Weirs Storage Units

[BroadHopper]

http://laconiadailysun.com/index.php/newsx/local-news/83698-putting-the-weirs-in-storage

There is plan in the works to provide 296 storage units, South of the Weirs Cumberland Farms where the land was cleared.

AE Mitchell also owns storage units on Rte 106 in Belmont as well as the strip malls and other commercial buildings. I guess with all the condo units in the area and many retiring here year round there is a market for storage units.

[fatlazyless]

With the planned proposal of 296-units in 17 different storage buildings, plus a two story business office on this 6.8-acre lot that has a lot of frontage on Route 3 just below the Cumberland gas station, this seems like an incredibly ugly ugly ugly commercial use. Like, what could be worse looking than a storage business? It is challenging to try to think up an uglier commercial use for that location......ok...probably a motor vehicle junk yard is worse but it is close.

I envision those single story storage buildings made of cinderblocks with steel overhead doors that usually get built in a remote location....off the main highway....someplace on a lot with a location that does not support a higher commercial use.

Allowing this to get built will not be good for the Weirs in general.....consider what potential buyers and existing owners at the nearby www.meredithbaynh.com (located-Weirs Beach area, Laconia) just up the hill there about a quarter mile....will be seeing and thinking....a storage business....like one big long yuck!!!

Maybe picture a Marriott-Weirs Beach hotel on that 6.8-acre lot, and remove all the N.H. Veterans's Assoc seasonal civil war era, un-used buildings and campground that are immediately next lot down to the lake and building a Wynn-Winnipesaukee destination casino would be a much better use.....like no kidding....than a crappy storage business.

[MeredithMan]

I have to totally agree with FLL on this one. Storage Units in the middle of a resort area? Really? What the heck is the developer and the city of Laconia thinking? Storage units are just a place for people to store their crap...they will not be attracting tourists, (and some locals), to come spend their money, which is what a resort area needs to survive! Jeez.....

As others have said in different threads / posts, there is an egregious lack of vision on the part of Laconia as to what The Weirs should be. With this proposed storage unit farm and the proposed paintball course up the street, (which the article indicated will have "portable toilets and dumpsters"....that should smell nice in August :eek: ), The Weirs/Laconia continues to wallow in the mud of its own lack of planning and vision.

MM

[BroadHopper]

Unfortunately all they can see is dollar signs in front of their eyes. Whatever the development or event, 'show me the money'!

[Major]

Unfortunately all they can see is dollar signs in front of their eyes. Whatever the development or event, 'show me the money'!

You are right, BroadHopper. The Laconia Planning Board should be renamed to the "Laconia Approval Board." In our case, several members of the Board referenced the tax revenue to be derived by changing the status of lots. Frustrating.

[8gv]

Real estate, unencumbered by government, attains a use that generates the greatest monetary return.

This most profitable use often gets redefined with the passage of time.

Currently, what other uses of the property are there that would generate a greater return?

[chillininnh]

No big surprise here. Laconia has a long history of not valuing key real estate/waterfront. Paugus Bay makes up most of the city's waterfront and just look at what's been allowed to be built on it. Railroads, cemeteries and fast food joints.

[Fargo]

I think the Weirs community just got kicked in the teeth. Go figure.

[Phantom]

If I am not mistaken there is a Group called the "WAC" -- Weirs Action Committee comprised of local business owners.

Question is -- where's their voice in all of this ?


If I were a member I would be raising hell with the City officials

.

[Misha888]

and all I have is *sigh. Laconia killing their tourism, one bad decision at a time.

[pjard]

OMG...what a terrible mistake! How can this have any traction?

[jtb9212]

Maybe they can film a few episodes of Storage Wars after these are built and get some exposure for the Weirs. Storage units.......what a stupid idea.

[mcdude]

Laconia Daily Sun
Task force wants most of Weirs Blvd. changed to residential zone

LACONIA — The city's Zoning Task Force has proposed that zoning along Weirs Boulevard, which is currently zoned for its entire length as a commercial resort area, be changed to shorefront residential from the Naswa Resort resort south to the intersection with White Oaks Road.

