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Marco to revise permissible dock sizes
Planning Board to meet Friday to decide upon allowable size of boat docks
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Boats and docks extending out into canals at varying lengths seem to be causing some challenges in enforcing the city’s code as well as confusion as to what is currently permissible.
The City of Marco Island’s Planning Board intends on addressing the issue at their meeting 9 a.m., Friday, in the Community Development room.
Currently the land development code allows a boat dock to protrude 20 feet into a waterway.
At the May 19 City Council meeting, councilors and staff discussed the need to revisit the land development code and make amendments to allow for a dock size that was enforceable and worked well with what appears to be a trend of Islanders owning larger boats than they have in past years.
“Let’s keep it simple. Let the length of the boat determine the length of the dock. It becomes too complicated if boats stick out past the dock,” said Councilor Wayne Waldack.
Waldack suggested a code that required boats to fit into their docks and to extend the permissible dock length so as to allow most current boat owners to keep their boats, many of which are longer than 20 feet.
If his idea were to carry forward, it would require water front boat owners to extend their docks rather than trade in their boats.
The planning board will also be electing chair and vice chair as well as discussing the following new business:
– An ordinance amending and clarifying public beach regulations and beach permits.
– An amendment to the city’s comprehensive plan to include a 10-year water supply facilities work plan.
– A request by Summit Management Group to increase the number of special events permitted at the Esplanade from 28 per year to 56 per year.
Comments
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wayne, wayne, wayne....your proposal makes no sense to me...the smallest waterfront lot on marco...excluding corners and pinches...have at least 80 ft of seawall...allow for the 15 ft setbacks and that leaves you 50 ft of dockage...more than enough for these canals...if someone needs a larger boat they need to go to the yacht club...hopefully i am mis-understanding your proposal....buy a big boat and build whatever size dock you need? no matter how far into the canal it goes....please clarify your position for me...thanks.
#1 Posted by van on July 16, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Van:
It would appear that either
a) Ms.Farrell got the story all wrong (possible) or
b) Mr. Waldack hasn't a factual clue (probable).
You can be assured the "clarification" you requested, if acknowledged at all, will be interesting.
Russ Colombo
#2 Posted by Russ on July 17, 2008 at 6:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I've got a 41' boat tied alongside a 40' dock. The dock is 5' wide as are most of the original docks. This works fine and violates no codes. What is the concern if the docks and boats don't extend further than 20' into the canal? The length of the dock along the seawall should not be of any concern other than the setback requirements. I could safely put a 50' boat alongside my 40' dock.
#3 Posted by maharg on July 18, 2008 at 3:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No, no, no!! The request, as I understood it, wasn't for bigger docks. I think the guys are asking for bigger (oops!) my bad! I read the article wrong, Sorry!
#4 Posted by hourigan82247 on July 19, 2008 at 7:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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