What Is Going On?

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On March 21, 2024,  Goodhue Meredith submitted two applications with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) seeking a Major Impact Wetlands permit and a Shoreland permit to:

1. Construct a new 30’ wide boat launch area along the north/east shoreline of the boatyard property adjacent to Loon Island and the Kelley Cove/Powers Road residential neighborhood.
2. Construct a new 35’ wide negative lift well located alongside the aforementioned launch area to move boats in/out of the water using heavy lifting equipment.
3. Construct three (3) new commercial docks measuring 12’ x 40’, 4’ x158’, and 4’ x 145’ to handle increased and expanded commercial activity.
4. Demolish all existing docks at the boatyard, reconfigure the entire docking system, and build all new docks. At the Select Board meeting, the Meredith Town Manager read his response to the attorney letter MerNIA sent to the Select Board on October 16th, and the Select Board responded.  

The plans (click here to open 2024-03-21 Wetlands Major Impact Permit Application)  represent an expansion into an entirely new commercial area of the shoreline property with long commercial docks extending out into the lake.  Pay particular attention to the following pages:

• Page 4 presenting the existing conditions plan,
• Page 6 presenting details of the commercial launch and docking site plan,
• Page 7 presenting the entire site docking reconfiguration plan.

This proposed commercial expansion will increase boating and parking congestion, interfere with Meredith taxpayers’ lake access, and negatively impact abutting property owners.

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On May 10, 2024, Goodhue Meredith received a letter from DES requesting additional information supporting their application. Click here for the 2024-05-10 DES Request for More Information.

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On November 6, 2024, Goodhue filed its response to NHDES’s request for more information, with revised plans (2024-11-06 Goodhue Revised Dock Plans) as summarized below:

1. Goodhue was seeking two Waiver requests from NHDES for (1) a “Conditional Approval” pending approvals from the Town of Meredith’s Planning, Zoning and Select Boards of site plans not yet submitted and (2) a Waiver to a 50-foot setback requirement from abutting property owners.
2. In response to our analysis, Goodhue attempted to demonstrate a reduction in slip counts but did not include several docks and slips. This will likely result in overcrowded conditions with additional navigation hazards. Further, Goodhue proposes what we view as an inadequate stormwater trench, as it only addressed a one-inch rainfall event.
3. Goodhue proposed a tall, 35’ wide cantilevered fork-lift boat launch built over the lake on concrete pilings as an alternate launch design for one launch. In our opinion, this will create a blight to the neighborhood and a disruption to the shoreline.

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On November 27, 2024, The NH Department of Environmental Services (DES) denied Goodhue Meredith’s application to reconfigure and build new docks and develop a new boat launch site. The DES chose not to hold a public hearing. A copy of the DES decision can be found here (2024-11-27 DES Decision).

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On December 18, 2024, Goodhue filed a Preliminary Notice of Appeal (PNA) (2024-12-18 Notice of Preliminary Appeal) and Offer to Enter Into Settlement Discussions with the NHDES in response to the November 27th denial to their application. The PNA form is a shortened version of a regular notice of appeal, but one still must list every reason for believing the NHDES permitting decision is unlawful or unreasonable. The DES denied this appeal.

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On January 22, 2025, Goodhue filed a Notice of Appeal (2025-01-22 Goodhue To Wetlands Council Appeal) to the NH Wetlands Council. The Wetlands Council is a group composed of five state agency representatives, and eight members of the public appointed by Governor and Council. The Wetlands Council is responsible for advising the Commissioner of the NHDES with respect to department policies and administrative rules as they relate to New Hampshire wetlands and protected shorelands, and hear all administrative appeals of department decisions relating to same. MerNIA is currently weighing its options in response. 

We believe that MerNIA’s successful challenge to this application to date is a great example of how impactful our collective action can be. Your continued support is critical toward shaping our shared vision of the future of our cherished neighborhood.

Our work is not finished. The applicant may continue to pursue this project, and we must be prepared. If you have not yet made a donation during our recent fundraising effort, please do so now.