wow trail opposed

LongBay · 01-19-2010, 09:52 AM

I am all for projects with sustainability. And this one has none. When all the walls go up and pavement put down, all those construction folks will be out of a job once again. If these WOW folks want to help, donate your funds to the RT 93 project to add more lanes between NH and Mass so that workers can get to their full time jobs faster and use less gas. Also, vacationers will get up to NH that much faster and spend their money, thus creating jobs. This in another typical project that will cost tax payers and I am tired of the government spending my hard earned money on projects that benefit so little and end up decreasing property values. Its time government stop taking away private property.

Resident 2B · 01-19-2010, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LongBay

Its time government stop taking away private property.

I believe the WOW trail will use the railroad bed in the Paugus Bay area. That is clearly not private property, although some SDS owners might think it is.

When I was thinking of buying a place in Long Bay, the fact that there was not clear, long-term access to the water stopped me from risking my money if the situation changed. That was discovered when I hired a local lawyer to review the potential purchase. It looks to me like the situation is about to change.

It also looks like a reasonable change, since the SDS owners will still have access to the water and still have the docks. My biggest concern was that, in time, access would be taken away and that the docks would go as well. SDS does not own the lake front in that area.

I believe the WOW trail along Winnipesaukee's shore is a reasonable usage of government owned land and allows the people that own the land, all of us, to use what we own for our enjoyment.

R2B

jetskier · 01-19-2010, 01:43 PM

I believe that the primary objection to the WOW trail is the fencing. Clearly, putting a chain link fence along the shorefront does not qualify in anyone's book as beautification. IMHO, if not for the need for the fence, then the common use issues could be reconciled. It seems to me, that if the state discontinues the railroad use and converts the trainbed to a trail without a fence, then it could potentially meet everyone's needs/desires.

A thought.

Jetskier

LongBay · 01-19-2010, 03:34 PM

Resident2b, My points are not who owns the lake front, but too much government spend equals more taxes. Currently home owners along the shore are being taxed for views and access to the lake. Take both away and it means decrease in property values and more taxes for everyone else. Just because someone thought it would be a nice idea to add more parks to the infrastructure (which will need to be maintained and kept safe) does not mean it is a good idea. Especially when you are taking someone else's money (i.e. all us taxpayers).

Also, considering the impact on private homeowners, you would think they would get a say what gets built in their back yard? Would you like someone to be able to build a road in your back yard just because they think it would be nice for only a few people to enjoy? Give the government an inch and they will take a yard or in this case, tens of miles of pristine property that could be taxed to help fund our education and existing infrastructure. There are lots of places around Laconia to take walks and ride bikes that are maintained by us tax payers. Why should we be taxed more?

Another point, that land (which was once privately owned) was taken over by the government for railroad transportation. If you kick Hobo railroad out of the picture, you have that many fewer jobs and tourists.

jmen24 · 01-19-2010, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LongBay

Also, considering the impact on private homeowners, you would think they would get a say what gets built in their back yard? Would you like someone to be able to build a road in your back yard just because they think it would be nice for only a few people to enjoy? Give the government an inch and they will take a yard or in this case, tens of miles of pristine property that could be taxed to help fund our education and existing infrastructure. There are lots of places around Laconia to take walks and ride bikes that are maintained by us tax payers. Why should we be taxed more?

Another point, that land (which was once privately owned) was taken over by the government for railroad transportation. If you kick Hobo railroad out of the picture, you have that many fewer jobs and tourists.

Longbay, I agree with you 100% on this issue, but I believe if you look through the records that you will see that the railroad bed is an easement. That does in fact grant them the right to do what ever they please with the property regardless of who the surrounding owners are, they typically do not expire either. We looked at a piece of property that had a Utility easements that was over fifty years old. They may not have put powerlines up accross the property but it could have happened and that was enough for me to say no go.

The rail trail that we have on my side of the state was put in place of the defunked railroad bed, they removed the rails and ties (volunteer and fundraising) , cleaned up the hard pack and called it good. It is considerably longer than the WOW and will cost a fraction to maintain over time, no fences, no pavement and no concrete, just flat hard packed trail surface. The state took to much line with the WOW and made it into something it did not need to be, a maintenance headache for years to come.

Resident 2B · 01-19-2010, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jetskier

I believe that the primary objection to the WOW trail is the fencing. Clearly, putting a chain link fence along the shorefront does not qualify in anyone's book as beautification. IMHO, if not for the need for the fence, then the common use issues could be reconciled. It seems to me, that if the state discontinues the railroad use and converts the trainbed to a trail without a fence, then it could potentially meet everyone's needs/desires.

A thought.

Jetskier

And a very good thought!

