the property will not be allowed. Parking an RV along the side of the property so it is off the street and back from the road would be acceptable. The construction type of request was fairly common and under the past rules not allowed. With this change we have a way to allow property owners to improve their property while living on the site.

These provisions took a good deal of time spent looking at the issues towards resolution and getting final approval. I believe we now have some workable rules regarding Camping in Breezy Point.

Expectations

As the budget cycle begins anew the city is looking at managing with limited resources and expenses. Last year the city not only held the line with the levy, it decreased it. The budget was tight but we have managed to hold the line with frugal expectations and actions. After the budget and levy were adopted the city received news that the amount of taxes to be expected was not in the cards as a tax appeal reduced expected revenues by $117,000. This prompted further tightening of our expenses. A lot of credit goes to employees who understand the issue and have found ways to make do or do without.

This next year prompts additional concern in managing with what we have. There is a general call to keep taxes at a rate no higher than the levy for 2011. As needs become apparent we shift resources and wrestle with how to manage going forward. Some goals may need to be forsaken and others will continue. Roads will be plowed and sanded but other areas may see less attention.

The budget is probably the largest policy document the city undertakes in a given year. It meters out all aspects of operations and expectations. It holds departments accountable and gives direction. The budget becomes the roadmap for the 2012 future.

A draft budget is being prepared and will be presented to council members at a workshop session to be held on August 16th. At that time council will look at what has been proposed and what is needed. A preliminary levy has to be certified to the county auditor no later than September 15 so will be acted on at the September 6th meeting. This preliminary levy amount can not be exceeded but can be reduced. The final levy is accomplished in December.

Any suggestions or points of concern are encouraged and should be directed to your council members. Every year the budget seems to be difficult but this year seems to be more difficult than in the past. With property values being reduced even holding the levy equal to last year may prompt increases to some property owners as values shift. It is the goal of the city to do what we can to lessen the impact but also keep services intact.