Kezar Lake inn plans going to Lovell Appeals Board
By Gail Geraghty
Staff Writer

LOVELL – A developer’s plans to increase the number of guest rooms at Pleasant Point Inn on Kezar Lake will face opposition when the matter comes before the Lovell Appeals Board Aug. 9.

The meeting begins at 9 a.m. in Lovell Town Hall and is expected to attract opponents from the Kezar Lake Watershed Association, the Greater Lovell Land Trust, the Farrington Owners Association and Quisisana, a nearby resort complex.

Conway Lake Resorts Inc. of Laconia, N.H., has a contract to buy the historic main lodge and four cottages on six acres from the Pleasant Point Realty Trust, administered by Paris lawyer Alan Perry and his wife, Ada.

Conway Lake Resorts is requesting a change from one non-conforming use to another and may have to go before the Planning Board as well. As outlined, Conway Lake Resorts wants to reduce the size of the restaurant from 100 seats to 40 seats, and increase the number of hotel/motel units inside the Main Lodge from 14 to 27.

Overall, however, with other interior changes to four other cottages on the property, Conway Lake Resorts argues that the total number of guest bedrooms on the property will be increased by “only six, from 41 to 47.”

As part of the interior changes, the laundry room and ice cream parlor would be eliminated. The 50-seat conference room has already been converted to two hotel/motel units after a building permit was issued in December 2002.

Conway Lake Resorts, in its application to the town, said it is making “extensive capital improvements to the Main Lodge, including addition of a much-needed foundation to prevent the further deterioration of the historic structure. Six of the new hotel/motel units will be placed in the basement.

Regarding site improvements, Conway Lake Resorts proposes to develop a single, new parking area on what’s known as the tennis court lot “in order to help reduce the current practice of parking immediately adjacent to the town’s public beach,” the application states.

Conway Lake Resorts maintains that parking as it now exists for the Main Lodge and cottages is “ill-defined and disorganized.” There will be 11 spaces set aside for disabled persons and families near the town beach.

Opponents, in a May 19 letter to the board, charged Conway Lake Resort’s application is incomplete and that Conway Lake Resorts is improperly changing the operation to year-round use. The letter, from the opponent’s lawyer, Richard Spencer, also questions the placement of a second boat dock on the property.

The Farrington Owners Association has filed a civil suit in Oxford County Superior Court over the placement of the extra boat docks, which they say reduces the size of their swimming area and was done without their approval.

Writing on behalf of Conway Lake Resorts, Helen Edmonds of the Portland law firm of Pierce Atwood said Conway Lake Resorts disagrees that its application is incomplete, but will supply the additional items requested by the town.

“We are confident that once the board reviews the application, it will conclude that all ordinance standards are satisfied, meriting approval of Conway Lake Resort’s application,” Edmonds wrote.

Copy the Story Link