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 Wetlands 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. We are currently working to respond to this application.

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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 DES Request for More Information.

MerNIA remains very concerned about expansion efforts by Goodhue that will not only have detrimental effects to the physical environment of our residential neighborhood but will also result in further encroachment on the public land and water access for resident taxpayers and their guests.

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On November 6, 2024. Goodhue filed its response to NHDES’s request for more information, with revised 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.

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.