By: Harry DeNegre, President Lake Martin HOBO's. Photo Credit Kenneth Boone
Things
are always changing at Lake Martin. The Alabama Legislature has passed a couple
of new laws that will take effect in October. There has been a lot of
discussion on social media concerning these laws. Some of it has been correct,
and some of it has been inaccurate. I thought I would take a stab at it. I am
hoping I will be accurate and correct
The Lake Martin
HOBOs are concerned with some proposed developments in the Sandy Creek area (Sandy
Creek, Point Cloxson and Smith Mountain inclusive). Although no county building
permits have been issued as of this writing, clear evidence of planning and
pre-sale offering of condominiums has surfaced. This proposed development of
multi-family housing, in a single-family area, has led to concerns by the
residents of Sandy Creek and others on Lake Martin.
The Lake Martin Home Owners and Boat Owners (Lake Martin HOBOs) want to inform our citizens in Tallapoosa County and all-around Lake Martin of the information we have discovered concerning managing the explosive growth in Tallapoosa County. We are not experts in this area. We are concerned property owners and citizens.
HB209 is a proximity law that passed legislation and takes effect this October 1st, 2024. It applies to every motorized vessel.
The new law prohibits ANY motorboat from operating above idle speed within 100 feet of any shoreline, dock, pier, boathouse or other structure. It also prohibits wakeboarding and wakesurfing within 200 feet of any any shoreline, dock, pier, boathouse or other structure and in areas less than 400′ wide.
Lake Martin Boaters website published an excellent article that explains this new legislation and how it impacts boaters.
