BARNES LAKE PARK LOT RULES
The purpose of these rules is to establish clear parameters for all activities on Barnes Lake Park Lots to improve safety, preserve the environment and to ensure an efficient and safe use of available dock space for non-lakefront owners who wish to enjoy the extraordinary asset. The Barnes Lake Club Board of Directors is the authority to act and represent the individual lot owners and has the sole responsibility for the management and assignment of Park Lots and dock space privileges for non-lake front property owners in Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 4. Under no circumstances will anyone be permitted to take actions which may have the effect of circumventing the intent of these rules. Barnes Lake Club Board overall objective is to maximize the use of each Park Lot while preserving Barnes Lake shoreline and in recognizing Park Lot neighbors.
Park Lots as recorded in 1930 through deeds for Deerfield Park (24188), Deerfield Park # 1 (5501) and Deerfield Park #2 (48001) dedicate all Park Lots to the use of property owners. In creating the Deerfield Park Subdivision, the Barnes Lake Club was also developed to regulate, monitor and manage all dedicated Park Lots, as identified by assigned alphabet letters, as follows:
- Park Lots: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T and U.
BARNES LAKE PARK LOT RULES
DOCK SPACE ASSIGNMENT AND REGISTRATION:
By April 30, 2019, all watercrafts shall be registered and assigned an available dock space at a specific Park Lot and an existing dock location and/or when building a new dock. Proceeding years from April 30, 2019, all new property owners and/or watercraft owners shall have their watercrafts registered and assigned an available dock space within a Park Lot. If a dock space within a Park Lot is not available, they will be placed on a dock space waiting list. Persons who have built or are planning to build a dock within a Park Lot are guaranteed use of the dock that they constructed. Before building a new dock, you will need approval from the Barnes Lake Club Board for a Park Lot assignment, dock location on the assigned Park Lot, and dock shape and size. If a non-lakefront owner in a Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 4 area have had years of use at an existing dock, he or she has preferential assignment at said dock.
1. To be assigned and registered for a dock space within a Park Lot you shall be a non-lakefront property owner as a Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 4 property owner within Deerfield Park, Deerfield Park I, and Deerfield Park II.
2. Once registered to a Park Lot and dock space assignment, renewal registration will take place every three years.
3. Proceeding years from April 1, 2019, all new property owners and/or watercraft owners shall have their watercrafts registered and assigned an available dock space within a Park Lot. If a dock space within a Park Lot is not available, they will be placed on a dock space waiting list.
4. All new non-lakefront owner in a Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 4 shall register for a Park Lot and dock or be placed on a dock space waiting list.
5. Dock owners who built their dock or are going to build a dock will be assigned and registered at the Park Lot and dock space, in which your dock is located.
6. In the event an existing dock is no longer occupied by the original builder of said dock, a non-lakefront owner in Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 4 has preferential assignment of said dock, if they have maintained, repaired, and used said dock consistently in the past. Inspection will be completed by the Park Lot Committee prior to assignment and registration.
7. Prior to building a dock within a Park Lot, approval must be given by the Barnes Lake Club Board for the following items: Park location, dock location, size of dock and dock configuration.
8. The new dock shall be installed properly and not to obstruct any neighboring property.
9. Barnes Lake Club is not responsible for the cost of a new dock or damage to an existing dock.
10. A Barnes Lake permit will be issued during the registration process and must be affixed to the driver’s side of your watercraft, unless a different location is approved in writing from the Barnes Lake Club Board. This is needed for monitoring Park Lots and dock spaces in supporting the objective of the Barnes Lake Park Lot Rules.
11. If a single dock was built and used by multiple non-lakefront property owners, all watercrafts shall be registered.
12. All dock spaces are assigned or will be assigned (new docks) a dock identification number, as needed for inventory and assignment/registration.
