Fish-Hawk.Net

Hey everyone,

I'm just curious as to how everyone feels about the potential by-law that has been suggested in the Ottawa area. Apparently there is talk about banning people from keeping boats (and trailers I believe) in their driveways. I'm not sure about the extent of the ban, nor have I heard anything about it lately, but I'd like to see how everyone feels about such a ban in the event that it does come to fruition?

I personally would be livid as I would no longer have anywhere to store my ride. Such a ban would mean that I would have to leave my boat at a marina, and pay a fee to do so. I certainly wouldn't take such a ban lying down.

How do you feel?

Cheers,

HW

I know there are certain towns within the US that have very strict zoning restrictions which forbid parking boats / trailers in driveways. I personally don't like these rules, but then again, I own a boat and trailer.
I think if you can park a car in your driveway, you should be able to park your boat there, as well. I'm lucky enough to have acreage, but not everyone has space enough to tuck their boat out of their neighbor's view.

W.

If it's my yard I should be able to do whatever I want with it!

Why should someone control what I do with my property?

Scott

here in mississauga you cant have a trailer, boat or an old beat up car or you will get fined. have to store the boat elsewhere which is costing about $40/month. other thing that sucks is that you can only pick up and drop off the boat between 6am and 11pm.

chris

I believe the bylaw is already in effect in one form or another throughout the "new" city of Ottawa. I think the "former city" of Kanata currently has the toughest bylaw, you can't have a boat/trailer in your driveway for more than 15 minutes. In Nepean, you're allowed to have one in the open water season only, not in the Winter. Other parts of the "new" city are different. The new bylaw is meant to make it even throughout the new city. I don't agree with them making it the same as Kanata's.

I think some of this comes from people having eyesores in their driveways. Anybody ever drive on Prince of Wales by Meadowlands? There's a huge yacht that's been parked there forever, never being taken to the water. Poor beast. Thats cruelty to boats, someone should call the SPCB.

scttsmpsn,

Living in Kanata you will find out whos business it is real quick....that in Barrhaven are the worst....be preapred for it if it comes in place...

Gordo had a visit from the bylaw in Barrhaven in November I beleive.....the bylaw states that all recreational vehicles must be out of laneways by Oct. 15th....that is for the City of Nepean...which no longer really exists..but apparently for bylaws it does... ....apparently a complaint came in from a neighbour....

He told him he'd have it soon....and the guy went away...

Granola crunchers use by laws to protect their investment of their house...thats their scoop on it...

Glad we bought a country home now!!!!...

RJ

RJ wrote:Glad we bought a country home now!!!!...

I hear ya on that. Mind you, I AM the eye sore in the neighbourhood. Leave my tempo garage up all year long for my boat. Try doing that in the 'new' Ottawa.
If anyone needs to park their boats, just bring to my place (but be sure to leave the keys, in case I have to move it around the yard )

We just got a great new by-law here in Rockland, anyone hear about this bi-lingual signage crap.
Funny, no one asked me for my opinion first.

M.T. Livewell

Slushpuppy,

I think the Prince of Wales stretch is what sparked this whole issue. There are some montrosities parked on that stretch, and I can understand why people would be upset. However, that's different from keeping a fishing boat or other small vehicle in your driveway, as would be applicable to most of us.

One stetch of road should not dictate the law for the rest of the city. I live in Nepean, and I have a 15ft boat that I keep in my driveway as long as there is not ice on the water. That usually means from April - December. I certainly will not change this in light of a by-law. I pay an exorbitant amount in property tax every year, so I feel I have paid for the right to keep MY boat in MY driveway. I dare the City of Ottawa to come to my door and try to slap me with a fine. Say hello to Buddy the pitbull. Oh, the irony!

HW

I think it should depend on the neighborhood. If its a new neighborhood then I think the bylaws are good. That way if you don't like the neighborhood's bylaws then don't move there. I'm not sure any city has the resources to enforce these types of bylaws in all existing neighborhoods.

My development has a ten year bylaw restricting sheds, boats, rv's, stored vehicles, and above ground pools. I wish they would have added jungle gyms and trampolines since there are enough parks around that they are unneeded.

Here, it is self governing. It's take and give. If you have your boat in the drive for a week to work on it then no one will say anything. However, forget the shed and don't park any large RV's around for any period of time.

For what it cost to move into some of the new neighborhoods, I would think these same people can afford to store their toys.

Grumpy

I tend to agree that for a new development, it is fair to institute particular policies for that community. At least then potential homeowners in that area are given the choice to decide whether they will live in such a community. If boats were not allowed, it would certainly affect my decision to live there. I would likely look elsewhere, but at least I would have that choice.

The thing that ruffles my feathers is that they are instituting such policies in neighbourhoods that have been established for decades, leaving existing homeowners without that freedom of choice. They are shoving regulations down our throats with no regard as to how it may affect us practically or financially. It seems unfair, and unethical if you ask me. Democracy at work I guess. Did anyone else get the memo???

HW

Double post.....

Massive double post. Go PHP!

HW

That sounds like a steaming pile of BS. If it's your property you should be able to store what you want on it as long as its not a danger to others. I know a bunch of people in T.O. that keep their boats in their driveways or somewhere near their house and no one has a problem.

scttsmpsn wrote:If it's my yard I should be able to do whatever I want with it!
Scott

Wouldn't that be a novel idea Actually doing with YOUR property what you want

Ya right Not in this dictatorship

An eyesore to one is not necessarily a eyesore to another.

Who sets the standard on what a eyesore is???

Jet ski's and seadoo's are a eyesore to me.