City places Lafayette Street parcel into conservation

LACONIA — City council unanimously approved a motion to designate a city-owned parcel on Lafayette Street as conservation land following the discovery of a vernal pool on the property by neighborhood residents at their meeting Monday night. 

Located at the Laconia Water Works site adjacent to 114 Lafayette St., councilors previously explored subdividing the 1.1-acre parcel — which was declared surplus in January 2023 — in order to construct single-family dwellings.

But neighbors and members of the Conservation Commission in recent meetings have implored councilors to designate the parcel as conservation land in order to protect the vernal pool, which amphibians and other animals use as a seasonal water and food source and breeding ground.

“The Conservation Commission is formed to protect the natural resources of the city, and this is a very sensitive area, it’s a sensitive portion of the environment, and it’s very isolated in area,” Conservation Commission Chair Dean Anson said. “It’s not like we have a lot of vernal pools, but this one, I think, would serve as a good educational area because it backs up on a school, and I think it would do well to be a conservation easement.”

The land is located near Woodland Heights Elementary School.

Neighbors have also testified to the council that they identified, and the state recorded, a spotted salamander at the site and noted vernal pools provide the conditions necessary for amphibians to lay eggs. While an April 17 investigation into the parcel performed by Powell Asset Mapping failed to identify wood frog or spotted salamander egg masses, a representative from that organization said those items could likely be found there in the coming weeks as temperatures increase. 

That survey did identify fairy shrimp, predaceous diving beetles, phantom midges and mosquito larvae. At its deepest point, the 11,968-square-foot vernal pool measures 22 inches. 

City zoning ordinances require at least a 100-foot wetland buffer outside a vernal pool, which would have been impacted if the lot were to be subdivided and developed. That would have also required a conditional-use permit through the Planning Board.

“When you look at it on paper, it’s nice and flat — nice rectangles and everything. That’s not how the ground is out there,” Brett Beliveau of Lafayette Street said. “I realize this is a Ward 5 issue, but really it’s a city issue because it’s money over environment and vice versa. The city has been using that lot for many, many years. Decades. When we moved there in 2007, the water tower was already gone.”

Ward 2 Councilor Robert Soucy said that, unlike Ward 6, this area of the city lacks open green space, and turning the Lafayette Street parcel into conservation land could benefit residents. Ward 6 Councilor Tony Felch said he supported the idea but thought there is room to compromise.

“I like the idea of the conservation land but I also think we could compromise and maybe do half-and-half instead of three lots like what was suggested,”  he said, adding the city could sell a portion of the parcel to get it onto the tax rolls. 

Ward 1 Councilor Bruce Cheney and Ward 3 Councilor Eric Hoffman both indicated strong support for conserving the land rather than subdividing and selling it. 

“I think preserving wetlands is vitally important, from an environmental perspective, and I think the number of residents that came out today to express their opinion that this property be turned into a park or accepted as conservation land I think speaks to the shortage of that kind of area in that neighborhood,” Hoffman said. “I think this is a great opportunity for us to do something for the people of Lafayette Street and that neighborhood and conserve this land and create something nice.”

Ward 5 Councilor Steven Bogert, who also represents Laconia as a Republican in the Statehouse, said even though the 100-foot barrier required by a city zoning ordinance is generous, both the aforementioned frogs and salamanders tend to roam much further than that and could benefit from a larger conservation area.

“It would help to continue to make that whole lot a conservation lot,” Bogert said. 

In other business, council:

• Declared May to be Mental Health Month 

• Authorized a transfer of $30,000 from the welfare reserve to the general fund 

• Approved a temporary traffic order relative to Canal Street block parties through the summer

• Authorized, with conditions, a temporary traffic order relative to the Rev, White & Brew Festival and Antique/Classic Car Show

• Approved a contract between the school district and the Educational Assistants of Laconia union

• Authorized the school district to withdraw $2.3 million from its reserve fund to renovate locker rooms and ventilation in the math wing at the high school

• Approved a request of non-capital reserve and capital reserve funds relative to public works projects 

• Approved a request made by Amanda Falwell to paint or install sculptures on surfaces downtown

• Referred a discussion regarding safety concerns pertaining to the Fair and Court streets intersection to the public works subcommittee

• Discussed the fire department’s EMS billing rates and proposed changes

• Authorized City Manager Kirk Beattie to collaborate with department heads relative to the development and implementation of an employee retention incentive program

• Passed a request by Laconia Kiwanis to waive parks and recreation fees relative to Bike ‘n Board Safety Day

• Discussed the city’s flag policy 

• Took a request to establish a transfer station fee for commercial bulk recycling off the table