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Washington Township planning board backs draft ordinance to regulate commercial vehicles and boats in residential zones
Summary
The Township of Washington Planning Board on Oct. 23 recommended that a draft ordinance regulating the parking and storage of commercial vehicles and boats in residential zones is consistent with the master plan, with changes to harmonize dimensions with an older township code chapter.
The Township of Washington Planning Board recommended that a draft ordinance regulating parking and storage of commercial vehicles and boats in residential zones is consistent with the master plan, voting in favor at its Oct. 23 meeting.
The board adopted the finding after planner Mr. Lydon presented a revised draft that lowers several size thresholds to match an older Township Code chapter (Chapter 3-30) and adds rules for boats and boat trailers. "My earlier proposal had a height allowed for a height of 10 feet. In an effort to harmonize ... I'm now recommending that we change ... to 8 feet," Lydon said, explaining the move to align the new draft with numbers already in the code. He also said he recommended reducing allowable vehicle width from 8 feet to 7 feet and setting a new maximum length of 20 feet for commercial vehicles.
The draft removes the previous "non-prohibited hours" approach in Chapter 3-30 — which had effectively limited enforcement to midnight–6 a.m. — and would make the regulation effective at all hours. The draft adds definitions for "boat" and "boat trailer," prohibits motorized boats longer than 18 feet from being parked or stored on residential lots, and requires screening for boats and boat trailers that are permitted. Lydon noted human-powered craft such as canoes and kayaks would remain permitted in rear yards.
Board members asked clarifying questions about whether penalties would be included in the new ordinance and where enforcement authority rests. One board member asked whether penalties should be inserted in the draft; Lydon and other staff said the zoning ordinance already contains penalty provisions for zoning violations and that fines or penalties are handled under the zoning ordinance framework rather than repeated in each chapter. Board engineer Paul Hasnumba and staff confirmed the draft is intended to be part of the zoning ordinance.
After public comment opened and no members of the public spoke, the board voted that the draft ordinance is consistent with the master plan. The board chair instructed staff to forward an alphabetized copy of section 3 to the mayor and council for consideration.
The board's action is a consistency determination with the master plan; it does not adopt the ordinance as law. The mayor and council will receive the draft for possible introduction, hearings, and final adoption.
