Thoughts on new beach at Echo Point in Alton?

Captain Zipper · 07-22-2007, 11:35 AM

This is a carry over from the "where are the people thread".

Any takers?

mcdude · 07-22-2007, 03:01 PM

Next meeting

A public hearing on the status of land at Echo Point will top the agenda for the board's next meeting, which has been scheduled for Monday, July 23, at 6 p.m. in Town Hall.

Alton Bay · 07-23-2007, 07:26 PM

Anyone who travels on Echo Point knows that the road is too narrow for two cars to pass easily. The idea that this is even a potential location leaves me wondering what people are thinking. Where would the parking and restrooms go? Yes, a new beach would be nice, but surely there is a more appropriate location.

ApS · 07-24-2007, 05:39 AM

As I'm not familiar with the area's problems, a few questions:

Is the proposed beach privately owned at present?
Is it walking-distance-convenient to Alton residents?
Would it be serving an entirely new population of Altonians?
Which shore is the proposed beach on?
Does the new proposed beach area receive day-long sun?
Would trees within 200' of the lake need to be cut?
Could the town, instead of spending eminent-domain monies, refurbish and extend the existing beach for less money?
Isn't filling in wetlands worse for Lake Winnipesaukee than whatever is needed to improve the existing beach?
Why didn't the town buy all—or a portion—of the beach at Camp Alton?
Isn't there something wrong with Alton converting Bahre's "needed tax monies", and using the windfall to condemn other private residences?

Eminent domain has its place in the extreme, but not as they did in the Supreme Court's "Kelo" circumstance, which was to use eminent domain to enrich different owners.

Put in a needed road? OK.
Widen an existing road or extend a runway? Maybe OK, if needed.

Create a "play" area for two months a year? I don't think so.

mcdude · 07-24-2007, 07:03 AM

Click here for MEETING RESULTS...

nj2nh · 07-24-2007, 09:12 AM

Thanks, McDude. Thanks encouraging news.

Jersey Girl

Argie's Wife · 07-25-2007, 10:44 PM

Wet land permits are getting more stringent and harder to renew. I don't think the association will have any issues with that or widening the roads, considering the houses and camps in the Echo Point area. I would like to see safer walking area and even a more reduced speedlimit for the sake of the pedistrians who walk that road - I can't imagine what that must be like on foot!

That being said...

Alton has the most lake front property of any town in the Lakes Region. You can't tell me that we can't come up with something that would be similar to, say, Albee Beach in Wolfeboro, for the public beach? Surely someone will be selling a camp that would be suitable at somepoint.

I think the bigger issue is getting a warrant article passed that would set aside money for such a purchase. Seeing a proposed warrant article on the ballet for a cool $1M -- well, that isn't going to get a lot of support and at today's market prices, that's what some decent lakefront land and cottage are going for. The other option is a warrant article for $1, which basically allows us to enter into a contract with the seller and hope the voters approve the selling price - and that's even IF the seller will enter in to the contract...

This is easier said than done, but I believe we should have a public beach that makes us more attractive to family-types who want to enjoy the great location we offer here at the foot of Lake W, in Alton Bay.

And about the comments about the litter and abuse of the public ramps and other property - why not beef up the Parks & Rec. budget for some more per diem (weekend, summers, etc.) people who will police that situation better? I'd rather see that than a tight budget and tons of litter or people abusing the area!

Weirs guy · 07-26-2007, 08:00 PM

What Alton needs to do is find someone with beachfront property along one of the main roads thats willing to swap for the land at Echo Point. See, wasn't that easy?

mcdude · 07-28-2007, 08:33 AM

From the Baysider:

Quote:

Echo Point residents have their say with board

by Brendan Berube
Contributing Writer

July 26, 2007
ALTON — The residents of Echo Point, a residential area located near the intersection of Echo Point Road and Sawmill Brook Road on the shore of Alton Bay, aired their concerns over public use of town-owned land in the area during an informational meeting at the July 23 selectmen's meeting.

