Timber Island Rope Swing?

[TomC]

The owner of the island put a large portion of his property into a conservation status, eliminating the possiblity of future development. This surely caused a large decrease in the value of the land.. I was trying to draw a parallel between this situation and the perhaps more familiar scenario where a landowner diminishes the value of his parcel by removing improvements.


The implication with the island is that this decision "cost the remaining town taxpayers money" and therefore the landowner should grant some public access rights. In my example I was trying to suggest an analogous situation that would "cost the remaining town taxpayers money" but illustrate that the granting of public access to the parcel as a result would be nonsensical...

I guess I did a bad job, there!

[fatlazyless]

As I recall and it is slightly possible that I am incorrect, the entire 130 acre Timber Island was owned by one family from Rochester, NH, for many years. Up till about 2005, it had one and only one seasonal shoreline cottage on the entire island, and the island looked to be 99%, thickly forested.

Wanting to preserve Timber Island in its' natural condition, and not getting any interest from the State of New Hampshire, the seller designed a conservation plan so most of the island would remain as it had been.

In about 2005, a 120 acre conservation common area was created, and three seperate lots, one including the original owner's cottage, of about three acres each were created and sold for aproximately $433,333. each, for a total of three, separate cottage lots occupying a total of about ten acres on the 130 acre island. The sales agreement for each of the three separate lots contained limited use rights to the remaining 120 acre common conservation land.

I recall reading somewhere that forestry students from UNH have been there, from time to time, for academic studies.

Hope this is an accurate description.

[Sman]

So, are there any rope swings and/or cliff jumps left that are OK for use by the public?

oh was that the actual orignal question? right

so a new poster (6th post) posts a basic question, hardly anyone answers but instead they get bogged down in a riviting discussion regarding the ins and outs of a conservation trust.

sportsmaniac38 is now a quisi expert on conservation trusts, tell your kids that instead of hitting a rope swing they will be educated on the history of timber island...see if they think it sounds like fun

sportsmaniac38, I responded already, just following up to see if anyone else has any thoughts, thought it was a good question

[aopel]

Here is a good summery of the history and current status of Timber Island:

http://www.timberisland.org/

The cliffs by Alton Bay have had houses on them for a decade or more and the Meredith rope swing has been gone for almost 20 years. As kids, we would scour the lake for jumping spots and swings. Sad to say, the lake is different place these days. This great public resource in increasingly inaccessible to the public and that is a tragedy. Winnipesaukee is to amazing to be locked up as a playground for the rich.

One of the great benefits of Timber that has been overlooked in this discussion is the quiet green space that offers refuge to so many boaters looking for a place to raft and have lunch. The easement does not allow island visitors but 5 Mile Island has trails in addition to Stonedam already mentioned.

The Lakes Region Conservation Trust has made these possible. If you all don't like the Trust, then maybe you need to support a new tax base so the state has the ability to pay for the parks that are so needed. Change needs to come from the bottom up and unfortunately, too many have bought the tax cut snake oil that got us where we are. You get what you pay for - 'twas ever thus.

[wifi]

Originally Posted by aopel

...The Lakes Region Conservation Trust .... If you all don't like the Trust, then maybe you need to support a new tax base so the state has the ability...

Thanks for the nice website link. NO NEW TAXES for the state of NH, PLEASE. What the LRCT needs, simply, is competition, so that they can't apply a private agenda as they did in the Castle in the Clouds.

I'm all for conservation and preservation, but NOT when there is a single entity deciding what is 'best'.

[fatlazyless]

A big thankyou to aopel for all the informed info on Timber Island,

If you look at the aerial photo in the photo album you can see a small piece of neighboring Governor's Island across the water passage to the north. I belleve the left-most point in the photo on Governor's is home to a 'for sale' residence for the asking price of sixteen million dollars, which just may be the most expensive listing on the lake.

Timber Island is so close to Governor's Island, separated by a few hundred yards of water, and at the same time, so far away. Fortunately, for the nearby Governor's Island residents, they get a bright sunny afternoon view of an undeveloped shoreline and forested island, as opposed to a Timber Island all developed with house lots, homes, docks, boats & jetskis.

[sportsmaniac38]

Sman. Thanks I definitly know more then I would ever care to about Timber Island or anything that has to do with making land conservation and how the state decided not to buy the land. I will be sure to give a complete history of the island to every person I bring there and at the end of the story I will give credit to great people of the winnipesaukee forum.

I'm glad I was able to start this thread to clear up any confusion about Timber Island. I know have a lot of respect for the people that bought the island. (although I still want my rope swing just so I can go once a year and do my back flip so I know I still got it in me and I'm not losing my touch. You know like a guy who was an all star in high school and still sits at the local diner talking about his glory days and yet is now 350 pounds with a nice greesy burger and his belly half way out his shirt. Come on guys we all know the guy. That is never going to be me I hope hahah)

SO thanks guys for an enjoyable thread. I'll probably be back next year to do my one a year post.

Keep up the good work and can we find a way to get rid of the idiots who dont know how to drive on the lake. I know you guys got it in you. If can spend 30 posts talking about conservation land I know you got a way of getting rid of the idiots hahha.

Have a good one.

[fatlazyless]

Funny how things turn out....just when you think all the rope swings have been taken down...someone goes and sets one up in a spot where you'd least expect it.

Down at that sixteen million dollar home, on the southern point of Governor's Island, facing Timber Island, a rope line hangs out over the water, suspended from the ridge rafter, hay bale hoist beam on the 3-bay, boat house that's a replica of a medieval horse stable.

Most likely, the resident-owner must have about five different liabiity umbrella policies, so there's no worry should anyone get hurt while on the rope. Best yet, unlike Timber Island, the 16-mil property is not posted. Probably, does not want to scare potential buyers away.