The Laconia Zoning Board of Adjustment rejected an application for a special exception to construct a large-scale recreational vehicle campground at 238 White Oaks Road.
The decision halts plans by developer Peter Grenier and Sky View Acres to transform a roughly 10-acre parcel into a seasonal vacation destination.
The developers had proposed the campground as an alternative to a previous plan for 22 townhouse-style units on the same site.
John Cronin, an attorney with Cronin Bisson & Zalinsky representing the developers, argued that the owners have a right to put the land to productive use and that the project would adhere to all best management practices and city ordinance provisions.
“I know that will be a matter of discussion this evening. I understand that if I lived on White Oaks Road for a while, I probably would not want anything to change, that’s human nature. But, people that own property have a right to develop it, and put it to productive use,” Cronin said, as reported by The Laconia Daily Sun on January 21.
The proposed site was designed as a self-contained community intended to serve tourists visiting nearby Weirs Beach.
Plans included a pool, dog park, athletic courts, a general store and on-site laundry facilities. Developers argued the amenities would limit traffic by keeping campers on-site while providing a boost to local businesses in Paugus Bay.
Despite the developer’s claims that the project would be compatible with the area, the proposal faced significant opposition from local residents. Neighbors cited concerns regarding increased traffic.
Eric Hoffman, a Ward 3 councilor and zoning board member, said the development could impact local property values and permanently alter the neighborhood’s character.
The application stated the seasonal nature of the campground would prevent an influx of students into the public school system and was not expected to increase police or fire department service calls.
However, a concern was expressed about the loss of potential housing stock.
Ward 6 Councilor Mike Conant spoke against the precedent of outside business interests displacing residents. “I actually met with a couple of the neighbors, one of them, it was a lengthy meeting, where we researched the entire situation. And we tried to look at it from the new owner’s perspective to what they may have wanted to do, but we also looked at what Laconia has done for an ordinance to protect neighborhoods,” Conant added.
Following the board’s vote to deny the special exception.
A resident, Jack Bourbeau, also spoke in favor of the project during public comment. Bourbeau said the long-term management of the site would benefit the city and its taxpayers more than a “build and sell” residential project.