Delafield council rejects yacht club request to reserve on‑street parking on Mariner Drive

The City of Delafield Common Council on Sept. 15 voted against an ordinance that would have changed a no‑parking segment of Mariner Drive to allow parking for Nagawicka Yacht Club members displaying a club sticker. The proposal drew extended public comment from residents who live on the narrow cul‑de‑sac and from yacht club representatives who asked the city to formalize longstanding, limited member parking.

What the ordinance would do: Proposed ordinance No. 842 would have amended Delafield Code of Ordinances section 48.5(e) to allow on‑street parking on the east side of a short segment of Mariner Drive for yacht club members with a club parking sticker; the west side would remain posted no parking. The yacht club and city staff said signage costs would be borne by the club.

Public comment: Neighbors told the council they oppose creating member‑only parking on a narrow cul‑de‑sac because of safety, congestion and enforcement worries. Holly Nankin, 1227 Mariner Drive, said residents are concerned about narrow road width, crowded turning areas at peak club events and pedestrian safety, particularly for children near the public boat launch. Mary Slapikas, a resident since 1954, and Michael Berger, 1221 Mariner Drive, described repeated instances when driveways were blocked and vehicles could not pass when club members parked on both sides; several residents said they were not notified in advance about the proposal and asked the council to preserve Mariner Drive as no‑parking on both sides.

Yacht club position: David Price, identified as the club commodore, told the council the club has operated with comparable on‑street parking practices for decades and that current membership demographics have changed (fewer lakefront members, more members who drive). The club said it uses streetside parking mainly for select evenings and events—commonly Tuesdays, Thursdays and some weekend events during the season—and that the city’s police and fire departments reviewed the site and reported no safety barrier to single‑side parking.

Council debate and vote: Council members raised several points: whether the city should cede use of public right‑of‑way to a private organization, how the city would validate and enforce privately issued stickers, whether allowing an exclusive parking privilege would create a precedent for other businesses or groups, and whether neighbors had been consulted. Public safety staff reported that an ambulance and a ladder truck could access the street with one‑side parking, but not with parking on both sides. Several council members said they were uncomfortable approving a change whose immediate neighbors said they had not been consulted.

Outcome: A motion to pass the ordinance failed on a voice vote; the motion did not carry. Council members recorded opposition and at least one abstention during the vote. The council did not adopt any alternative mitigation at the meeting. City staff and council members said they will continue to work with the club and residents to explore options such as on‑site lot expansion, county park parking agreements or engineering solutions for limited off‑street parking.

Quoted: “We encourage the city council to maintain Mariner Drive as no parking on both sides of the street,” Holly Nankin said during public comment. David Price said the club’s parking approach is “essentially the same thing that we’ve been doing for over 70 years.” Chief Fenning confirmed staff measurements showed emergency apparatus can pass with single‑side parking.

What was not decided: The council did not adopt a temporary permit program, a limited trial, or a negotiated neighbor agreement that evening. Members asked staff to continue conversations and to provide clearer engineering and enforcement options if the club or neighbors seek a revised proposal.