wow trail opposed

[LongBay]

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]

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.