Planning Board Discusses Zoning Amendments, Dredging Costs, and Upcoming Projects
Planning Board Discusses Zoning Amendments, Dredging Costs, and Upcoming Projects
The Waterville Valley Planning Board meeting on February 21, 2025, covered several critical topics affecting the town’s future, including preparations for the March 11 town election, the escalating costs of dredging Corcoran Pond, and updates on site plan regulations and development projects. The discussion highlighted financial constraints and logistical challenges facing the town.
Zoning Amendments and Town Election Preparations
A significant portion of the meeting focused on zoning amendments set to appear on the March 11 town election ballot as Articles 2 through 5. The board emphasized the importance of clear communication with voters, discussing the creation of a handout to explain the amendments in detail. The handout, to be derived from existing website content, will be available at the election to assist voters in understanding the proposals (link). The board also confirmed plans to have members present at a table during the election from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions, though they noted they must remain neutral and cannot advocate for specific votes (link).
Additionally, the board addressed the need to renotice a public hearing for site plan regulations, originally canceled, which will now occur on March 13 at 8 a.m. (link). This step ensures compliance with public notice requirements.
Corcoran Pond Dredging Costs Removed from Capital Plan
Financial concerns dominated the discussion about dredging Corcoran Pond, a project initially budgeted at $2 million but revised to $4 million with the inclusion of detention basins to manage sedimentation long-term. Due to state debt limit constraints, the Select Board removed the project from the 2025 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), reducing its allocation to a symbolic $1 to keep it on record (link). The pond, currently between six and nine feet deep compared to its target depth of 20 feet, faces ongoing siltation issues exacerbated by Snow’s Brook. A remediation project on Snow’s Brook is scheduled for this summer to slow sedimentation, though it won’t fully resolve the problem (link).
The board acknowledged the urgency of addressing the pond’s condition, citing potential impacts on recreational areas like the beach and boating, as well as water quality concerns tied to bacterial growth. Discussions with the resort are underway to explore alternative funding solutions, as the $4 million price tag is deemed unfeasible for the town’s bonding capacity (link).
Development Projects and Consulting Challenges
The board reviewed a proposal from SE Group for a zoning and policy audit, estimated at $25,000, to be presented in detail at the March meeting (link). However, concerns arose about SE Group’s potential conflict of interest due to their work with the resort, particularly on the gondola project. This limits their ability to assist with site plan reviews involving the resort, leaving the town reliant on North Country Council for smaller tasks. With North Country Council facing staffing shortages, the board recognized the need to proactively seek additional consulting support for large-scale projects expected within the next one to three years (link).
Other Updates
The Conservation Commission reported on efforts to reduce road salt runoff into the Mad River and West Branch, noting no significant impact based on water samples, though some evergreen trees show signs of salt damage (link). The commission also finalized a land transfer of 13 acres, awaiting one final signature (link). Lastly, the Tripoli Road project was removed from the CIP due to funding restrictions tied to Forest Service ownership (link).
The meeting underscored the town’s balancing act between infrastructure needs and financial limitations, with several issues deferred to future discussions or collaborative efforts.