I would state that some surmised that the motels going condo hurt local business more from the fact that the condos generally provide a means to prepare a meal without dining out. It really does not seem to be the situation. Some restaurants have struggled and closed, while others seem to thrive through the changes.

Interesting point. Maybe the kitchens in the condos are balanced out by the people in the condos having more disposable income?

Different businesses
 

Yes, many of the small family businesses from post war are gone because those folks wanted to retire just like motel owners. But look what the condos are supporting at McIntire Circle: A super Wal Mart and two other huge supermarkets, Lowe's, and countless other businesses. I don't believe a population of less than 8,000 supports all that business. Yes, some come from Laconia where the STR issue is similar.

People that rent short term rather than long term do not eat more food.
That area had a Gerrity Lumber, Star Market and K Mart for decades.

I would doubt the people in the condos have more disposable income than the ones in the motels; but its always plausible. I think on a ''per head'' basis, the condo rental may be cheaper than the motel... or provide more amenities like the kitchen that can offset a higher cost. The market has so many variables, it is hard to determine.

I remember Grossman's, not Gerrity. Did one replace the other? My speculation is that condo owners and those who rent them, are more apt to rent/stay for a week whereas motels of the day were more apt to have folks stay for a weekend. When I worked at a local restaurant as a teenager, the weekend traffic was significantly greater than mid-week.

Gerrity was where Middleton is now in Meredith. Grossman's was near where Lowe's is now.

Sorry, that would be correct... Grossman's.
The lot is actually to the side and outback... last I knew Home Depot had purchased it... but that was over seven years ago.

My point that a much smaller resident population still supported these types of businesses. If I remember correctly Hannaford was Big Banana and the Globe next to it, and I still do not know what became of the old Mart, because I don't travel that way often.

I would surmise the same that both are STR, but a condo rental is... or at least was... longer - more like the two week time share options that existed.
But if the motel room turns over and has the same occupancy... it really should be the motel patrons that would have a greater amount of money to unload in a shorter period. If I am only a day or two in an area... the process of grocery shopping and preparing a meal is rather bothersome than just dining out for all three meals.

I think the Big Banana was where Shaws is now.


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That may be a Shaw's at the circle... like I said, I really don't travel down that way anymore than I have to.

My memories
 

Grossman's was near Gilford Lowes, probably more correct to say behind the CVS right at "McIntyre Circle" traffic lights. Well after Grossman's closed, I thought Irwin's was using it for off-site boat storage. Dad loved Grossman's. He patronized them up here and down in MA.
The Big Banana I don't remember, but there was a restaurant called the Roadkill Cafe. Pretty good food and very colorful names for the food, as you can well imagine. It was located right where Shaw's is today.

Dave

That's where the Big Banana was too up. Leigh Turner ran the Roadkill do you remember him from school?

Big Banana, Roadkill, Red Barn
 

It's almost like some of these businesses were STR.
https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums...cIntyre+Circle
BTW, the Mart moved across from the airport, where Tractor Supply is now.

Businesses have come and gone, but it generally isn't related to tourism.

The numbers that the State has put out for about the last decade were around $6 billion in economic activity from tourism, and anywhere from 75 to 85 percent being from residents of the State.

They see that in everything from snowmobiling on through... snowmobiling/OHRVs just give them a greater sense of the number because we don't have reciprocal registration; so the accounting is a little more accurate.

Oddly, they have public outcry in the STR (rentals) in that category also.

So more long term residents to the area, regardless of having a kitchen, is really what supports these businesses.

Same thing happens in our business... new build currently has control, but I still need to focus on the renovations/repairs that homeowners DYI... because the economy will slow, and they are the long term customer that keeps the business running; that is why I like the small old camps and cottages.

Can't Ban STRs
 

Here it is - passed by NH Legislature
Can't outlaw them
But you can Regulate the hell out of them


Short-term rentals
A bill to ban municipalities from enacting zoning that would prohibit short-term rentals passed on a voice vote. Proponents of SB 249 pointed to the economic importance of tourism in the state. Sen. Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, a Portsmouth Democrat, spoke against the bill. Given the impact short-term rentals have on the price and availability of housing in the state, she said municipalities should be able to pass local regulations to address the issue in their own community.

https://newhampshirebulletin.com/202...5-2a5bf5694677

Docket seems to only be the NH Senate.
Nothing on the NH House or Governor.

And could be subject to repeal next session after the election if enacted.
So it still has a ways to go.

Will probably go in the end..