Town Administrator Russell Bailey offered some background on the area, explaining that the town owns three parcels of land at Echo Point. Two of those parcels are located on the water and accessed by private roads, and the third is located off a private road, with the majority of the parcel made up of wetlands.

There is also a boat ramp (which Bailey said is not in good condition) located on a town road right-of-way, which sees heavy use by the public during the spring and summer.

Chairman Alan Sherwood explained that the selectmen have not discussed among themselves any options for using the town-owned land at Echo Point, and would not discuss the issue until selectmen Steve McMahon and Peter Bolster (who were absent from Monday night's meeting) had been brought up to speed.

"We are open to hearing from the people who live in the area," Sherwood said, encouraging residents to come forward with their concerns, comments, criticisms and suggestions.

The chief concern for resident Ron Cavallo was congestion at the boat ramp. Cavallo explained that he and nine other families have easements allowing them to use the boat ramp, but that the traffic and parking problems near the ramp often prevent them from being able to exercise those easements. He felt that a "big piece" of the traffic issues at Echo Point would be resolved if public use of the ramp was restricted.

Cavallo also mentioned having seen a number of fights break out at the boat ramp, and said that he and his son had both been assaulted in the area.

Tom Salvetti, president of the Echo Point Association, submitted paperwork to the selectmen, which he said shows that the deeds to the three parcels of town-owned land at Echo Point restrict use of the land to residential purposes only.

"That makes me question why the town would own a piece of property that they can't [do anything with]," he said.

John Zaugg was primarily concerned with parking problems on Sawmill Brook Road. During the winter and summer months, he said, people tend to park "every which way" along the road, preventing emergency vehicles from being able to get through.

In the winter, Zaugg said, snowmobilers who use a trail that runs across Sawmill Brook create further traffic problems for residents by riding over freshly plowed snow banks and pushing the snow back into the road.

Echo Point Road resident Larry Collins said the issue at hand is what the town of Alton should do with its vacant space.

Alton, Collins said, is "an enjoyable place to live," but it currently faces the same problem plaguing a number of towns throughout New England: namely, the fact that its open land is being consumed by new homes and development.

If the town were to develop the land around Echo Point, he said, the road itself (which is currently one lane wide) would have to be widened. Paving over wetlands in the name of development, he said, is "not what Alton's about."

Widening Echo Point Road and developing the surrounding area would also be an expensive proposition for the town, he said, as residents would fight it and it would mean additional police patrols and possibly more lifeguards at the waterfront areas.

"What are you going to do with me?" asked Ethyl Hellender, whose property rests within two of the town-owned parcels.

Hellender explained that she and her husband have owned property at Echo Point for 25 years, raising their children there. The couple also has 13 grandchildren who she said come to Alton to enjoy their "little postage stamp" of land.

Those three parcels of land, Hellender said, were given to the town with the understanding that they would be left in their present condition. She urged the selectmen not to go back on the town's word.

Hellender's husband, Arthur, who said he was in the environmental safety business, explained that Echo Point Road current "doesn't go anywhere."

"You don't have any good routes there to propose access in and out," Arthur said. "You've got to think in the long haul about how that road is going to be used, and used by whom."

Selectman Pat Fuller assured the Hellenders that the town has no plans at this point to do anything with the land at Echo Point.

"We're not looking to destroy anything down there," Fuller said, adding that the board was prompted to action by complaints about the parking problems in the area.

Elaine Shields, who lives on Echo Point Road, commended the town for providing a beach, a swimming dock, a boat ramp and restroom facilities at the bay for public use, and urged the selectmen not to open Echo Point to the public.

07-22-2007, 11:35 AM	#1
Captain Zipper Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Granby, Ct. Posts: 138 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thoughts on new beach at Echo Point in Alton? This is a carry over from the "where are the people thread". Any takers?

