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Boat Storage <br />July 5, 2001 <br />Page 2 <br />Depictions of currently allowed boat storage locations on lakeshore and non-lakeshore lots appear <br />in Exhibit A. These depictions are based on the yard definitions of the zoning code, as interpreted <br />and enforced by City staff. Because the street yard of a typical lakeshore lot is by definition its rear <br />yard, the visual impact from the street of boats stored on lakeshore lots is potentially much greater <br />than for non-lakeshore lots (Section 10.02 "Yard * definitions are attached as Exhibit E). <br />A staff windshield inspection of boats of length appearing to be in excess of 20’ stored on residential <br />lots early this spring revealed the following, by neighborhood: <br />Casco Point: 40 Forest Arms (E. side of Forest Lake): 6 <br />Carman Bay: 12 Rest Point: 4 <br />Navarre: 10 Wildhurst: 8 <br />Fagemess Point: 23 llighwood: 4 <br />Cheny/I.oma I.inda: 21 <br />While photos were not taken and individual boat lengths and storage locations were not specifically <br />documented, these boats were all visible from the public right-of-way. <br />Staff has historically enforced the boat storage regulations only upon complaint, or when a boat is <br />clearly placed where it has a potential impact on traffic sight distances. 1 he unavailability (or high <br />cost) of off-site storage is a common response from boatowners who are found to be in violation of <br />the ordinance. Although property owners are given a reasonable amount of time to comply, quite <br />ofien a complaint will be received after the boat has been snowed in or frozen in place for some time <br />and is impossible to move until spring. <br />Screening commonly becomes an issue with adjacent property ow ners. With the leaves gone, storage <br />locations that are nearly invisible in the summer may be in full view all winter. The color of the <br />canvas, tarp or shrink wrap, the height of the boat, its proximity to neighbor's windows and views, <br />all factor in to whether a storage situation is acceptable to adjoining property owners. The ordinance <br />does not clearly indicate what is meant by "fully screened so as not to be visible from adjoining <br />properties”. Is covering a boat with a tarp considered as "fully screened”? The general screening <br />standards of Section 10.60, Subd. 11-12, would appear to be ineffective in providing adequate <br />screening for most boats, since only a 4-5' fence is required. Screening a boat by placing it in an <br />accessory building is a rare option, given that such buildings on lakeshore lots constitute hardcover <br />and count against structural coverage. Storing boats over 20' long in garages meant for cars also is <br />usually not an option due to the height of such boats. <br />Summer boat storage has generally been less of a concern than winter storage. A trailerable boat <br />stored in the driveway from May to September is more common for non-lakeshore lots than <br />lakeshore lots. Long-term storage of boats during spring/summer/fall seasons on lawn areas could <br />be a hardcover issue. <br />Planner Wendy Bottenberg has reviewed other cities’ ordinances regarding exterior storage, <br />summarized in Exhibit C. Most include boats within the definition of recreational vehicles or <br />similar equipment. Orono ’s regulations regarding storage of recreational vehicles appear in Section <br />9.52 (see Exhibit D). <br />- OpTl'M'^L ~~ <br />- cor'/j; -y A 'i l [ C J T/