I also agree the fence will be a mess. If the train was to go, the fence would not be needed and more people would be happier.

R2B

onthebay · 01-19-2010, 07:29 PM

I am a homeowner who will be directly affected by the WOW trail. It will run alongside my home and separate my property from my beach and dock on the other side of the tracks. This is land that is owned not leased from the state. I am currently working with the state to have a crossing put in to prevent being cut off when the trail goes in. Yes it will require RR warning and no trespassing signs. This is the state requirement.
Before I purchased the property I was made aware through disclosure that the WOW trail could be an eventuality. I cannot say that I wasn't forewarened. We actually thought that a proposed walking trail could be beneficial as we currently use the RR corridor as a walking trail to the Weirs and down to South Down shores. Having a graded (gravel or crushed stone)
path would be better than having to walk down the tracks where it narrows off.
The tracks are currently shared by joggers, walkers, fishermen, ATV's snowmobiles, snowshoers, cross country skiers, etc. and I have yet to hear of an incident where someone was unaware that the train also shared the corridor and was injured or killed.
I am not worried about additional foot traffic coming through. When we built our house we made sure that we left access through our land where an existing snowmobile trail branched from the tracks to the cove in back. It is not about keeping people out.
I am opposed to the trail as it stands because there is no reason to pave paradise. We had to go through hoops to put in a driveway. We couldn't put stone walkways in certain areas because they would cause runoff, I can't clear out branches in my back yard but they want to put down I don't know how many thousands of square feet of impervious surface (asphalt) that has oil, tar, and other petroleum products on the edge of the bay that supplies Laconia with drinking water. Not to mention an unsightly 5 foot chain link fence. Has anyone ever looked at how bad the fence that is along the WOW trail in Opechee looks?

LongBay · 01-19-2010, 11:41 PM

I hope to a better picture posted showing the retaining walls the WOW trail added. It won't be long before you see the spray painters doing their art projects on them. There are several sections of the proposed WOW trail that will require retaining walls due to the many hills located along Paugus and Meredith Bay. If you want to see what a retaining wall looks like after a few years, check out the Weirs and BTW some of them failed during a rainstorm and guess what, no one has the money to fix them all! So, what do you think the lovely WOW trail will look like when the next monsoon happens?

As OnTheBay mentions, the chain link fence along Opechee is already falling apart, collects trash, and takes away the nature beauty of the shoreline! That's what we have to look forward to in our local neighborhoods when the WOW folks come marching through. As mentioned in previous postings the WOW folks have no consideration or empathy for the local neighborhoods they want to "improve" and how they will negatively impact the lives of the people living in them. Neighborhoods are important and part of the city/town echo system.

Just because the government can take over private property does not mean they have to.

corollaman · 01-23-2010, 10:58 PM

If I lived in SDS, and they put a fence in my backyard, I would rip it down myself! Let them put me in jail for vandalisim. There would be NO WAY a fence would be put in between my yard and the lake. This WOW trail thing is stupid.

fatlazyless · 01-26-2010, 09:09 AM

For a nuts & bolts type of a construction costs report on the step by step building of the WOW Trail, take a peek at the January 26 www.laconiadailysun.com article by Adam Drapcho.

Pittsfield company submits low bid, 419,325 to construct 2nd phase of Winnipesaukee River Trail

"The Winnipesaukee River Trail project was the beneficiary of $429,000 in American Recovery & Reinvestment Act funds, also known as stimulus funds."

01-19-2010, 09:52 AM	#1
LongBay Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 151 Thanks: 48 Thanked 61 Times in 35 Posts	Money can be better spent elsewhere I am all for projects with sustainability. And this one has none. When all the walls go up and pavement put down, all those construction folks will be out of a job once again. If these WOW folks want to help, donate your funds to the RT 93 project to add more lanes between NH and Mass so that workers can get to their full time jobs faster and use less gas. Also, vacationers will get up to NH that much faster and spend their money, thus creating jobs. This in another typical project that will cost tax payers and I am tired of the government spending my hard earned money on projects that benefit so little and end up decreasing property values. Its time government stop taking away private property.