The task force will present the proposed change to the Planning Board in March, according to task force Chairperson Suzanne Perley, who said that once the board holds a public hearing on the proposal it will provide the kind of input needed to fine tune zoning changes, which will ultimately have to have City Council approval.
The commercial resort district begins on Lake Street, just south of its junction with White Oaks Road, extends northward along Weirs Boulevard, includes the center of The Weirs and runs either side of Route 3 to the Meredith town line. It also includes property along both sides of Rte. 11-B, including the former Surf Coaster property, which would remain zoned as commercial resort according to a map prepared by Planning Director Shanna Saunders.
The zoning ordinance describes the district as intended to accommodate dining, lodging and recreation entities for both occasional tourists and seasonal residents as well as apartments and condominiums.
Last fall, the City council asked the Planning Board to review the table of uses permitted in the commercial resort zone, and to consider whether all of the land currently included in that zone should remain so.
The council's request was made in the aftermath of decisions by the city's Zoning Board of Adjustment to deny special exceptions to John Ganong of 355 Weirs Boulevard, and Charles Gulbicki of Gulbicki's Towing and Auto Repair at 1193 Weirs Boulevard, both of whom sought to sell used vehicles on their property. "Vehicle dealership, sales and service" is only permitted in the commercial district by special exception. Earlier the ZBA granted a special exception to Benson's Auto Inc. of Franklin to sell vehicles from a lot near the corner of Rollercoaster Road and Route 3 in the same zoning district.
A number of Weirs Beach business owners told City Council last year they didn't want to see cars being sold anywhere in the area.
The proposed change of most of Weirs Blvd. from commercial resort to shorefront residential would prohibit vehicle dealership, sales and service in, which would include Ganong's property, but not Gulbicki's.
Members of the task force spent more than an hour Thursday morning attempting to define the limits of the proposed SFR district and whether or not it should start at the Weirs traffic circle or further south before settling on the Naswa property as the demarcation line.
Planing Board Chairman Warren Hutchins, who has noted that the boulevard has become largely residential due to the transition from cottage colonies to condominiums, said that the change was part of a concerted effort for residents of the area as well as to protect the shorefront strip along the water.
Board members discussed the fate of the Christmas Island Steakhouse, which has been closed for several months, but agreed that they couldn't do ''spot zoning'' to preserve options for the restaurant.
It was noted that all existing businesses in the CFR zone would have their uses grandfathered under the proposed change.
The task force is also considering changes in permitted uses in the commercial resort district which would include require nightclubs and dance halls, currently permitted, to requiring special exemptions. Indoor storage, self-service also currently permitted, would be prohibited while car-wash, detailing, currently permitted, would only be allowed by special exception.
A 296-unit self-storage units project on a 6.8-acre parcel fronting Endicott Street North (Rte. 3) is before the Planning Board for approval at this time.

[pcmc]

I think the storage should be built on the docks so I have a place to store my boat.................


.........kidding.

+1 I agree with everyone, very bad location for this idea.

[Redbarn]

So is this an attempt to rezone to prevent to prevent the storage units or has that ship already sailed? and this is an attempt to stop further units.

[Phantom]

So is this an attempt to rezone to prevent to prevent the storage units or has that ship already sailed? and this is an attempt to stop further units.

Totally different area !

the rezone is along Paugus Bay from Naswa to Old Burger King if I read correctly


.

[BroadHopper]

If I read correctly the rezoning applies to Weirs Blvd from White Oaks Road to the Naswa Resort. I think what sparked this zoning is Ganong who owns the Italian ice building wants to sell used cars as well as Gullbicki Towing. Weirs businessmen do not want used car lots in the Weirs area.
However, there is one going in up the hill toward Meredith on the Roller Coaster Road Area. Someone from Franklin.
The storage unit is out of this picture.

[GTO]

If I read correctly the rezoning applies to Weirs Blvd from White Oaks Road to the Naswa Resort. I think what sparked this zoning is Ganong who owns the Italian ice building wants to sell used cars as well as Gullbicki Towing. Weirs businessmen do not want used car lots in the Weirs area.
However, there is one going in up the hill toward Meredith on the Roller Coaster Road Area. Someone from Franklin.
The storage unit is out of this picture.

