Red Oak Ridge Development

[BEAR]

January 9, 2008
To Whom It May Concern:

As Merrymeeting Lake property owners for over 50 years we find the recent discussion of a 220 unit complex overlooking the lake to be appalling. Our property on Merrymeeting Lake has always been a source of solace to us in this often crazy world. Due to a steady increase in taxes on both our waterfront property as well as our two back buildable lots, we have at times financially struggled to keep our piece of heaven. With two kids in college we questioned our ability to maintain our little seasonal cottage, however we always came to the same conclusion that we simply could not sell. We could not sell due to the fact that there was not another lake in all of New Hampshire or Maine that compared to Merrymeeting Lake in New Durham NH. The remarkably clean water that Merrymeeting Lake proudly boasts of, the many familiar faces throughout town and on the lake, the low crime levels and the overall natural beauty of the mountainside were worth their weight in gold to us. However it is now painfully apparent that certain individuals are willing to compromise the natural beauty of the lake for a quick penny.
Although in the short term the Red Oak Ridge development may bring in revenue to the town, the long-term effects and financial burden are overwhelming. New septic, air and water quality tests will have to be both initiated and maintained for years and years to come. Multiple positions for full-time police and fireman will be required in order to keep up with the 220 units that will bring hundreds more residents to the town. Teachers as well as additional support personnel will be required in order to keep the classroom size to a reasonable limit and to be certain to meet all of the additional students needs and fulfill state and federal requirements for education. Building and maintaining roads will be of additional expense to the town year long but especially in the winter months where plowing and road repair due to their increased use will be a high priority. What is now a beautiful asset to the town of New Durham will suddenly become a source of liability for the town.
It is a red flag when a development company comes in from Madison Avenue in New York City promising great things. It is not against the law to purchase land in New Hampshire and use it for ones own benefit; but it should be against the law to destroy a natural mountain side for 220 units of living, and then to take your money and leave the town to pick up the pieces and manage the aftermath . The town of New Durham has a say now, however the buck stops here. Once the complex is constructed, the individuals who will move into the units will be out of our control. The amount of crime inflicted on our unsuspecting citizens in the years to come will be unknown. The years of expense to the town and the strain on our school system are unidentified. The water and air quality will be compromised or at the very least will be a major expense to maintain year after year. Once one unit is constructed overlooking Merrymeeting Lake, many other “opportunists” will be suddenly interested in developing for their financial gain as well. To what extent, or should we say at what expense, will the town allow the development of multiple complex properties around the lake? How will we say no once we have already said yes?
If the town chooses to compromise Merrymeeting Lake’s natural beauty and safety, one thing is glaringly apparent. It will be much harder to rationalize the high property taxes that we currently pay. The property will possibly have an increased crime rate with questionable water/air quality and will not seem to be such a great investment that we “must” hold onto for our children…no matter the cost. Instead we, along with many others, will begin a hunt for a town that values their natural assets and is not willing to sell-out to the highest bidder. Land on Merrymeeting Lake will no longer be viewed as “valuable” for its serene, natural magnificence. It will no longer be our “little piece of heaven.”



Sincerely,



Barry and Annamae Newell
354 South Shore Road

[Camp Phred]

Well said!! I was discouraged, but not surprised, at the much smaller turnout for the hearing last week. In spite of the inconvenience, we need to keep the pressure on by attending these meetings as a show of force while at the same time continuing to explore creative ideas for a Plan B (or C) to address this matter. I don't know if there were any representatives from any conservation groups attending the recent meeting as there was in November. (I needed to leave early as it was running late.) There had been some discussion of attempting to purchase the property back through the agency of a conservation group for permanent protection. If Red Oak sees this proposal meeting with strong, relentless opposition, it is possible that they will decide to fold up their tent and agree to sell the parcel. My hope is that someone more clever than I am and familiar with the conservation groups, could propose an approach so donations can be funnelled in the right direction. As a tax payer, I'd much prefer to pay a little bit now than pay a lot forever to support a development that we do not need and do not want. I would hope that all the tax payers of New Durham could be shown the wisdom of agreeing to a small tax increase (bite my tongue) now to protect this treasure rather than a permanent tax increase to pay for the unwanted infrastructure your described so well!! Let's keep up the pressure and the dialogue.

[webmaster]

Phred,

Representatives from conservation groups were in attendance at the meeting last week.

As for a method for donations, that is actively being developed and the process for doing so will be posted here soon.

[sledfan]

It's unfortunate that the greater Merrymeeting Lake area could not be protected as a historic recreational area. The lake itself is pristine, and the surroundings are exceptionally well preserved due to it's location and somewhat difficult geography. As a result, it is one of the very few remaining lake-based recreational areas in the state that has persisted without major development or commercialization. Once you start developing a place like this, there's no going back. Take plenty of pictures, because the character of the region will be changed forever.

It's amazing to me what the state will forbid based on a few acres of swamp deemed to be a "wetland". Here we have an entire watershed enjoying a status that has remained largely unchanged for decades, now arguably on an "endangered environment" list due to its unique character, and it's more likely than not to become another part of the spreading suburbia. The power of finances is certainly one to behold!

Sledfan
(Third generation NH native, also on the "endangered" list

[Lou]

Hi Everyone,

Good news, the owner of Red Oak is willing to have the property appraised as a first step to setting a sale price, either for an outright sale of the land or for the sale of a conservation easement. The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests aka The Forest Society is assisting in getting the appraisal underway. Obviously, the appraised value will be influenced by how issues such as the status of Birch Hill Road are resolved.



If we are able to purchase the property we will have to combine town funds, private donations, and grants in order to raise the large sum needed to protect Birch Ridge.



At this point we are waiting for the appraisal as well as the tax impact study to be completed.



However, there are a few things you can do right now what will help.



· Write letters to the editor of The Baysider and Foster’s Daily Democrat to express your concern about this development and about why we should be willing to both appropriate funds and give privately to protect this land.



· Talk to your friends and neighbors about these same things.



· Help identify lead donors who would be able to make a significant pledge to this effort, and ask them to contact Pat Decker at

pdecker@worldpath.net



· Keep attending all meetings about the project, even if you do not intend to speak-your presence counts enormously.



· Check the Merrymeeting Lake Association website for current postings at http://mmlake.org


When we have the tax implication information from our independent consultant and the appraisal for the property we will know more. At that time we will be holding meetings to raise awareness, answer questions, exchange views and raise funds.


Thanks so much for your willingness to help. We need all the folks we can get to be able to protect and preserve Birch Ridge.



Lou

[Camp Phred]

This is from today's (1/28) Union Leader. Another (smaller) parcel. We need to see how these things are accomplished elsewhere and consider what might work to protect Merrymeeting Lake land from development:

Efforts raise $100,000 toward buying N.H. conservation land[/B]


MONT VERNON, N.H. (AP) -- More than $100,000 has been raised toward buying 248 acres of conservation land.

Voters in March will be asked to spend $442,000 to buy two lots in the Purgatory Falls watershed area. Amherst Land Trust bought the land in August hours before it was scheduled to be auctioned off in a foreclosure sale. The trust is giving Mont Vernon two years to exercise an option to buy it.

The property abuts another 250 acres of conservation land. Efforts to conserve the two lots have raised one-fourth of the purchase price. The money will become available to the town after it takes possession. The pledges expire on Dec. 31.

A two-thirds vote is needed for the town to buy the land.

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Information from: New Hampshire Union Leader, http://www.unionleader.com