Club seeking Byram's support to go after boats on lawns

Council refuses to rock the boat over winter eyesores-By Joseph Harkins BYRAM - The Lake Mohawk Country Club has asked the township to adopt legislation that prevents residents within the boundaries of the private community from storing boats in the front of their homes during the winter. Ernie Hofer, president of the Lake Mohawk CC board of trustees, asked the council to adopt an ordinance to prohibit the “eyesores” to the community from being stored in the front of the small residential lots. “We’re asking for something consistent with the wording of your master plan,” said Hofer, before the council this week. “This protects the quality of life that I want and you want for your lake community.” The council, which said any new measure might rock the boat and send ripples throughout a township noted for its many lakes, is willing to look into the concern. “We have other lakes,” said Mayor Eskil “Skip” Danielson. “If any ordinance is going to be applied, it should be applied town-wide. If we’re going to enforce an ordinance, we should enforce it town-wide.” Hofer said any property management ordinance could be consistent with the septic laws that were phased in throughout the township. He said zoning changes could be recommended to protect the scenic beauty, visual character and ambiance of each lake community. Councilman Earl Riley said prohibiting the storage of a boat on private property was a bit excessive. “Byram is a town of lakes and lakes have boats,” he said. “I do not support a boat ordinance in Byram because I don’t want to single out a specific community.” Lake Mohawk Country Club by-laws prohibit the storage of boats or trailers in front of residential dwellings during the winter. All boats and trailers are to be parked to the side or rear only. Joe Wehmeyer, a member of the Lake Mohawk board of trustees and a Byram resident, said the country club can suspend lake privileges for boat owners who do not comply. “There are a couple of eyesores that we have to deal with, but it’s not widespread,” he said. “If someone thumbs their nose at us and puts their boat on the lake, we don’t have the legal facility.” Wehmeyer said Sparta Township has adopted accommodating laws that enable the country club to enforce its property maintenance codes. He said sometimes it may just take a resident to install some “waffle web” with a fresh coat of paint. “If someone has a hardship, let’s talk about it,” he said. “We can work something out.”