Lowellconia

[WakeboardMom]

Lowellconia

I would have given a thumbs up if I hadn't been along the river in Lowell back in the fall. While it's not my favorite place (brought up in Tewksbury, went to school in Lowell for 16 years), there is a concerted effort to get and keep the riverfront a pleasant area.

[GTO]

I would have given a thumbs up if I hadn't been along the river in Lowell back in the fall. While it's not my favorite place (brought up in Tewksbury, went to school in Lowell for 16 years), there is a concerted effort to get and keep the riverfront a pleasant area.

Also grew up in Lowell and near Tewksbury on Rte 133. I was referring more to the used car lots than the river

[obie]

What a dumb idea to put storage units on Rte. 3, above Weirs Beach.

[8gv]

Ok so there is a piece of property. There is a proposed use that will bring a return on investment. If not this then what? At what discount to the planned use's ROI?

[Scott]

Some of my silly day-dreaming had me finding the money to buy that chunk of land and making a huge botanical garden there. In 2010, I started designing tropical looking gardens with amazing success. Always thought something like that would be a nice unique addition to the area that would draw people.

[BroadHopper]

I was envisioning an indoor water park with the Rain Forest Café on the side. With all the paperwork to various govt. agencies and litigation/liability insurance, the only person to make money will be the lawyers!

[jetlag100]

The local Gov. needs a Gibbs "dope slap" to the back of the head! Stupid, stupid, idea! I rather see a parking lot :emb:

[Airedale1]

The local Gov. needs a Gibbs "dope slap" to the back of the head! Stupid, stupid, idea! I rather see a parking lot :emb:

This proposal is NOT a part of "local Government's" vision for Laconia. You need to understand that just like in any other city or town, the Laconia Planning Board and Zoning Board has limited discretion in terms of what is allowed or not allowed on any given piece of property in the city.

Regarding the piece of property in question; it is zoned for business and provided that the business meets all of the Zoning and Planning Boards criteria, e.g. setbacks, green space, site plan approval etc. it can go through.
That being said, there will be a public Planning Board meeting held on Tuesday March 3rd at 6:30 p.m. in Room 200A at Laconia City Hall and the storage unit proposal will be on the agenda. The owner of the property will be in attendance.

I would strongly encourage any and all of you who like myself feel that storage units in a lakeside resort area is far from an ideal usage of the land to attend this meeting and make your views heard.

If you cannot attend the meeting, you can also email your thoughts on the proposed usage to the Laconia Planning board at:
GrahamK@city.Laconia.NH.US

I suggest you do both.

The emails will be printed out and presented at the meeting and they will carry weight. If you do not want to see storage units in the Weirs, this will be your chance to have your voice heard.

[upthesaukee]

This proposal is NOT a part of "local Government's" vision for Laconia. You need to understand that just like in any other city or town, the Laconia Planning Board and Zoning Board has limited discretion in terms of what is allowed or not allowed on any given piece of property in the city.

Regarding the piece of property in question; it is zoned for business and provided that the business meets all of the Zoning and Planning Boards criteria, e.g. setbacks, green space, site plan approval etc. it can go through.
That being said, there will be a public Planning Board meeting held on Tuesday March 2nd at 6:30 p.m. in Room 200A at Laconia City Hall and the storage unit proposal will be on the agenda. The owner of the property will be in attendance.

I would strongly encourage any and all of you who like myself feel that storage units in a lakeside resort area is far from an ideal usage of the land to attend this meeting and make your views heard.

If you cannot attend the meeting, you can also email your thoughts on the proposed usage to the Laconia Planning board at:
GrahamK@city.Laconia.NH.US

I suggest you do both.

The emails will be printed out and presented at the meeting and they will carry weight. If you do not want to see storage units in the Weirs, this will be your chance to have your voice heard.

