Quote:
Originally Posted by Resident 2B
The 5 foot high fence is a Fed DOT requirement. It is meant to keep the people using the WOW trail away from the train using the state-owned rail bed. I understand the DOT is very rigid on this safety-related directive.
In other such applications, walkway tunnels and in a few cases walkway bridges have been constructed to provide access.
R2B
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I believe that the issues are even more complex:
Since SDC is a private community, a second fence would be required to prevent access to the community. In addition, there is a marina operating heavy equipment to put boats in an out of the water. This operation would have to work with a gate and cross the path. This is a tricky situation, at best. With bicycles etc...that is going to be exceedingly difficult.
It is my understanding that the trail would have to be 12' wide to allow ambulance access and that likely infringes on private property.
There are a number of areas where the trail can not follow the tracks, such as trestles bridges and berms.
Overall, this is an ill considered plan. Running this across the frontage of SDC is problematic from the standpoint of safety and it creates a complete eye sore for a community that is a primary tax contributer to Laconia. A number of properties in SDC are taxes as waterfront and I am sure that with a fence between them and the water, filings for abatements will follow.
I think that SDC has been reasonable visa vi the snowmobile access, but who wants two chain link fences blocking the view and access to the lake. That kinda defeats the purpose of being on/at the lake.
I am sure that SDC is not going to be the only community with this type of issue. A pragmatic solution that circumvents the frontage issue should be worked out. It is in the best interest of everyone involved.
Jetskier