01-19-2010, 01:43 PM	#3
jetskier Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Reading, MA and South Down Shores Posts: 855 Thanks: 58 Thanked 183 Times in 114 Posts	A thought I believe that the primary objection to the WOW trail is the fencing. Clearly, putting a chain link fence along the shorefront does not qualify in anyone's book as beautification. IMHO, if not for the need for the fence, then the common use issues could be reconciled. It seems to me, that if the state discontinues the railroad use and converts the trainbed to a trail without a fence, then it could potentially meet everyone's needs/desires. A thought. Jetskier

01-19-2010, 07:29 PM	#7
onthebay Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 114 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	WOW Trail Opposed with Fence I am a homeowner who will be directly affected by the WOW trail. It will run alongside my home and separate my property from my beach and dock on the other side of the tracks. This is land that is owned not leased from the state. I am currently working with the state to have a crossing put in to prevent being cut off when the trail goes in. Yes it will require RR warning and no trespassing signs. This is the state requirement. Before I purchased the property I was made aware through disclosure that the WOW trail could be an eventuality. I cannot say that I wasn't forewarened. We actually thought that a proposed walking trail could be beneficial as we currently use the RR corridor as a walking trail to the Weirs and down to South Down shores. Having a graded (gravel or crushed stone) path would be better than having to walk down the tracks where it narrows off. The tracks are currently shared by joggers, walkers, fishermen, ATV's snowmobiles, snowshoers, cross country skiers, etc. and I have yet to hear of an incident where someone was unaware that the train also shared the corridor and was injured or killed. I am not worried about additional foot traffic coming through. When we built our house we made sure that we left access through our land where an existing snowmobile trail branched from the tracks to the cove in back. It is not about keeping people out. I am opposed to the trail as it stands because there is no reason to pave paradise. We had to go through hoops to put in a driveway. We couldn't put stone walkways in certain areas because they would cause runoff, I can't clear out branches in my back yard but they want to put down I don't know how many thousands of square feet of impervious surface (asphalt) that has oil, tar, and other petroleum products on the edge of the bay that supplies Laconia with drinking water. Not to mention an unsightly 5 foot chain link fence. Has anyone ever looked at how bad the fence that is along the WOW trail in Opechee looks?

01-26-2010, 09:09 AM	#10
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,954 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 307 Thanked 1,060 Times in 773 Posts	low bid of $419,325 For a nuts & bolts type of a construction costs report on the step by step building of the WOW Trail, take a peek at the January 26 www.laconiadailysun.com article by Adam Drapcho. Pittsfield company submits low bid, 419,325 to construct 2nd phase of Winnipesaukee River Trail "The Winnipesaukee River Trail project was the beneficiary of $429,000 in American Recovery & Reinvestment Act funds, also known as stimulus funds." __________________ .... Banned for life from local thrift store!

01-19-2010, 03:34 PM	#4
LongBay Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 151 Thanks: 48 Thanked 61 Times in 35 Posts	Resident2b, My points are not who owns the lake front, but too much government spend equals more taxes. Currently home owners along the shore are being taxed for views and access to the lake. Take both away and it means decrease in property values and more taxes for everyone else. Just because someone thought it would be a nice idea to add more parks to the infrastructure (which will need to be maintained and kept safe) does not mean it is a good idea. Especially when you are taking someone else's money (i.e. all us taxpayers). Also, considering the impact on private homeowners, you would think they would get a say what gets built in their back yard? Would you like someone to be able to build a road in your back yard just because they think it would be nice for only a few people to enjoy? Give the government an inch and they will take a yard or in this case, tens of miles of pristine property that could be taxed to help fund our education and existing infrastructure. There are lots of places around Laconia to take walks and ride bikes that are maintained by us tax payers. Why should we be taxed more? Another point, that land (which was once privately owned) was taken over by the government for railroad transportation. If you kick Hobo railroad out of the picture, you have that many fewer jobs and tourists.

01-19-2010, 11:41 PM	#8
LongBay Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 151 Thanks: 48 Thanked 61 Times in 35 Posts	I hope to a better picture posted showing the retaining walls the WOW trail added. It won't be long before you see the spray painters doing their art projects on them. There are several sections of the proposed WOW trail that will require retaining walls due to the many hills located along Paugus and Meredith Bay. If you want to see what a retaining wall looks like after a few years, check out the Weirs and BTW some of them failed during a rainstorm and guess what, no one has the money to fix them all! So, what do you think the lovely WOW trail will look like when the next monsoon happens? As OnTheBay mentions, the chain link fence along Opechee is already falling apart, collects trash, and takes away the nature beauty of the shoreline! That's what we have to look forward to in our local neighborhoods when the WOW folks come marching through. As mentioned in previous postings the WOW folks have no consideration or empathy for the local neighborhoods they want to "improve" and how they will negatively impact the lives of the people living in them. Neighborhoods are important and part of the city/town echo system. Just because the government can take over private property does not mean they have to.

01-23-2010, 10:58 PM	#9
corollaman Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 181 Thanks: 8 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts	If I lived in SDS, and they put a fence in my backyard, I would rip it down myself! Let them put me in jail for vandalisim. There would be NO WAY a fence would be put in between my yard and the lake. This WOW trail thing is stupid.