Monday is Mar 2nd, Tues is Mar 3rd. If it is on the 2nd, the meeting is Mon night. (someone I have known all my life has a birthday on Monday, the 2nd. :rolleye1::laugh:

[tis]

Happy Birthday, up!!! It has to be you!

[fatlazyless]

From today's LaDaSun, it says the owner of this undeveloped 6-acres that fronts on Route 3 has decided to cancel out on the storage business because everybody is against it and will leave the property as it is.......an un-developed 6-acre lot that pays a property tax...truly the highest and best use....the area thanks you for your decision Mr 6-acres property owner.....and the City of Laconia is happy to accept your tax money!


So, it seems like everybody is happy, happy, happy with this outcome....how very happy! .... excepting maybe for the individual property owner....so what happens next with this supposedly prime un-developed lot of Weirs Beach - Laconia commercial property????


Maybe another yuuuchy Dunkin Donuts?


Is best to just leave it as an open lot and to let the hardwood trees re-grow back to mature hardwoods......so it could become a tree farm which makes oxygen for breathing .... stops erosion and run-off....and becomes a wildlife habitat...for bobcats...and crows!


And, I was thinking that Storage Wars tv show could be in the Laconia future.....too bad.....oh well...

[mcdude]

Laconia Daily sun
[QUOTE]Mitchell backs off plan to build large self-storage compound at Weirs


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<DL class=article-info> <DT class=article-info-term>Details</DT> <DD class=published>Published Date Tuesday, 03 March 2015 03:04 </DD></DL>
LACONIA — On the eve of a so-called design review before the Planning Board, Al Mitchell, principal of the A.E. Mitchell Corporation of Belmont, said last night that he will withdraw his proposal to build a large self-storage facility at Weirs Beach in light of the opposition the project has aroused among business owners and residents of the summer resort community.
Acknowledging "it's the use", Mitchell said he is abandoning his plans "for the people who don't want to it there. I don't want to be the one to do that to the Weirs. I don't want it to be my legacy."
Mitchell planned to develop the 6.8-acre lot on the north side of Endicott Street North (Rte. 3 North) across the highway from the Meredith Bridge condominium community and next door to the Cumberland Farms convenience store. The land, which was cleared several years ago, backs up to the New.Hampshire Veteran's Association compound that fronts on Lakeside Ave.
As proposed, the facility would consist of 296 storage units divided among 17 buildings. It would include a two-story office building, constructed to a colonial design, facing Route 3. The south, east and west borders of the site would be ringed by trees.
The use is permitted in the commercial resort zone where the property lies. However, Mitchell expected that with the abandonment of his plan, the zoning ordinance will be amended to prohibit storage facilities in that zoning district.
Mitchell, who acquired the lot six years ago, said "I tried to do all kinds of things with the property. Is a storage facility the highest and best use?" he asked. "Of course, not. But, there is a need for storage space and it's the only thing I could do to get income from the property 12 months of the year." He doubted that there would be any significant investment in hotels, restaurants or attractions at the Weirs as long as property owners remain satisfied with the returns from a short season highlighted by Motorcycle Week. He noted that since the storage facility would consist of metal buildings on concrete slabs with no underground infrastructure, it could be dismantled in two weeks in order to redevelop the property if an opportunity arose.
"It's not something they want to see at the Weirs," Mitchell continued, "and more are against it than for it." He explained that Jon Rokeh of Rokeh Consulting of Chichester, who engineered the project, forwarded him some of the correspondence received by the Planning Department voicing objections to his plan. "I want to be a good neighbor," he said.
Mitchell, who grew up in Laconia, said that to put put the property to a higher use it would have to be combined with abutting properties. "In order to develop the property you have to come from Lakeside Avenue, you have to start at the lake and work up the hill, not start on the hill and work down." He estimated the cost of acquiring and developing the properties at between $20 million and $25 million. Moreover, there is no assurance that the Veteran's Compound could be redeveloped. "If anyone deserves to be there, Mitchell remarked, it's the veterans. They've earned the right."
Mitchell said that although the property has been used as a parking lot during Motorcycle Week in the past, this year it will be closed to the public.

