A Ferris Hill Road homeowner has removed a winterized boat that had been parked in his driveway, following a municipal notice of violation issued last week.
The offending boat, prior to its removal from this driveway. Credit: Michael Dinan
A neighbor of the 2.27-acre property, where a boat had been parked just outside a garage east of the house (and largely out of view from the road), prompted a Planning & Zoning inspection by lodging a complaint with the town, officials said.
“In response to our recent conversation regarding the violation of the town of New Canaan Zoning Regulations Section 3.3.B.5 you remain in violation of this section for storing of a recreational vehicle (boat), I offer the following: Removal of the boat from the premises or a total screening of the boat satisfactory to this department within 7 days from the date of this notice,” said a Dec. 6 letter from a New Canaan zoning inspector, obtained by NewCanaanite.com through a formal request.
It continued: “Failure to comply with this notice will result in further enforcement action.”
Under the New Canaan Zoning Regulations, a “recreational vehicle” is defined as “any type of vehicle used primarily for recreational pleasure including but not limited to motor homes, travel trailers, campers, camping trailers, boats, snowmobiles and associated trailers.”
Under the regulations, up to two such vehicles may be parked in a residential lot under a zoning permit, though they must either be parked or in a “fully enclosed structure” or else, if parked outside, must “not be located in the front yard of the existing dwelling or other principal building on the same lot,” must “not be located within any required accessory building yard space” and must “be effectively screened from view of adjacent premises to the satisfaction of the Zoning Inspector” (see page 48 here). (Note: Though it doesn’t apply to the boat in this situation, the recreational vehicle also cannot be used for living, recreation or business purposes while parked in a residential lot.)
In the Ferris Hill matter, the owner received approval from the town to build a proposed screening structure that would be covered by a 40-by-30-foot tarp. A review of the property on Thursday showed that the boat had been moved out of the residential parking area instead.
2 acres is enough space to be left alone on your own property. That kind of “neighbor” should move back to the city if they are so annoyed at the common sight of a boat in a distant yard.
I’d love to see a picture of the screening structure. Odds are, I’d rather look at the boat and still talk to my neighbor. Maybe they’ll take me for a ride on it some day.
I can understand to some degree the concerns people have. But look at this picture. Is this boat harming a neighbor by perhaps reducing the value of the neighboring property? Is the boat harming the neighbor’s property in ANY way? I think most reasonable people would say no. These laws need to be updated. All they do is hinder boat or RV ownership. If I had lot sizes described here, I don’t know how anyone could feel that the boat impinges somehow on others. The boat is nowhere near a property line, and as the author points out “largely out of view from the road.”. Looking at it another way, not being able to park a boat like this on my own property would make this property LESS valuable to me – yes, I own and love boats. I’m crossing New Canaan off my list as a desirable place to live.