News-Press Parking EDITORIAL March 8

Maybe Mickey Rosado should modify his proposal to allow boat and RV parking next to homes in Cape Coral, but he should stick to the essence of it. Boat, trailer and RV owners are merely trying to enjoy the life that Cape Coral has sold itself on for almost a half century. Outdoor recreation, especially boating, is at the heart of things. That's especially true for the younger, more active families, so why is parking a boat next to a house such a big deal, especially since other jurisdictions are more lenient? The legitimate concerns about safety and appearance can be dealt with, as Rosado intends to do. Rosado's original proposed ordinance would allow owners of trailered boats, trailers and RVs to park their rigs next to their houses, so long as they are concealed from view from the street or neighboring houses by a 6-foot fence. TOUGH ON BOATERS Currently, parking of trailers, boats or RVs in side yards is banned in Cape Coral. Trailers and boats must be parked in back yards or garages; RVs that won't fit in the garage must be parked elsewhere. This makes it tough for families who own boats but can't afford to buy a waterfront lot. They rightly complain that it can be difficult to maneuver into the back yard. Why not use the otherwise wasted space beside the house? Accommodation should also be made for small commercial trailers, such as landscaping rigs, that can be reasonably concealed. The Cape is a working town, as well as an active outdoorsy place. Turnout on the issue at a city council meeting Monday night was heavy, and most people opposed Rosado's ordinance. Killjoy regulation, after all, is as much a part of life in the Cape as boating. STICK TO IT Still, people have some reasonable concerns. A Greyhound-bus sized RV squeezed between houses might not be appropriate, and very hard to conceal. Rosado will consider putting RVs and boats under separate ordinances. Big land rigs or boats might have so much fuel aboard as to pose a danger. Fences will need to meet some aesthetic and wind storm standards. These issues can be resolved while preserving the heart of the ordinance. Rosado was wise to back off temporarily to take people's concerns into account. But we should urge him and the city council to pass the essence of this ordinance. It's a much more reasonable approach than the existing one, which is widely disregarded anyway. It's time to make the city of canals truly boat-friendly, and this city friendlier to active working families. Boat parking Rules for boat parking in Lee County and other cities: ¸ Unincorporated Lee County: No restrictions ¸ Fort Myers: Boats may be parked at the side or rear of homes if they are not used for sleeping ¸ Bonita Springs: May be parked on side, back or front of homes if they are licensed and operable. ¸ Sanibel: Boat can be parked in any area by a house that is designated for parking. If the area needs to be enlarged, a permit is necessary.

Civic Response:

Mailbag:
We see the editorial board of the News-Press (March 8) is once again trying to suggest their standard of living be applied to the majority of Cape Coral residents. It’s obvious that both the News-Press and Council member Rosado are out of touch with the majority of Cape’s residential property owners who came out in defense of our zoning ordinances designed to protect our neighborhoods.

For the News-Press to refer to Cape’s residential zoning as “Killjoy” regulation is an insult to the majority of residents who are interested in keeping Cape Coral the special place that 150,000 of us call home. Let us remind you that 92% of our tax base comes from residential property owners who have the right to demand that our expectations of clean and safe neighborhoods are maintained and not compromised.

Before the News-Press and Rosado try to justify ordinance changes catering to commercial trailers, landscaping rigs, recreational vehicles etc., we suggest the primary consideration be given to the majority who do not want or need these changes to our ordinances. The News-Press suggests change because people “…rightly complain that it can be difficult to maneuver into the back yard.” We remind the New-Press this difficulty is a direct result of a previous zoning ordinance changed a few years ago that took side set backs from 10’ to 7.5.’ Civic opposed that ordinance change. If people buy or build a home that doesn’t allow maneuverability to the rear yard we ask, why should a majority of homeowners be affected by the lack of insight and planning by some? Are they “rightly complaining”? We think not! Residential zoning does not and should not allow for the operation of commercial businesses as you have suggested allowing in your editorial.

If Cape’s ordinances are so terrible why are there so many people moving here, why is Cape Coral the largest municipality between Tampa and Miami? Why do people come to Cape Coral when there is the entire unincorporated County of Lee to choose from that has no parking regulations and no city taxes to pay? Obviously the majority moved here for a reason, maybe our “Killjoy” regulations had something to do with that choice.
Ralph LePera, President

March 14, 2006
Tom Hayden, Cape News-Press editor doesn't agree with the News Press Editorial?

Boat parking ordinance not needed
Enforcement the issue, not new regulations

It's always amazing to me that we can't get Cape Coral residents out to vote, but when an issue literally hits them in their backyard, people swarm to a city council meeting like fire ants to an ankle.

Such was the case last Monday at a city council meeting when 130 people showed up and about 36 stood at the microphone and gave impassioned pleas representing both sides of proposed changes to the much-debated boat ordinance.

Council member Mickey Rosado proposed a new ordinance, basically allowing people to park boats, trailers and RVs along the sides of their homes as long as they are hidden from sight.

This particular ordinance and meeting were interesting from a number of fronts.

First, Mayor Eric Feichthaler asked for a stand-up vote of residents on what they thought of Rosado's new plan even before it was discussed. Don't remember that happening in past meetings.

"Well, the room was practically full and recognizing that people might feel uncomfortable speaking, I wanted them to be part of the process," Feichthaler said.

"I asked him to do that," Rosado said.

Overwhelmingly, residents were against changing the ordinance that currently allows boats to be parked in backyards.

Then, for almost two hours, people discussed their concerns about changing the ordinance and how it would be enforced.

In the end, after hearing all the criticism, Rosado withdrew his plan, but he said he’ll put a new-and-improved one back out there for discussion in about a month.

I think Rosado’s plan all along was to gauge public opinion. So why did he waste staff time in developing an ordinance that hardly anyone liked, was virtually impossible to enforce and had no chance of passing?

When asked if that was his goal, Rosado said “No, no, no. Absolutely not.”

If Rosado was only interested in a discussion, he could have put together a town hall meeting, gathered opinions and then put together an ordinance that made sense.

“A few people have written me upset with me that I allowed the ordinance to go forward,” Feichthaler said. “But all members of council, including myself, are entitled to bring forth legislation that is in the best interest of the city.”

This was the wrong ordinance for the city. Rosado says he’s reworking it into categories: campers, trailers, RVs and boats.
I can’t envision this one working in any form.

“The city needs to give people the opportunity of what they can do on their property,” Rosado said. “Who’s hurting me on this ordinance is the people who don’t respect the law, and are breaking the rules.”

Despite the problems with this ordinance, I believe Rosado wants a better life for those who have lived here for decades and those who will move here tomorrow.

He just needs to put ordinances on the table that make sense and will do some good.

He needs to ask himself if this particular ordinance is broken. I don’t believe that it is. It’s pretty clear: Park your boat-trailer in the backyard or risk a fine.

Trying to plow through a seemingly endless list of regulations to allow people to park boats or other things on the sides of their homes seems at best a futile task.

In fact, why not just write an ordinance that says no boats in yards — period. That’s why we have storage buildings and boat lifts along our 400 miles of canals. That would take one ordinance off the books that the 25 code compliance officers need not worry about.

A quick, personal sweep of my neighborhood recently produced six violations — three homes with sprinklers operating at the wrong time, two commercial vehicles parked in front of or on the side of a home for several days and one home with eight bags of mulch sitting in front of a garage. Sprinklers were running along a small section of the grass median on Country Club Boulevard early Sunday afternoon — about a half-mile from City Hall — that’s also a violation.

Unless we address the need for more enforcement officers to patrol the city, there is no reason to write any more ordinances. It makes no sense.