13. Watercrafts/property owners assigned a dock space shall remain at assigned dock space.
14. Assigned and Registered dock space is not transferable.
15. Only one (1) watercraft per non-lakefront owner in a Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 4 shall be docked at a Park Lot. Small watercrafts such as, paddle boats, rowboat, canoe, kayak, Jet Ski and/or any other small watercrafts are considered one (1) watercraft. Therefore, it is not permitted to have a small watercraft at the Park Lot and a second watercraft at a dock or the combination of a small watercraft and a large watercraft owned by the same property owner at a dock. If a property owner has more than one (1) watercraft they would like to use and be placed at a Park Lot and/or dock then one (1) watercraft would have to come out of the water, so that another watercraft could be placed at the dock and/or a Park Lot. All watercrafts in a Park Lot and /or at a dock are required to be registered.
16. If a person is assigned a Park Lot and a dock space but would like to move, they shall contact the Barnes Lake Club Board in determining if a different Park Lot and dock space is available.
17. A dock space waiting list shall be created placing non-lakefront property owners in Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 4, in order from the date a dock space is requested through the Barnes Lake Club Board.
18. If a dock is built or is an existing dock that can hold more than one watercraft with no partnership between non-lakefront lot owners; the remaining space on the dock becomes available for a non-lakefront property owner in Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 4. The available space on a dock shall be assigned and registered by the Barnes Lake Club Board.
19. When a lot owner reaches the top of the Dock Space Waiting List, he/she will be notified by a Barnes Lake Club board member when a dock space becomes available.
20. If a new boat is purchased the new MC # and watercraft registration is required to be registered through the Barnes Lake Club Board.
21. The following items are required to register and be assigned a Park Lot and/or dock space:
- MC # for your boat
- Watercraft registration
DOCK SPACE ELIGIBILITY:
All watercrafts shall be registered and assigned an available dock space at a specific Park Lot and an existing dock location and/or when building a new dock. Proceeding years from April 30, 2019, all new property owners and/or watercraft owners shall have their watercrafts registered and assigned an available dock space within a Park Lot. If a dock space within a Park Lot is not available, they will be placed on a dock space waiting list. Persons who have built or are planning to build a dock within a Park Lot are guaranteed use of the dock that they constructed. Before building a new dock, you will need approval from the Barnes Lake Club Board for a Park Lot assignment, dock location on the assigned Park Lot, dock shape and size. If a non-lakefront owner in a Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 4, area have had years of use at an existing dock, he or she has preferential assignment at said dock.
To be assigned and registered for a dock space within a Park Lot you shall be a non-lakefront property owner as a Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 4 property owner within Deerfield Park, Deerfield Park I, and Deerfield Park II.
1. If Dock space is available. Park Lot and dock spaces will be assigned and registered to a non-lakefront property owner based on availability at each Park Lot. Therefore, as a non-lakefront property owner you are not guaranteed, a dock space and/or one near your lot/home. Unless you have built a dock and/or have approval by the Barnes Lake Board to build a dock, at which time you are guaranteed use of your dock within the park it was built in.
2. In the event an existing dock is no longer occupied by the original builder of said dock, a non-lakefront owner in Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 4 has preferential assignment of said dock, if they have maintained, repaired, or used said dock consistently in the past. Inspection will be completed by the Park Lot Committee prior to assignment and registration.
3. Only one (1) watercraft per non-lakefront owner in a Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 4, shall be docked at a Park Lot. Small watercrafts such as, paddle boats, rowboat, canoe, kayak, Jet Ski and/or any other small watercrafts are considered one (1) watercraft. Therefore, it is not permitted to have a small watercraft at the Park Lot and a second watercraft at a dock or the combination of a small watercraft and a large watercraft owned by the same property owner at a dock. If a property owner has more than one (1) watercraft they would like to use and be placed at a Park Lot and/or dock then one (1) watercraft would have to come out of the water, so that another watercraft could be placed at the dock and/or a Park Lot. All watercrafts in a Park Lot and /or at a dock are required to be registered.
4. Assigned and Registered dock space is not transferable.
5. Watercrafts/property owners assigned a dock space shall remain at assigned dock space.
6. If a dock is built or is an existing dock that can hold more than one watercraft with no partnership between non-lakefront property owners; the remaining space on the dock becomes available for a non-lakefront property owner in Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 4 property owner. The available space on a dock shall be assigned and registered by the Barns Lake Club Board.
