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The new law would regulate where non-resident boaters and commercial operators can moor their vessels after receiving a required mooring permit from the Town of Huntington. Importantly, the proposed local law will not create the requirement for a second permit from the Village. The law will not affect swim floats, jet skis, kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, or visiting friends in any way. It does not apply to an entity engaged in boating or sailing training or safety courses.
What does the Law say in a nutshell?
The new Local Law would establish a Vessel Regulation Zone, as authorized by the New York State Navigation Law, to restrict both who can moor in the waters adjacent to the Village and the type of vessel that can be moored. Specifically, mooring in the waters of Huntington Bay bordering the portion of the Village located between Wincoma Point and the Village’s eastern boundary, and extending 1,500 feet from the shoreline, would be limited to recreational vessels owned by Village residents and by members of private clubs or Village associations that own waterfront property regardless of residency. Mooring in the waters of Huntington Harbor bordering the portion of the Village located between Wincoma Point and the northern boundary of the Huntington Yacht Club property, and extending 250 feet from the shoreline, would be restricted to recreational vessels only. The law would also prohibit the mooring of vessels to waterfront structures that do not extend from property located in the Village in order to discourage the Town of Huntington from issuing dock permits to persons who are not Village residents.
Why is this Local Law necessary?
The Town of Huntington owns all of the underwater lands surrounding our Village and, therefore, has the right to issue mooring permits to anyone who wishes to place a mooring for their boat on the underwater lands of the Town – which includes underwater lands in Huntington Bay and Huntington Harbor. Since a Town mooring permit does not specify a mooring location, boat owners who obtain a Town permit can drop a mooring anywhere in Town waters, including the waters adjacent to our Village. During the COVID pandemic, there has been a huge increase in boating and waterway traffic. By adopting the proposed Local Law, the Village seeks to avoid visual blight in the waters adjacent to the Village by preventing moorings for commercial barges, vessels, and party boats, and by preventing a proliferation of moorings by non-residents in the waters adjacent to private residences, beach associations, and our beaches.
I have a boat; how will this law affect me?
If you are the owner of a recreational boat, this local law will not affect you at all. You would go about getting a mooring permit as required by the Town of Huntington from the Town of Huntington. The local law does not impose any additional permit obligations or fees. It simply restricts where certain non-resident boaters and commercial vessel operators can moor their vessels after receiving a mooring permit from the Town. If adopted, the Town of Huntington will provide all applicants for a Town mooring permit with a map showing the Village’s Vessel Regulation Zone so that non-resident boaters (except non-resident members of the Village Beach Associations and the Bay Club) and commercial operators will be on notice of the restricted mooring areas in the waterways surrounding the Village.
Again, this law will not affect your swim floats, jet skis, kayaking, paddle boarding or swimming, and boating guests in any way. And it will not impact where you place your mooring.
Do I need to a separate mooring permit from the Village and are fees involved?
No. You will not have to apply to the Village for a mooring permit or pay any fees to the Village. The only mooring permit needed will be the one required by and issued by the Town of Huntington after payment to the Town of a fee established by the Town. The Village has no control over the Town of Huntington mooring permit process or fees.
How will this be enforced?
On occasion, with the help from another municipality, our Police will check vessel registration numbers to make sure that boats located within the regulated waters surrounding our Village are allowed to be moored there. We will also respond to complaints. The owners of boats that are moored in violation of the law can be issued summonses and can be subject to fines.
The Board believes that this addition to our code will have no negative impact on our Village boating community but will give us the protection that we might need in the future. If you have any questions, please contact us at Village Hall and direct your email comments or questions to Danielle at dcat@huntingtonbay.org.
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