Jackson County supervisors take back one-boat rule

PASCAGOULA -- The Jackson County Board of Supervisors voted Monday morning to take back the law they passed earlier this month that would allow only one boat per home outside the county's four cities.

They went back and rescinded all the Planning Commission's recommendations from Nov. 2, then approved all the zoning changes recommended, except for the one-boat-per-yard issue.

Supervisor John McKay, who wanted the Planning Commission to consider limiting the number of boats a family could have, said he still wants to see some kind of law limiting or restricting the number of boats in a yard.

The Planning Commission is only a recommending body. Their recommendations become law when the Board of Supervisors approves their recommendations.

On Nov. 2, the board approved the Planning Commission recommendation to limit boats to one per yard.

McKay said Monday he did not mean for the county to limit boats to one, "but I hate to see us totally do away with this because there's a need.

"You'll see it sooner or later in your districts," he told his fellow supervisors. "In the built-up neighborhoods of the county, we don't need people with eight to 10 boats in the yard. Some are running a business."

McKay said he wants the county to give the issue back to the Planning Commission to consider how many of what type and how many boats should be allowed. He suggested a motorized boat of 14 to 18 feet might be considered for regulation, but perhaps not kayaks or jet skis.

Board President Barry Cumbest said he didn't really want to regulate the number of boats people are allowed, but he also saw there might be a need for regulation.

But does there need to be a law?

"I guess it could help," Cumbest told the Sun Herald. He said the county does have problems getting people to abide by the county's zoning laws. He said the county writes letters and takes people to court and sometimes, efforts are ignored.

Irby Tillman spoke from the audience during public comment.

"It upsets me Mr. McKay that you want to limit the boats in people's yards. This is America. If you don't like to look at boats in peoples' yards, turn your head," said Tillman said.

This story was originally published November 16, 2015 at 5:26 PM with the headline "Jackson County supervisors take back one-boat rule ."