By PAULA TRACY
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff
 

CONCORD - Shorefront property owners, riled over new state permit requirements for camp improvements, have formed an association and hired a lobbyist to represent them.

Two hundred property owners already have joined the non-profit New Hampshire Shorefront Association to protect their property rights, said John Robinson of Gilford, a shorefront property owner, builder and a leader in the group.

Robinson said the group hired David G. Collins of the Rath, Young and Pignatelli lobbying firm.

Robinson said the impetus for the formation of the group was revisions to the state Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act, which will require a state permit for changes to property within 250 feet of the shoreline.

 • For more information on the state revisions, click here.
 • For more information on the association, click here.

Despite public forums held by the state, most property owners didn't know about the revisions, Robinson said.

"People who were lucky enough and inherited these waterfront properties, who may have plans to remodel this summer, those plans are going to be impacted by this," Collins said.

"It's not saying they can't build, but what they can build will be impacted," Collins said.

Legislators, concerned the new rules may be unclear, are considering delaying implementation from April 1 to July 1.

Collins said the association hopes to provide "a voice for those (property owners) because they are the ones who are most affected by this," and future legislation.

The association's leadership includes Paul Goodwin, head of Watermark Marine Construction in Gilford and Sunapee; Greg Grigsby, a landscape architect with Pelletterri Associates of Warner; Joseph Skiffington, a waterfront property owner and a builder in Center Harbor; and Brian Fortier, of West Alton Marina, also a shorefront owner.

In January, more than 50 waterfront property owners, contractors, town officials and tree company officials attended a state Department of Environmental Services hearing on the new rules.

Collis Adams, DES wetlands administrator, said the 1994 shoreland protection law had language that was fairly vague.

The Legislature wanted the department to spell out what constitutes an adequate buffer, which led to revisions.

Robinson said it is unknown how many shoreland property owners there are but many don't live and vote in New Hampshire and don't even know about the changes.

Those attending the January hearing said the changes will make it more difficult for the typical person to figure out, requiring them to hire professionals to do more work.

"I would say 90 to 95 percent of the property owners don't have a clue this exists," said Fenton Varney of Melvin Village, a general contractor who said he believes the greatest impact will be on longtime lakefront owners who plan to make improvements.

"Say grandma wants a new porch on the family camp. She will now need to get a permit and figure out what percentage of the property is being disturbed," he said.

Varney estimated it will cost about $3,300 for a land surveyor to survey a half-acre property to ensure that the area in question does not exceed limits.

Reproduced by the Goffstown Residents Association.