BOATOWNERS are fighting back against a local planning board’s bylaw amendment for not giving them the right to at-home boat storage when they need it most.
However, local officials disagree with the community members, arguing their priorities don’t necessarily align with giving seafaring homeowners what they want.
In coastal regions like Cape Cod, competition for winter boat storage is incredibly tough[/caption]
A Massachusetts town is currently in the process of enacting a bylaw amendment which would allow certain residents the right to store their boats in their driveways.
Those who qualify would need to pay $250 for a special permit to do so, and would only be able to park their boats in their driveways while on a registered trailer from April 1 to November 1 each year.
Qualifications also include an inability to store a boat behind or next to a house due to property limitations, as the current bylaw states, and a maximum vessel length of 28 feet.
Confusingly, this date range covers what many would consider a vast majority, if not the entirety of the boating season for this northeastern area of the North Atlantic region.
During this time of the year, functioning boats would typically be in the water and ready for recreational or professional use rather than needing long term storage on land.
Homeowners in the area who own boats are resultantly pushing for the law to apply during the entire year, allowing them to store their winterized boats at home.
Local sailors have argued that the proposed law makes it harder for boatowners, who’ll need to find long-term winter storage at a time when most spots will be spoken for, per local publication Cape Cod Times.
Others have also pointed out the high fees associated with winterization and long-term storage of their boats.
In comparison, the $250 fee which would be demanded by the Yarmouth Planning Board in exchange for the privilege of year-round storage is extremely cheap.
Some officials responded that they never considered expanding the law to the full year, even arguing this “is an advantage to the bylaw,” such as Yarmouth planning board chair Joanne Crowley.
When some board members emphasized the financial implications of winterization and storage on boatowners, Crowley and others responded that their responsibility is to preserve residential neighborhoods, not ease the financial burdens of locals.
The board is currently exploring all options, such as removing the seasonal limitation and only giving the driveway privileges to those who can’t store their boats next to or behind their houses.
Unfortunately, the resources that would be required to accurately determine who can and cannot store their boats in the appropriate manner has resulted in some pushback on this proposal.
Planning board members have limited time to find an acceptable middle ground. The planning board must finalize the article on October 15 to be ready for a town meeting on October 21.
HOA crackdowns in the US
States across the country are working to restrict the power of HOAs.
- In Minnesota, lawmakers introduced a bill that would require HOA boards to create a schedule of fines and fees and distribute it to homeowners; ensure homeowners can contest an HOA fine; provide reasonable time to correct rule violations; and outlaw the practice of charging homeowners for asking questions.
- In Arizona, lawmakers are cracking down on HOA budgets. Under a newly proposed law, HOA boards would have strict guidelines for how they approve expenses.
- In Florida, a bill was passed that restricts the amount of control HOAs have over tenants’ property. It also stops HOAs from fining homeowners for leaving trash cans out and holiday lights up.
- In Atlanta, bipartisan bills were introduced to reign in overly aggressive HOAs to protect homeowners.
- In California, a new bill requires HOA elections to be monitored and the board to comply with certain homeowner requests.
- In Colorado, new HOA rules require greater transparency between HOA board members and tenants.
- And the Federal Fair Housing Act sets housing standards for all homeowners, tenants, and landlords.
Once at the town meeting, a two-thirds majority vote on both bylaw changes will be required in order to enact whatever the proposed course of action ends up being.
Winterizing a boat consists of performing key engine maintenance and long-term storage practices, draining freshwater systems and water in the engines, deep cleaning the vessel, and removing all onboard electronics possible.
While relatively inexpensive to do at home, professionals winterization services are available. Combined with winter storage fees, the total cost of winterization and seasonal storage can approach or exceed the $10,000 mark.
HOAs STRIKE BACK
While arguments over boat storage are issues mostly unique to coastal regions, HOA disputes are universal, as one Georgia homeowner discovered when he was fined $14,000 for leaving a ladder in his yard.
Another homeowner in Florida is facing a stacking $100 fine each day he leaves a religious lawn ornament up, which he continues to do because “it’s an important message.”
An HOA in Indiana is also refusing to approve a wheelchair ramp which would give a paralyzed teen access to both his front yard and entrances of his house, citing aesthetic issues with the design.
