Panel discusses parking of boats, motor homes

BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer

JACKSON — The issue of motor homes and boats parked on private property was a topic of discussion at the Jackson Planning Board meeting on Sept. 22. Following a discussion of the matter, it appeared that any action on the issue will wait until the township’s master plan is reviewed.

Jackson’s code enforcement officer John Grillo said he conducted a survey and determined there are more than 300 violations of the local law which governs the storage of recreational vehicles (motor homes) and boats on private property.

The violations could include any number of issues, including the size of the vehicle and the setbacks from property lines. He said the economy may be taking a toll on people who would otherwise keep their boat at a marina over the winter.

One change to the local law that could be considered is increasing the size of a vehicle that may be kept on private property.

The board’s planner Anna R. Wainright said the length of a permitted vehicle could be increased from 35 to 40 feet. Such a change would eliminate certain violations. Other potential changes could pertain to setback distances, Wainright said.

Vice Chairman Todd Porter suggested that the board hold off recommending any changes until Jackson’s master plan is reviewed and/or rewritten. The review of the master plan is occurring at the present time.

Wainright said the time to examine the matter is while the master plan is being reviewed.

The master plan guides the development of the community and also lays out the regulations that govern the municipality.

Planning Board Chairman Ken Bressi said in many instances, recreational vehicles that are parked on an individual’s property do not offer a pleasant view for a neighbor.

“At this time I’m for keeping the ordinance the way it is. It will be examined at the time the master plan is looked at,” Bressi said.

Porter said, “I think it’s too early to act right now. We will take it under advisement.”

Board member Blanche Krubner asked if anyone had complained about parked recreational vehicles and boats.

Grillo said there have been complaints.

“We had a gentleman come to a Township Council meeting one time because he was written up by one of my officers [for having] a canoe in his backyard. There was a saying on [the canoe] and it was facing his neighbor’s property,” he said.

Grillo said the officer gave the resident a violation for the canoe that was in disrepair and for the language that was written on the canoe.

“Basically, he went after this ordinance and complained about my motor home,” Grillo told the board. “This is what brought it on.”

Grillo said motor homes and boats have always been in Jackson.

“I get no complaints from next door neighbors about the boats,” he said. “However, they do [prefer] to see them in the backyard.”

He said the code enforcement department has the situation pretty much under control in terms of backyard storage, but he said that hardly anybody has a side yard setback or a rear yard setback where they can put such vehicles.

Bressi said, “Right now we are less restrictive than most towns, but we will look into it further.”