A boat rests on a trailer in a yard. (Photo: Shorebeat)
An ordinance that would place some regulations on the storage of boat trailers and enclosed trailers on residential properties was not considered at a Brick Township council meeting this week, with the council president telling a packed room of residents that the proposal was not fully reviewed and had become subject to misinformation on social media.
The ordinance, to the contrary of many social media posts earlier this week, would not have prohibited the storage of boat trailers or hobby trailers on residential lots, as was implied. But it would have imposed some regulations. In its draft form, which made its way to the agenda, the measure would have required that open trailers stored on properties be operable and properly registered. It also would have limited the presence of open trailers to one per residence, and prohibited the parking of trailers on the street for more than 36 hours.
Enclosed trailers would have been prohibited on residential properties except for commercial tradesmen loading and unloading their vehicles, depending on the underlying zoning of the property.
|
|
Some residents, specifically, took issue with the legal definitions of “open trailers” and “enclosed trailers” as it pertained to weight limits, though that section of the ordinance has already been on the books for years and was not being modified by the draft. Open trailers, however, were re-defined to be those less than 20-feet in length, which could conceivably have affected boat or hobby trailers. Enclosed trailers were defined as trailers with enclosures that are often used to transport other vehicles or commercial equipment, with some residents stating that it could affect those who have classic cars or recreational vehicles that they transport on occasion.
Regardless, the measure does not appear to be one that will return to the council for consideration in the near future.
“We’re not revisiting it,” said Council President Vince Minichino. “It’s off, it’s not going to be coming back on.”
Township Attorney Kevin Starkey said a draft document made its way to the agenda mistakenly.
“We thought we understood things that needed to be done here,” he said. “We drafted an ordinance that came in late and it got put on the agenda. It’s not something that was warranted, it’s not something that was needed.”
Though the matter seems to be off the table, concerns about trailer storage on residential properties is increasingly drawing attention in Brick and beyond. The ordinance that had been under consideration mirrors a common trend both locally and nationally thanks to emerging technology.
In recent years, concerns have arisen regarding “Airbnb-style” services that allow homeowners to rent their properties to those seeking trailer storage. Similar to services – overwhelmingly prohibited in municipalities – that allow residents to rent out their pools to the public, trailer storage rental services have raised concerns over backyards being turned into boatyards, with trailers and vessels being hauled in and out on a regular basis, and unused trailers in derelict conditions piling up, creating eyesores. Additionally, in the past, some residents have parked trailers without proper reflectors or other equipment on residential streets year-round, leading to the obstruction of snow plowing in the winter and the presence of unregistered or untitled vehicles on the street.
While such an ordinance may have faced opposition in its own right, the measure was portrayed in social media groups as a “trailer ban,” leading dozens of residents to come to Tuesday night’s township council meeting. Before the business of the meeting began, Council President Vince Minichino said the matter was prematurely placed on the agenda and would not be considered.
“There was a misunderstanding with our township attorney on this ordinance and it was not thoroughly discussed or reviewed,” Minichino told those in attendance. “Thanks to social media, there was a lot of misinformation out there. You’re more than welcome to stay for the meeting, but there will be no action on this meeting tonight and no discussions.”
The statement was met with applause by some in the crowd. In New Jersey, ordinances are introduced during a first reading and initial vote, but require a public hearing and a second vote before being adopted and codified into law.
