Driveway docking will be permitted in season and during hunting and fishing seasons for licensees.
A proposed ordinance that divided boat owners and residents concerned about property values was finally cleared by Fair Haven’s governing body Monday night, according to the Asbury Park Press.
Two of the borough’s six councilmembers voted against the ordinance, which had been in dry dock for nine months. It would permit the storage of any boat up to 21 feet long on a trailer in the driveway of the owner’s home from May 1 to Nov. 1.
Councilmen Christopher Rinn and Jerome Koch voted against passage. From the Press:
Koch reiterated his objections that allowing boat parking in residential driveways would affect the appearance of neighborhoods. He noted that the Planning Board voted 8-1 against endorsing the ordinance.
“My concern is places with the tightest parking, we’ll have a situation where people park boats in their driveways and move cars to the street,” Koch said. “It’s dangerous.”
The Press quotes two residents who also opposed the change from the current law, which doesn’t allow small motor boat parking in driveways, even during boating season, according to the report.
But Mayor Michael Halfacre said residents had turned out for prior meeting to support the proposed relaxation of the rules.
“To the extent that it will ruin the streetscape, I don’t see it,” he said. “This change is so incremental.”
A change from the proposed ordinance allows parking of several boats if they don’t exceed a total of 45 feet in length. Another change makes exceptions for people who hold hunting, fishing or shellfishing licenses.