FAILURE OF ASSIGNMENT AND REGISTRATION:
1. Upon failure to register and be assigned an eligible dock space a non-lakefront owner’s dock space privilege will be revoked. Consequently, if you are in a Park Lot, on a Park Lot and/or dock that was not assigned to you or you failed to register; your watercraft will be removed from the Park Lot/ dock space and placed near the boat launch for removal, at the owner’s expense.
2. If you build a dock without being assigned a dock space within a Park Lot, you forfeit your ability to register and be assigned a dock space with a Park Lot for one (1) year. The said dock space that you occupied will then be assigned to a property owner on the dock space waiting list.
3. If the newly constructed dock is registered, but the dock is not constructed at a location approved by the Barnes Lake Club Board and/or is inefficient in utilizing the Park Lot, the dock shall be removed and relocated by the dock owner at their expense.
SECURED WATERCRAFTS:
1. Watercraft shall be securely tied with suitable sized lines in such a manner that it doesn’t break free to damage a neighboring boat.
2. Unrigging a boat that is on an assigned dock within a Park Lot will result in loss of dock privileges and possible legal action to said person committing the act.
DOCK REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE:
1. Each dock owner or assigned dock user shall maintain and keep in good order:
a. Dock owners or users are prohibited from changing the way docks are configured without approval from the Barnes Lake Club Board. The dock owner user will be provided an approval or denial letter once a review of the request for dock change is completed.
b. Replace/ repair floatation devices
c. Re-affix/replace tie down hardware
d. Inspect/repair all support posts
e. Repair/ replace broken, rotted timbers or damaged decking.
f. Repair/replace popped up nails with screw.
g. Correct any and all trip hazards
h. Emergency repairs of any nature
2. Docks shall remain in good overall condition, be stable and secure, and structurally sound, so that the dock remains at the location assigned without shifting to the left or right interfering with other dock spacing.
DOCK AND PARK LOT INFORMATION AND CLEANLINESS:
1. Only one (1) watercraft per non-lakefront owner in a Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 4 shall be docked at a Park Lot. Small watercrafts such as, paddle boats, rowboat, canoe, kayak, Jet Ski and/or any other small watercrafts are considered one (1) watercraft. Therefore, it is not permitted to have a small watercraft at the Park Lot and a second watercraft at a dock or the combination of a small watercraft and a large watercraft owned by the same property owner at a dock. If a property owner has more than one (1) watercraft they would like to use and be placed at a Park Lot and/or dock then one (1) watercraft would have to come out of the water, so that another watercraft could be placed at the dock and/or a Park Lot. All watercrafts in a Park Lot and /or at a dock are required to be registered.
2. All watercrafts shall be removed from the Park Lots and Docks at the end of the season, no later than November 1st, of each year.
3. Watercraft hoists are not permitted at any of the Park Lots.
4. If a dock is left unused and falls into disrepair it will be removed and scraped without any notice.
5. Watercrafts shall not be launched from a Park Lot, unless it can be carried by hand and is owned and launched by a non-lakefront property owner in Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 4, within Deerfield Park, Deerfield Park I, and Deerfield Park II.
6. Common areas of Deerfield Park Subdivision include the roads, beach, boat docks, within Park Lots, beach parking lot and Barnes Lake. While common areas are used by all, watercrafts registered and assigned to docks and Park Lot are private, all must respect the rights of others private property and Barnes Lake Park Lot Rules.
7. Watercrafts are private; therefore, trespassing onto registered and Park Lot assigned watercraft is prohibited.
8. Property owners shall not store watercrafts, trailers, or any other personal items on Park Lots.
9. No bonfires or pits, no cooking pits, grills and/or other personal items are permitted on Park Lots.
10. No burning leaves, all other vegetation or placing a burn barrel in a Park Lot to burn debris.
11. No person shall alter a Park Lot in any way, unless they have written approval by the Barnes Lake Board.
12. Golf carts or ATV may be driven onto a Park Lot to access a watercraft. Vehicles such as cars, trucks, etc. shall not be driven on a Park Lot. Vehicles are allowed to park parallel to the road. Vehicles shall not obstruct neighboring properties or the traffic flow.
