Some may be just thinking about getting their boats ready for the season, but the Irondequoit Town Board is looking at revisions with regard to local law around boats and boating next week.
The town of Irondequoit has had a local ordinance titled “Boats and Boating” since April 2, 1987, that was reenacted in 1997, but now amendments are being considered, based on current state and federal navigation laws and waterfront residents’ concerns.
Irondequoit Supervisor Mary Joyce D’Aurizio said the town has been working on revisions to its boating code for not quite two years.
While there are a number of places in the law where language is added or changed, a primary piece of the new law deals with Lake Ontario in front of a stretch of Irondequoit waterfront homes between Lake Bluff Road and the Irondequoit Bay outlet, in the Sea Breeze area.
“Those residents tell us they have come to dread when the weekend comes (in boating season),” D’Aurizio said. “Boaters — as many as 30 to 40 of them — come in and ‘raft’ together so close to the shore that residents can’t swim, or it’s a danger to the residents.”
Not only do boaters “raft” together just off the Irondequoit shore in Sea Breeze, D’Aurizio said, but they also create noise, drinking and other issues, including using the lake as, well, a bathroom over the sides of their boats.
“And these are private homes with private beaches in front of their homes,” D’Aurizio said.
One of the amendments to the local law states that no vessel may be anchored, moored, adrift, or joined together with any other vessel less than 450 feet from the shoreline between Lake Bluff Road and the Irondequoit Bay outlet.
Another amendment states that no vessel may be operated within 300 feet of the shore, a dock, pier or raft, etc. The law used to say 200 feet, D’Aurizio said, but the new distance reflects current navigation law.
Agencies, documents and individuals considered while revising the local law included the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, the Irondequoit Police Department, New York State Navigation Law, federal inland navigation law, attorneys, residents and the Irondequoit Bay Harbor Management Plan, D’Aurizio said.
Definitions of different classes of vessels, from “pleasure vessel” to “personal watercraft,” have also been added to the new law.
Provisions in the law, if adopted, will be enforced by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department’s marine patrol, D’Aurizio said, or the Irondequoit Police Department when issues involve trespassing on private property.
“This (law) gives more substance for the marine patrol,” D’Aurizio said, adding, “There will be a period of time where boaters will have to be educated.”
The complete text of the law is available under “upcoming events” in the “quick links” section on the town’s website, www.irondequoit.org.
Some may be just thinking about getting their boats ready for the season, but the Irondequoit Town Board is looking at revisions with regard to local law around boats and boating next week.
The town of Irondequoit has had a local ordinance titled “Boats and Boating” since April 2, 1987, that was reenacted in 1997, but now amendments are being considered, based on current state and federal navigation laws and waterfront residents’ concerns.
Irondequoit Supervisor Mary Joyce D’Aurizio said the town has been working on revisions to its boating code for not quite two years.
While there are a number of places in the law where language is added or changed, a primary piece of the new law deals with Lake Ontario in front of a stretch of Irondequoit waterfront homes between Lake Bluff Road and the Irondequoit Bay outlet, in the Sea Breeze area.
“Those residents tell us they have come to dread when the weekend comes (in boating season),” D’Aurizio said. “Boaters — as many as 30 to 40 of them — come in and ‘raft’ together so close to the shore that residents can’t swim, or it’s a danger to the residents.”
Not only do boaters “raft” together just off the Irondequoit shore in Sea Breeze, D’Aurizio said, but they also create noise, drinking and other issues, including using the lake as, well, a bathroom over the sides of their boats.
“And these are private homes with private beaches in front of their homes,” D’Aurizio said.
One of the amendments to the local law states that no vessel may be anchored, moored, adrift, or joined together with any other vessel less than 450 feet from the shoreline between Lake Bluff Road and the Irondequoit Bay outlet.
Another amendment states that no vessel may be operated within 300 feet of the shore, a dock, pier or raft, etc. The law used to say 200 feet, D’Aurizio said, but the new distance reflects current navigation law.
Agencies, documents and individuals considered while revising the local law included the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, the Irondequoit Police Department, New York State Navigation Law, federal inland navigation law, attorneys, residents and the Irondequoit Bay Harbor Management Plan, D’Aurizio said.
Definitions of different classes of vessels, from “pleasure vessel” to “personal watercraft,” have also been added to the new law.
Provisions in the law, if adopted, will be enforced by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department’s marine patrol, D’Aurizio said, or the Irondequoit Police Department when issues involve trespassing on private property.
“This (law) gives more substance for the marine patrol,” D’Aurizio said, adding, “There will be a period of time where boaters will have to be educated.”
The complete text of the law is available under “upcoming events” in the “quick links” section on the town’s website, www.irondequoit.org.
