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Commission directs staff to study regulation of rented docks after neighbor dispute
Summary
Following an incident where a large boat overhung a neighbor's lot, commissioners discussed whether renting private docks constitutes a prohibited commercial use and asked administration to review code section 11-159 and return with options.
Commissioners spent part of the meeting discussing a recent dispute involving a rented dock and the size of vessels kept at private residential docks.
One commissioner described a case in which a rented dock and a large boat encroached on a neighbor's property and suggested the city consider new regulations addressing the size of boats, the type of fuel carried and liability or responsibility when a dock is rented. "So, 3 things that I thought that maybe could go into some type of regulation... the size of the boat, the fuel that the boat that's that's being docked has... and whether it's gasoline... who is responsible," the commissioner said, urging staff to prepare options.
City staff responded that the city already has a provision (cited as section 11-159) that prohibits commercial use of docks in residential zones and specifically prohibits boarding charter parties and similar commercial operations. "We have 11 dash 1 59, commercial use of docks... The commercial use of docks and residentially zoned districts within the city is prohibited," the administrator said. Commissioners noted the practical challenges of enforcement and asked staff to return with clarification of code language and potential regulatory or enforcement approaches.
The commission directed administration to research other cities' ordinances and provide options for clarifying whether and how private dock rentals should be regulated or enforced. No ordinance change or formal enforcement action was adopted at the meeting; the matter will be brought back for further discussion.