Maybe. But it is easier to get through the 24 Senators than it is the 400 House members.

Especially when it took three voice votes and an amendment to get through the Senate.

One voice vote - the only vote.

Love voice votes, means overwhelming "Yea"

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...2064&inflect=2

See the 3rdg... that means three readings.

Hmmmmm

Intro to pass in less than 45 days on a single amendment and single (voice) vote... Didn't look like a lot of resistance to me.

Good point on what happens in the House... We'll see.

Sununu won't be an issue

You do realize a pass in the commitee which has schedule that has to be met so the bill can move to the Senate - also not the only bill that committee works on.


And you actually see two VV in your listing. One for the amendment and one for the recommendation of the bill with the amendment.

You keep saying one voice vote... when even your link shows two. But they never record votes on the motion as VV just as further readings.

And it ended up on the regular calendar.

That is for a bill proposed by the committee chair. Who was the one that most likely entered the motion to amend in the first place after suffering backlash by his constituents.
He had a 3-2 vote before even going to amendment.

You're right. Actually, three affirmative votes, not one.

On Feb 10th, affirmative 5-0

https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/Sen...010%202022.pdf
(page 9)

Point also well taken we'll see if it is embraced as much in the House as the Senate. We'll have to see.

I still see that there's a compromise in there that should be OK with everybody in the end....

He had three affirmatives prior to the vote... even prior to the amendment.
The amendment after the third reading must have been enough to get everyone on board.

What I normally saw in the past; laws meant to cover the entire State generally run into larger debates.

The one NHOHVA got through the House Transportation Committee on a 24-0 vote, got killed on the floor. When they went back again, they moved that only Coos county would be involved... didn't pass the House Transport unanimously that time, but went through even on the floor.

The committees are a slice of the State... so things don't always go as expected.

Actually, since all legislators can read now, there is no 3rd reading. At the end of the day, there is a third reading motion, "by which all bills are hereby read a third time", among other things. Same with the first two readings at different times in the legislative process.

So it automatically goes to 3rdg? Interesting.

I have never sat in their Executive Meeting, not sure if anyone from the public can, so my presumption was that each time the wording in a motion was changed it had to be re-read.

I know that Hosmer talked to French to get the bill amended to match Laconia more closely... that was in the paper.
But I think that Hosmer, like French, has a little more interest in seeing the bill pass than their constituents.

Especially since Laconia adopted their position without any need for new legislation.

Almost Right
 

Actually the Roadkill Cafe was located where the Gilford Mobil Mart is today. (I used to work at their Bartlett restaurant and knew the manager of the Gilford Roadkill as she had worked at the Bartlett Roadkill Cafe.)

Gilford STR Ordinance Still In The Works
 

The Gilford Planning Board is still plugging away at a zoning ordinance for STRs. At the public hearing earlier this year the Planning Board got a lot of great input from the public and it realized it needed to do more work.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that the proposed Gilford STR ordinance differentiates between owner-occupied STRs and 'commercial' STRs. The requirements are different.

One thing that has been mentioned is the town's inability to clamp down on existing 'distributed hotels'. The Working Stiffs v Portsmouth NH Supreme Court decision declared commercial STRs are hotels. That means Gilford could require all of the commercial STRs in residential zones would need to go before the Gilford ZBA for a variance since hotels are not allowed in residential zones under Gilford Zoning ordinances. However, town counsel has suggested using other means since using the ZBA could tie up the town in court for years.

At Town Meeting voting Gilford voters approved a change in the town's Noise Ordinance which removed some exemptions which makes it easier for the PD to quiet things down. There was an exemption for 'unamplified human voices'. But those 'unamplified human voices' can be really loud, particularly after midnight. I speak from experience, having had to deal with a 'party house' at my previous home in Gunstock Acres. The police could ask them to quiet down, but couldn't do anything if they didn't. Now they can. This will help the town address one of the biggest issues brought up by residents dealing with STRs: Noise.

The town is also working on updating parking ordinances to limit on-street parking as an adjunct to the STR zoning ordinance which also has some parking requirements, particularly involving overnight parking.

More Work On Gilford STR Ordinance
 

The Gilford Planning Board is holding a work session on Monday May 2nd at 7pm in Gilford Town Hall Meeting Room A. The Planning Board will be continuing work on the proposed Short Term Rental ordinance.

The focus of the ordinance is on so-called commercial STR operators. While the ordinances focus mostly on those commercial STRs, some will have some small effect on owner-occupied STRs.