DeWitt (WSYR-TV) - More than a hundred people in DeWitt say they want to be exempt from a new law that forces them to move RV's or boats away from their homes. The law took effect on January first, and it says people can't park boats, trailers, campers and other big vehicles in front of their houses for more than 10 days a year.
After the law took effect, neighbors immediately started signing petitions, suggesting that they create a district that's exempt from the law. Thursday, the DeWitt planning board listened to their arguments.
DeWitt Planning Board Chairman Michael Lazar explained that the law was intended to beautify the neighborhoods and keep home values up. "Real Estate people told them: if you could get rid of that vehicle next door, I could do better selling your house. Because everybody I take there says they don't wan to live next to, essentially, a bus in the front yard," he said.
Some homeowners, like Dan Wilccak, disagree. "I have a snowmobile trailer, and it [the law] pertains only to recreational vehicles, snow mobiles, jet skis, boats, pop-up trailers. And like I said, we live in middle-class America, why can't we have this? We've had it forever," said Dan Wilccak.
Wilccak and others are fighting for a new overlay plan that would exempt their homes from the law.
"I hope that we get the overlay district. I work for a living, I'm a contractor, and I think that it's not very nice that we can't put our own equipment in our driveway," said resident Frank Santoro.
The next steps in this process will be for the Planning Board to make a recommendation to the Town Board. In turn, the Town Board will send out a survey to affected residents, giving them the chance to be included in the petition. If more than 51 percent agree, the Town Board will hold a public hearing before making a final decision.
