Boat storage issues resurface in the Township of Lakes

BYRAM - Lake Mohawk is requesting the township adopt an ordinance like the one in Sparta regulating the storage of boats and other recreational vehicles on private property. The is not the first time the council has debated the issue of adopting regulations supporting the club’s bylaws. “This is not just for boats,” said Deputy Mayor Donna Griff, who is chairing a committee examining the issue. “It regulates trailers and RVs. The language of our current ordinance is vague. We would have to appeal to the planning board to determine if the police could enforce it.” Lake Mohawk has numerous 60 by 120-foot lots. Supporters of this measure believe that parking boats in front of homes clutters the neighborhood. There are 2,600 lakeside homes in Sparta versus the 450 in Byram. “I won’t support creating public laws to direct enforcement of bylaws of private organizations,” Councilman Earl Riley said. “We are a community of lakes. People are going to park boats.” John Weymaier of the Lake Mohawk Board of Trustees said the club can revoke lake privileges from residents who park their boats in violation of the association’s bylaws. However, it is looking to Sparta and Byram to enforce the restrictions regarding the parking of boats or trailers in front of homes. “It’s always been a rule you can’t park a boat or trailer in front and it must be screened if it’s in the side yard,” said Weymaier. “We are concerned if one person gets away with it in Byram, everyone else will park the boats illegally.” Mayor Eskil Danielson said Cranberry Lake and Lake Lackawanna also have limited lot sizes with boats parked on front lawns and the township receives no complaints from those communities. However, Dee Rienhours, who lives on the Sparta side of Lake Mohawk, said the issue was one of safety. “Most of the roads aren’t designed for today’s traffic. Boats in front of houses block the view,” she said. Weymaier and Rienhours found support from the deputy mayor. “I do believe in preserving property values,” said Griff. “Property values are higher in lake areas and parking boats on the streets makes the roads too narrow. Griff said the subcommittee would take the comments under advisement and bring another draft of the ordinance back to the council for consideration.