On July 5 people from across the region got to weigh in on the application at a planning board hearing that attracted about 65 people. There were comments about the impact the expansion could have on the lake water quality, economic impact, and safety, but the focus was mainly on the expansion onto the peninsula. That expansion includes just 15 of the proposed 246 new sites. The campground, located off Route 16 on Newman Drew Road in West Ossipee currently has 258 sites.
NEWS
Campground Expansion Under Scrutiny
At a public meeting, Ossipee town officials and residents questioned the environmental impact of the proposed expansion of Westward Shores campground. The town has hired an outside engineering firm as “a second pair of professional eyes” to determine the plan’s compliance with local regulations. The campground’s owner calls concerns about the impact of flooding “way overblown” as residents ask if high water could overwhelm the septic system and prevent campers from safely vacating the property.
Ossipee Planning Board Determines Westward Shores Has Regional Impact
The towns of Freedom and Effingham and the Lakes Region Planning Commission have been granted abutter status and will be permitted to comment on the expansion proposal. The Planning Board also mandated a third-party independent review of the expansion application, to be paid for by the campground, to make sure the application meets the town’s zoning ordinance.
Westward Shores Responds, Newspaper Responds Back
In two long letters to the Carroll County Independent, the attorney for Westward Shores Campground says alleged misrepresentations to Ossipee officials by his client were actually the result of incomplete meeting minutes and inaccurate reporting. In an editorial response, the newspaper says it stands by its reporting and reiterates its recommendation that extra care be taken to assess the expansion proposal “openly and with care.”
Freedom Conservation Commission Concerned About Westward Shores Expansion
Citing the need to protect surface water and the area’s aquifer, the Commission says the scope of the campground proposal makes it a regional issue, not just a matter for Ossipee planners. Meanwhile, questions continue about claims made to town officials by the campground’s engineering consultants.