Agenda - Planning Commission - 09/05/1995

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THE ZONING REPORT Page Four but the two seaward Iegs are of equal length; (3), a triangle with equal angles of the legs with the base and the legs have unequal length; and (4), a regulatory tri- angle with unequal angles of its legs to the base and an unequal length of its legs,. but the vertex is fixed at the midpoint of the line extended equally between the two side lot lines a specified maximum distance from the shoreline. (iii). Pier lengths. Unless established by regulatory triangles, pierhead lines and nav- igational channel lines, pier lengths range from 5 to 800 or more feet. Pier length for single family residential piers and piers intended for one or few personal pleas- ure boats in inland lakes may range from 10-100 ft with 25 ft typical, with some codes reducing any longer allowed pier length to a depth of water of 10 ft at Iow seasonal water mark or elevation. Multi-access pi.ers, may range in length from 10-100 ft, typically about 25 ft, but perhaps the same maximum length allowed sin- gle family piers. Pier length may relate to a particular class or type of waterbody and not to the the adjoining land use. Municipal public piers and wharves may range in length up to 800-100'0 ft, built' on public land as part of a public park, perhaps also with commercial concessions, such as food stands and bait and tackle shops. (c). Structural zoning development standards. Piers, wharves and quays shall not be a haz- ard to navigation nor interfere with boat traffic or with public use and enjoyment of the waters. New piers applied for and existing piers may be required to be retrofitted to pro- vide amber navigational reflectors or lights, according to the electrical code and state marine standards. Codes might impose a maximum height of all parts of a pier, roofed or unroofed, of 10-20 ft, requiring the floor of the pier to be above the ordinary high water mark or, for reservoirs, an elevation above the high waterpool elevation as regulated by the reservoir operating authority. A maximum width of ~)ier. may be imposed, ranging from 4 to 5 ft to up to 20% of the width of the lot. Tie-up to the pier may be limited to pleas- ure boats and watercraft, subject to special exceptions for licensed commercial personal fishing vessels. C. Regulation of keyhole and funnel development. (a). What it is.' Most developed properties and lots adjoining shorelines on inland lakes and river reaches are occupied by single-family dwellings. Based on a conventional width of the lots upon which they are sited, dwellings normally have one pier each for personal pleasure use~ with one or two personal pleasure boats docked at the pier. If a small seg- ment of the circumference of a lake or river reach is unplatted and undeveloped, and this segment and the acreage behind it is rezoned and developed at multi-family densities or as a single-family subdi~(ision, the lake and river reach frontage is available to all units and lots for their use and enjoyment. The number of dwelling units that could have access to the Iake from this project or subdivision increases far out of proportion to its share of lake frontage. This type of access fully and freely available to occupants of units off the lake is called keyhole or funnel access or development. ]~iers providing such access are termed by many zoning codes as 'community piers'. (b). Regulation of keyhole or funnel development by zoning codes. (i). By fixed regulations for alt users and f~ontages. Most codes simply impose a fix- ed number of piers or boats or both per lineal unit of lake frontage or per dwelling/ living unit on lots fronting on the water. The expectation is that most take frontage is single-family lots and one pier and one occupant boat per pie~ is a normal e×pec- August 4, 1995 issue