07-22-2007, 03:01 PM	#2
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,367 Thanks: 374 Thanked 1,057 Times in 495 Posts	.....and at the next Selectmen's Meeting.... Next meeting A public hearing on the status of land at Echo Point will top the agenda for the board's next meeting, which has been scheduled for Monday, July 23, at 6 p.m. in Town Hall.

07-23-2007, 07:26 PM	#3
Alton Bay Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 188 Thanks: 73 Thanked 24 Times in 21 Posts	town beach Anyone who travels on Echo Point knows that the road is too narrow for two cars to pass easily. The idea that this is even a potential location leaves me wondering what people are thinking. Where would the parking and restrooms go? Yes, a new beach would be nice, but surely there is a more appropriate location.

07-24-2007, 05:39 AM	#4
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,951 Thanks: 2,226 Thanked 781 Times in 557 Posts	As I'm not familiar with the area's problems, a few questions: Is the proposed beach privately owned at present? Is it walking-distance-convenient to Alton residents? Would it be serving an entirely new population of Altonians? Which shore is the proposed beach on? Does the new proposed beach area receive day-long sun? Would trees within 200' of the lake need to be cut? Could the town, instead of spending eminent-domain monies, refurbish and extend the existing beach for less money? Isn't filling in wetlands worse for Lake Winnipesaukee than whatever is needed to improve the existing beach? Why didn't the town buy all—or a portion—of the beach at Camp Alton? Isn't there something wrong with Alton converting Bahre's "needed tax monies", and using the windfall to condemn other private residences? Eminent domain has its place in the extreme, but not as they did in the Supreme Court's "Kelo" circumstance, which was to use eminent domain to enrich different owners. Put in a needed road? OK. Widen an existing road or extend a runway? Maybe OK, if needed. Create a "play" area for two months a year? I don't think so. __________________ Is it "Common Sense" isn't.

07-24-2007, 07:03 AM	#5
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,367 Thanks: 374 Thanked 1,057 Times in 495 Posts	Contentious? Click here for MEETING RESULTS...

07-24-2007, 09:12 AM	#6
nj2nh Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 529 Thanks: 80 Thanked 47 Times in 27 Posts	Thanks, McDude. Thanks encouraging news. Jersey Girl __________________

07-25-2007, 10:44 PM	#7
Argie's Wife Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Alton Posts: 1,908 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 533 Thanked 579 Times in 260 Posts	Wet land permits are getting more stringent and harder to renew. I don't think the association will have any issues with that or widening the roads, considering the houses and camps in the Echo Point area. I would like to see safer walking area and even a more reduced speedlimit for the sake of the pedistrians who walk that road - I can't imagine what that must be like on foot! That being said... Alton has the most lake front property of any town in the Lakes Region. You can't tell me that we can't come up with something that would be similar to, say, Albee Beach in Wolfeboro, for the public beach? Surely someone will be selling a camp that would be suitable at somepoint. I think the bigger issue is getting a warrant article passed that would set aside money for such a purchase. Seeing a proposed warrant article on the ballet for a cool $1M -- well, that isn't going to get a lot of support and at today's market prices, that's what some decent lakefront land and cottage are going for. The other option is a warrant article for $1, which basically allows us to enter into a contract with the seller and hope the voters approve the selling price - and that's even IF the seller will enter in to the contract... This is easier said than done, but I believe we should have a public beach that makes us more attractive to family-types who want to enjoy the great location we offer here at the foot of Lake W, in Alton Bay. And about the comments about the litter and abuse of the public ramps and other property - why not beef up the Parks & Rec. budget for some more per diem (weekend, summers, etc.) people who will police that situation better? I'd rather see that than a tight budget and tons of litter or people abusing the area!

07-26-2007, 08:00 PM	#8
Weirs guy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Weirs Beach, NH Posts: 1,067 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	What Alton needs to do is find someone with beachfront property along one of the main roads thats willing to swap for the land at Echo Point. See, wasn't that easy? __________________ Is it bikeweek yet? Now?

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