At a crowded and sometimes heated meeting last week, the applicant’s representatives answered questions about the environmental impact of the development with assurances that they will meet all state and local requirements. Tamworth has named one of its select board members to represent the town’s interests as an abutter. The hearing was continued to April 18 to address fire prevention suppression, lighting, traffic and other concerns.
Conway Daily Sun
Freedom Raising Money to Take Ossipee to Court Over Westward Shores Approval
In an interview with the Conway Daily Sun, Freedom Select Board Chair Les Babb said the development could pose a risk to the water quality of Ossipee Lake if there is a flood and a problem with the septic. That could depress property values and take away from enjoyment of the lake.
Ossipee Grants Conditional Approval of Westward Shores Expansion
On a 5-2 vote, Ossipee’s Planning Board says the campground can double in size if it meets state and federal regulations. To address flooding concerns, RVs will be raised on blocks and tied down. Freedom’s Planning Board, granted abutter status, asks for more more time to review the Jones & Beach technical report and is turned down.
Westward Shores Expansion Talks Continued to August
Planning Board wants time to absorb the outside engineering report, which contains 46 numbered points of concern, including the fact that the expansion is on the floodplain. Several lake residents express concerns about flooding and evacuation plans. Planning Board member Rick St. Jean accuses them and conservation groups of “fear-mongering.”
Campground Expansion Under Scrutiny
At a public meeting, Ossipee town officials and residents questioned the environmental impact of the proposed expansion of Westward Shores campground. The town has hired an outside engineering firm as “a second pair of professional eyes” to determine the plan’s compliance with local regulations. The campground’s owner calls concerns about the impact of flooding “way overblown” as residents ask if high water could overwhelm the septic system and prevent campers from safely vacating the property.