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[QUOTE]

[chipj29]

From today's LaDaSun, it says the owner of this undeveloped 6-acres that fronts on Route 3 has decided to cancel out on the storage business because everybody is against it and will leave the property as it is.......an un-developed 6-acre lot that pays a property tax...truly the highest and best use...

The city would get much higher property tax on the property if it was developed

[Airedale1]

Laconia Daily sun
Mitchell backs off plan to build large self-storage compound at Weirs


http://www.laconiadailysun.com/templates/gk_twn2/images/system/emailButton.png (http://www.laconiadailysun.com/index.php/component/mailto/?tmpl=component&template=gk_twn2&link=e4e5acc0e633929242cf64e91647e4f77c0fedfd)

<DL class=article-info> <DT class=article-info-term>Details</DT> <DD class=published>Published Date Tuesday, 03 March 2015 03:04 </DD></DL>
LACONIA — On the eve of a so-called design review before the Planning Board, Al Mitchell, principal of the A.E. Mitchell Corporation of Belmont, said last night that he will withdraw his proposal to build a large self-storage facility at Weirs Beach in light of the opposition the project has aroused among business owners and residents of the summer resort community.
Acknowledging "it's the use", Mitchell said he is abandoning his plans "for the people who don't want to it there. I don't want to be the one to do that to the Weirs. I don't want it to be my legacy."
Mitchell planned to develop the 6.8-acre lot on the north side of Endicott Street North (Rte. 3 North) across the highway from the Meredith Bridge condominium community and next door to the Cumberland Farms convenience store. The land, which was cleared several years ago, backs up to the New.Hampshire Veteran's Association compound that fronts on Lakeside Ave.
As proposed, the facility would consist of 296 storage units divided among 17 buildings. It would include a two-story office building, constructed to a colonial design, facing Route 3. The south, east and west borders of the site would be ringed by trees.
The use is permitted in the commercial resort zone where the property lies. However, Mitchell expected that with the abandonment of his plan, the zoning ordinance will be amended to prohibit storage facilities in that zoning district.
Mitchell, who acquired the lot six years ago, said "I tried to do all kinds of things with the property. Is a storage facility the highest and best use?" he asked. "Of course, not. But, there is a need for storage space and it's the only thing I could do to get income from the property 12 months of the year." He doubted that there would be any significant investment in hotels, restaurants or attractions at the Weirs as long as property owners remain satisfied with the returns from a short season highlighted by Motorcycle Week. He noted that since the storage facility would consist of metal buildings on concrete slabs with no underground infrastructure, it could be dismantled in two weeks in order to redevelop the property if an opportunity arose.
"It's not something they want to see at the Weirs," Mitchell continued, "and more are against it than for it." He explained that Jon Rokeh of Rokeh Consulting of Chichester, who engineered the project, forwarded him some of the correspondence received by the Planning Department voicing objections to his plan. "I want to be a good neighbor," he said.
Mitchell, who grew up in Laconia, said that to put put the property to a higher use it would have to be combined with abutting properties. "In order to develop the property you have to come from Lakeside Avenue, you have to start at the lake and work up the hill, not start on the hill and work down." He estimated the cost of acquiring and developing the properties at between $20 million and $25 million. Moreover, there is no assurance that the Veteran's Compound could be redeveloped. "If anyone deserves to be there, Mitchell remarked, it's the veterans. They've earned the right."
Mitchell said that although the property has been used as a parking lot during Motorcycle Week in the past, this year it will be closed to the public.

(http://www.laconiadailysun.com/index.php/component/banners/click/27)

Great news!:)

[fatlazyless]

To qualify for 'in current use', a lot needs to be ten acres.

Just maybe the 6.8-acre sloping land which catches a lot of sunlight could be planted with strawberries from May to August, and then pumpkins from August through halloween, and this use could get them an agriculture exemption from their Laconia property 'best use' tax?

.... trick or treat!


Maybe a garden center business with a greenhouse to compete with the nearby Lowe's in Gilford....and....the Long View Farm in Meredith?


For the Weirs, it seems like the 'best use' is to let someone else to own it.