Alicia Emery: Worry about proposed development on White Oaks Road

To The Daily Sun,

A proposed development at 238 White Oaks Road highlights a growing concern about overdevelopment in Laconia, particularly along White Oaks Road.

The proposal calls for the construction of 12 clustered homes on a road that is zoned RR2. Under current zoning, single-family homes in this district require two acres per lot, a standard meant to maintain low density and open space. This zoning district was intended to preserve the rural, agricultural, and open space that make White Oaks Road unique. There are only three RR2 roads in Laconia, and White Oaks Road is one of them. Unfortunately, the road is increasingly being overdeveloped, and we are steadily losing the qualities that zoning ordinances were designed to protect.

Most residents understand that tourism and thoughtful development are important to our local economy. However, this is also our home. What many of us are seeing instead is a growing number of condominiums and second homes for out-of-state buyers. Nearly every available parcel of land is being developed, and in many cases these projects push beyond what the area was meant to support.

It is important that we maintain a balance between responsible development and preserving the character that makes our city special. The zoning regulations for White Oaks Road need to be upheld to retain what is left of the city’s green space and history. If they are not, it could set a precedent for what can be built in the future and permanently change the nature of the road and the city.

Decisions like this shape the future of our community and quickly change the character of White Oaks Road and our city. I would ask concerned residents to attend the meeting on Monday, March 16 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Alicia Emery

Laconia