The Waterville Valley Planning Board held a public hearing on September 3, 2026, to gather community input on proposed landscaping site plan regulations. The hearing was chaired by the Vice Chair of the Planning Board, who clarified that the purpose of the session was for the Board to listen to public comment — not to discuss or debate the draft regulations among themselves. (link)
The Vice Chair, along with a fellow Board member who co-led the working group that developed the draft, acknowledged the substantial effort behind the regulations. The Board expressed appreciation to the Town Planner for her research, guidance, careful drafting, and patience in answering the working group’s questions. Members of the public who had participated in earlier meetings were also thanked for their input. The draft regulations are designed to establish clear, measurable standards while preserving flexibility for site-specific conditions. (link)
Public attendance at the hearing was sparse. The Chair of the Conservation Commission spoke in support of the initiative, commending the landscaping working group for its efforts and noting that the Conservation Commission looks forward to staying informed as the regulations evolve. The Commission offered its advisory assistance should the Planning Board find it useful. (link)
A Board member shared that the draft had been reviewed by an experienced landscape engineer, who found it well done, crediting much of the quality to the Town Planner’s thoroughness.
A separate comment relayed by a Board member raised concerns about the regulations’ potential impact on development. A local developer had expressed the view that the proposed requirements were so restrictive they would deter developers from bringing projects forward in Waterville Valley, and that some might choose to invest in other towns instead. (link) The Board member noted this perspective stood in contrast to feedback previously received from residents and ratepayers, who had indicated they felt the town and the Planning Board had not been sufficiently rigorous in enforcing landscaping standards.
With no additional public comment forthcoming and only one member of the public in attendance beyond Board members, the hearing was concluded. The Planning Board will discuss and deliberate on the input received at its next scheduled meeting on September 10th. (link)