Everett McLaughlin: City’s natural resources need protecting with development

To The Daily Sun,

Once again, Realtor Frank Roche has shared his concerns about the seemingly uncontrolled development in Laconia without the protection of Laconia's natural resources or addressing workforce housing. I have also noted several recent letters to The Sun expressing similar concerns. I addressed the same concerns in a paid-for letter in The Laconia Daily Sun on March 11, 2025. A copy of my letter and the recent article by Mr. Roche were sent to the mayor and city council who asked for input for the Master Plan.

Beyond those articles, I have noted an ad in The Sun by Camelot Homes for a 44'x14' one-bedroom, one-bath home for $59,995 and another 66'x14' two-bedroom, two-bath for $82,995. Certainly, a new development utilizing these extremely reasonable homes would help locals afford a home here while opening the door for young families to stay and elderly who'd like to downsize. Definitely not an intensive development like so many trailer parks, but rather homes with decent size lots.

Add to this out-of-the-box thinking that these homes would be sold at cost. The assessed and sale values of these homes would remain the same as the original cost, except annually adding the cost of inflation to the assessment and the allowed sale price. That way, no one is going to be buying these homes for profiteering. They'll remain for those people that can't afford the extravagant prices of new and existing homes, and their surreal real estate taxes as well. Yes, there are obstacles to the assessments and sales prices. That what comes with thinking outside the box.

Everett McLaughlin

Gilford