Richard Homsi: It’s now time to stop overdeveloping the City of Laconia

To The Daily Sun, 

Currently, there are approximately 800 living units approved and being built in Laconia. There will be 2,100 more soon. They range from eight-unit to 292-unit developments. What I don't see from the listings is low-income units to help our residents, which are so greatly needed in our city.

What I do see, is the city allowing developers to build way too many units per acre and this is going to do nothing but overload our municipal systems such as water, sewer, roadways, trash services and so much more. Many of these developments are not selling because of the price, causing them to slow down the development process to completion. A major unit on Endicott has been provided 15-plus years of extensions as developers claim there is no money to finish as they are not selling as quickly as he thought. This owner has built other developemnents in Gilford and Meredith bringing him immediate income, but the units in Laconia are not done. There are units being built on Endicott St. N., not selling well, unfinished, now that developer is asking to be allowed to develop 40 more on Doe Ave. on 2.9 acres.

Does anyone really feel the city should allow this developer to jam 40 more units in, when the 60 he started are not sold or even finished to present the city with some needed curb appeal? Many of these sites have nothing but piles of materials growing weeds, trees and limbs laying down in piles, dirt and debris running into our stormwater management system, causing them to become overfilled and stop draining, which will ultimately flood our streets. Building, rebuilding or preserving is fine.

Please stop this over developing in the City of Laconia. Call City Planning Department to speak out.

Richard Homsi

Laconia