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.
