Freedom — March 18, 2004 — Pine Landing Beach Club Inc. has applied to the state to increase its boat moorings on the big lake from 39 to 45. A public hearing was held on the matter on March 16th by the New Hampshire Office of Energy & Planning and the Department of Safety, Division of Safety Services.

Randy Lyman, a club principal, said the additional moorings are needed so that elderly and disabled boaters can enjoy the lake. The club has 225 members. While none of those attending the hearing spoke for or against the application, two letters were submitted and read.

Ossipee Lake property owner Lauren Littlefield Stoddard wrote in opposition to the application saying the area in question is a shallow cove where “the density of boats moored is already too high.” Stoddard cited “many near misses of boating accidents” and said a Pine Landing employee told her that the club had problems with illegal moorings that they “cannot monitor.”

In another letter submitted for the record, Paul and Linda Wheeler made a brief statement saying “as residents of Freedom, we think it is a good idea for the public to have access to the lakes that we all own.”

Pine Landing Beach Club and the adjacent Pine Landing Condominium complex are on the eastern side of the main lake next to Totem Pole Park campground. Together, Pine Landing and Totem Pole Park have 67 boat moorings along the shoreline: 28 for the owners of Totem Pole Park’s 459 lots and 39 for Pine Landing Beach Club’s 225 members. Both facilities also have paved boat ramps that provide day access to the lake for an unknown number of boaters.

As part of the application and hearing process, written comments from the public will be accepted by mail through Friday, March 26th. Comments must be received by close of business on that date at the office Benjamin Frost; NH Office of Energy & Planning; Suite 3; 57 Regional Drive; Concord, NH 03301.