Cape Coral City Council deadlocked on Wednesday on how to move forward with allowing for permanent boat canopy structures.

The board decided to bring back its current regulations for a future discussion to address height requirements on metal supports and frames, as well as fabric canopies.

“It’s not broke, why fix it,” Mayor John Gunter said at the workshop meeting. “What we have is working.”

Councilmember Bill Steinke said he has received some comments from citizens regarding the actual height of their boat canopy during Hurricane Ian.

“Many boat owners put their boat in their lift, but because it could only lift so high, because of height restrictions of the canopy, the water lifted it off the bunks,” he said. “They tied it to the bunk, it went up and damaged the aluminum framing for their canopy.”

From a previous Council discussion many concerns were shared regarding allowing a more permanent structure with a roof. Concerns included life safety, structural integrity, uplift, projectile and debris, uniformity structures throughout the city and blocking of viewshed to waterways with a more permanent structure.

There were three possible directions provided — keep the existing regulations; modify regulations to allow for alternative structures with minimal standards; and modify regulations to allow for alternative structures that would be highly regulated. There were numerous regulations for a timber framed canopy system.

City staff said the third option would be the best direction as it would provide flexibility to property owners, but allows the city to maintain a level of uniformity of design and construction throughout the city.

There was also discussion regarding an increase in the maximum allowable boat canopy area based on waterfrontage of the property, as well as adding more than one boat canopy on a property, both of which the council wanted to discuss further.

Steinke said the only reason he brought the changes forward is to make the current system better and safer — a way to harden the structure. He said the thought that it only takes 30 minutes to pull a fabric canopy off the frame is assuming that the person is here to do so.

“They end up being a parachute grabbing the wind and twisting the metal frames. It’s for the great number of people who are not here to have security of boat and protected structure for their boat on a not to worry basis,” Steinke said. “If we have 90 mph winds, those canopies are supposed to come off. It’s more for them, than the residents here to pull the canopies off.”