Dave Nix

To the editor,

A recent decision by the Gilford Planning Board to okay an “As Built” site plan for Ames Farm Inn and what the N.H. Department of Environmental Services decides in a related case against Ames will now set the precedence for businesses and some individuals who own and operate on lakefront property to circumvent proper procedures in expansion and building on the property. Though there is plenty of evidence of Ames's illegal expansion of services documented right in town hall itself, the board opted to believe half and non-truths from lawyers, engineers and other testimonials with a unanimous vote to approve the plan.

In essence, this decision states that it is not only okay for a business to expand services, docks, septic systems and wetland fill without proper permitting, but that it is a much easier route to take than the proper procedures. All one has to do is hire a lawyer and get enough people to come in a say that this is always the way it’s been. Just because there is enough documentation and facts existing showing otherwise doesn’t matter. Now, other businesses and property owners that have tried in vain to expand take notice… you too, can get what you want by just doing it and explain later that it is grandfathered in. I’m sure that you can come up with enough testimonials and made up facts to get your “After-the-fact” plan passed just as Ames has. And don’t forget to put enough “overbuild” into your non-permitted changes, so that you can impress the DES by how you are so willing to undue enough to please them but keep what you really wanted.

One of the Planning Boards arguments in favor of the Ames' decision is that the lake is in desperate need of more public access ramps for more people to file onto the lake. They have stated that locations such as Ames Farm that have the potential for ample parking and multiple ramps are rare on the lake. There is little concern for the effect on the quality of the water, invasive plants, increased congestion, noise, erosion and other effects that a “marina like” access point has on the lake and surrounding area. No one on the board has asked for a study into other heavy access points to consider if this is a good idea or not.

And now a note of warning to the citizens of Gilford… as the Planning Board is looking for more public access points to the lake, I know a great one that is already set up with three ramps, access docks, public bath rooms and ample parking. Although this ramp is currently a private ramp, the Planning Board is in a position where they can easily change it to a public ramp. This ramp is the Gilford town docks in Glendale.

Dave Nix

Dave Nix

Gilford