13. Remove trash, fishing line, cans, bottles, etc. from your watercraft after each use to prevent these items from ending up in Barnes Lake or a Park Lot.
14. No waste, cans, paper, debris or other refuse are to be left at the dock, Park Lot and/or thrown into the lake. Removal of trash from the premises is the responsibility of the watercraft owner and/or guest.
15. Maintenance of Park Lots is the responsibility of all persons using the Park Lot:
a. Cutting the grass
b. Keeping the shoreline clean
c. Removing weeds around docks, trees, signs, etc.
d. Removing trash and other debris within the water and Park Lot.
PROPERTY DAMAGED:
1. Anyone found destroying; defacing, disfiguring, injuring or damaging any properties of the Barnes Lake Club and/or Deerfield Park shall be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
DISTURBANCES:
1. Park users shall not create visual or noise nuisances.
ETIQUETTE:
1. All persons shall be mindful of other watercrafts and neighbors in using a dock and/or Park Lot.
WATERCRAFT DOCK SIZE AND TYPE PERMITED:
1. To be determined by the board in assigning and registering a property owner for a dock space.
VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES:
Violations of Barnes Lake Park Lot Rules will result in violation notice. A violation will result in the following action:
1. Repairs to docks and Safety Issues:
a. First Notice, a dock owner will be allowed two weeks to make the needed repairs.
b. Second Notice, If the repairs are not completed within this time frame a second notice will be sent providing the dock owner three additional days to make the needed repairs.
c. If the repair to the dock is a safety issue: A Third Notice will go to the dock owner informing them of a date in which the dock will be removed.
d. If it is not a safety issue: It will be logged as an unresolved rule violation. If a dock owner receives three (3) unresolved rule violations the dock owner will lose their privilege with the approved dock registration and assignment will be voided. This dock location will then be reassigned to a property owner on a waiting list maintained by the Barnes Lake Club.
2. All other violation of the Barnes Lake Park Rules will follow the presented procedure:
a. First notice: Identifies the violations and is noted as the first violation. Provide information on what action the Barnes Lake Club will take if three violations are given to the dock as registered to property owner.
b. Second notice: identifies the violations, identifies this is a second notice of violation, and provides information on what action the Barnes Lake Club Board will take if three violations is given to the dock owner as registered.
c. If a dock owner receives three (3) unresolved violations the dock owner will lose their Park Lot and dock privilege with the approved dock registration and assignment voided. This dock location will then be reassigned.
3. Criminal violation:
In the event property owner within Deerfield Park, Deerfield Park I, and Deerfield Park II is involved in an event at one of the Park Lots or any other property managed by the Barnes Lake Club Board; that results in criminal/illegal action such a ticket, court appearance and/or jail or is prosecuted through a Michigan’s Legal system will lose their dock registration and/or Park Lot privileges for a minimum of two years, unless a more stringent order is given through Michigan’s legal system which supersedes the minimum.
Failure by any lot/homeowner, lot owner’s family and/or guest to adhere to these rules and regulation or any other rules declared by the Barnes Lake Club may result in forfeiture a property owner’s boat dock and Park Lot privilege.
1. Tier Definitions: a row or level of a structure, typically one of a series of rows place on above the other and successively receding or diminishing in size.
Tier 1: Lakefront properties
Tier 2: Properties across the streets from Barnes Lake
Tier 3: The next Tier after Tier 2
Tier 4: Furthermost properties from Barnes Lake within the Deerfield Park Subdivision
- Barnes Lake Board Approved: 11-7-2018
- Re-created due to loss of electronic document, hard drive damage, retyped with grammar and punctuation changes: 1/24/2022
- Language correction and removed “Revised” from the title, as recommended by an attorney 1-8-2023
BARNES LAKE CLUB 