New rates for boat storage at Town Landings and shoreline access points go into effect

New rates for boat storage at Town Landings and other shoreline access points go into effect April 1, part of an effort by the Town Board to boost non-tax revenue streams.

The cost is rising for residents to keep boats where storage is permitted at Town Landings and certain other public shoreline access points. Permits are provided on a first-come, first-served basis. You can download the application from the Town website and then take it to Town Hall (hours are Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM) or send the form and a check payable to Shelter Island Town Clerk to PO Box 1549, Shelter Island NY 11964.

The new annual fees are as follows:

• $50 for a small boat, defined as a single hull intended for no more than two people such as a kayak, canoe, paddle board, dinghy under 9′, or skiff under 10′
• $75 for a medium boat, defined as any type of sail craft with a single hull and one mast such as Sunfish, Laser or Opti
• $100 for large boat, defined as any multi-hull vessel no longer than 18′ and no wider than 8′ such as a Hobie Cat 16 or 18

The Town will credit $7.50 to boat permit holders who purchased a two-year permit in 2020 when they apply for the new one-year permit, according to the application form.

A winter’s long debate

Boat storage fees were established in 2018 as a way to improve the Town’s capacity to track down boat owners whose vessels went missing or remained on public property after the Town’s December 1 deadline to remove them. The rate was $15 for a two-year permit with 190 spaces available.

In the fall, the Town Board heard from Bay Constable Peter Vielbig about the storage situation, including problems regularly encountered by Shelter Island Police Department personnel. Boats were being stored in a haphazard way at some locations with many encroaching on nearby dunes, sensitive wetlands and/or private property. On behalf of the Police Department, he proposed changes to storage areas to better organize them and increase available spaces, in part by adding racks for small boats at some locations.

SIPD officers handle numerous reports about missing boats, they process found boats for storage in the department’s impound lot, and the work with the Highway Department to collect and impound any boats that remain at the storage locations past the December 31 deadline. All of that adds to the costs for the Town. The SIPD proposed raising the fee to $50 for most boats and $100 for multi-hulls boats.

In December, the Town Board discussed the proposals in a work session that began with Supervisor Gerry Siller further raising the proposed fees to $50 for a small boat, $150 for a medium boat, and $150 for large boats.

“Having just gone through the budget process, we’re pretty bare bones on Shelter Island,” Siller said. “One of the areas that we’ve been lax in is our fees, which need to be adjusted. I don’t believe $15 for two years is a legitimate price to pay.”

“I agree with you that the fee was too low,” said SIPD Chief James J. Read, noting that the purpose of issuing permits in the first place was to have the Town exert some management over a storage situation that had become problematic. But, he said he worried about ” jumping the fees too fast.” Councilman Albert Dickson agreed. Siller held his ground, asking, “where else can you keep a boat [for a year] for $7?”

Councilman Jim Colligan suggested the $50/$75/$100 rate structure that — after repeatedly revisiting the matter in work sessions over the winter — the Board eventually settled on. The number of spaces, with new racks in place, was increased to 221.

Boat storage locations

The Town restricts permits to two boats per location per applicant (multiple people from the same household may apply separately). It also limits the number of boats of each size that can be stored at regulated locations. Boats stored on these public properties must display a valid Town Board storage permit, the owner’s name and phone number, and must be removed by December 1.

The Town is also offering boat racks for storage of small boats. If you have a permit for rack storage, the boat must be stored on the rack. All boat owners are responsible for safely securing their vessels (tie to the rack, or anchor by a stake or heavy block).

Location	Rack Storage	Small	Medium	Large	Notes
Wades Beach Parking Lot	Yes	35	0	0	1
Wades Beach East	No	0	10	0	2
Wades Beach West	No	0	9	6	3
Lesser Street	No	6	0	0	–
Simpson Road West	Yes	6	0	0	1 & 5
Montclair Avenue West	No	2	0	0	–
Montclair Avenue East	No	3	0	0	–
Daniel Lord Area	Yes	6	0	0	5
West Neck Road Landing	No	6	0	0	5
North Silver Beach Road Landing	No	8	20	1	–
South Silver Beach Road Landing	No	10	8	1	–
Peconic Avenue at Crab Creek	Yes	12	0	0	1
Menhaden Lane	Yes	6	2	0	1
Harbor Head Road West (Cap’n Bobs)	Yes	10	4	4	4
Harbor Head Road East (Stonewalls)	Yes	6	2	0	1
Burns Road	Yes	8	2	0	1 & 5
Congdon Road	Yes	18	0	0	1 & 6
Thompson Road South Ferry Hills	Yes	8	2	0	1 & 7
Totals	–	150	59	12

Notes:

1. Where racks are provided, kayaks, canoes, paddle boards,etc. should be stored on the rack. in a size-appropriate space, (we prefer to have smaller and lighter boats and boards on the top slots) and secured by a rope/painter or cable.
2. On Wades Beach East, medium sized boats only. The designated area there is clearly marked. Boats encroaching on private property or in the dune areas are subject to impound.
3. Wades Beach West storage area is clearly marked. For medium and large boat storage only. No encroaching on dunes or in the beach grass. Boats must well secured to a ground post or heavy block.
4. Boats must be stored along the road side, not on the beach grass.
5. Boats used for mooring access (a dinghy or yacht tender) get a seasonal discounted rate of $25. You must have a mooring, permitted in your name, in proximity to the requested boat storage area.
6. To access Congdon Creek from the preserve, use the boat ramp, do not traverse the spartina on the shoreline.
7. The boat storage rack at the far western end the South Ferry Hills landing is privately owned. Your vessel should be stored on the rack nearest the eastern end of the landing.