One disagreement focused on the different ways impact can be measured.
By Toni Seger
Special to the Sun Journal

LOVELL – About 100 people gathered Saturday, Oct. 18, at New Suncook School to continue a hearing on plans to convert Pleasant Point Inn on Lake Kezar to time share units.

Lovell Appeals Board Chairwoman Judy Ryan.

The applicant, Nick Castell owns Conway Resorts and Pleasant Point Inn on Lake Kezar in Center Lovell. His application to convert the inn and adjoining properties into time shares had been heard on Aug. 9 and continued Saturday. Castell wants to reduce the capacity of the restaurant from 100 to 40 and raise the number of available living units from 23 to 32.

Castell is represented by Helen Edmonds of Pierce, Atwood in Portland.

Edmonds presented an amended application that she said addressed the concerns of the intervenors. She contends the project will lessen traffic, parking, noise and any other negative consequence of development.

“Nothing is being changed. It’s only the mix of uses that has changed,” she said.

The intervenors, Quisisana Resort, Greater Lovell Land Trust and Kezar Lake Watershed Association, were represented by Richard Spencer of Drummon, MacMahon and Woodsum in Portland.

Spencer characterized the amended application as having “jumped from the frying pan into the fire.” He said the applicant is trying to “expand a nonconforming use” and his amendments “only raise new questions.”

One area of disagreement focused on the different ways impact can be measured. Edmonds claims, eliminating large functions at Pleasant Point will lessen impact because it will lessen peak usage and that’s the way government agencies measure impact.

Spencer insisted use will actually increase because the facilities will be used for more hours and during more seasons.

The biggest change in the application was the proposal to build a new parking lot and a site walk was conducted during lunch. This would open up a grassy area currently sheltered by large trees. Some possible impacts were discussed such as beach erosion, wastewater disposal and carrying capacity.

Joan Irish, president of the watershed association, expressed concern about safety and pollution given the proximity of the popular town beach. She was especially concerned that a large turnover of boats, every week, would introduce milfoil and other invasive species.

Howard Corwin, president of the land trust, talked about the “soft signs” of a lake’s decline and the ability of Kezar to absorb additional phosphorus.

Property owners expressed concerns about noise, parking and a decline in the quality of their surrounding environment. Abutters talked about problems in New Hampshire with MTBE getting into well water caused by runoff from vehicle exhaust. There were concerns about the ability of firetrucks to access property after Pleasant Point is redesigned.

Martha Armington brought a petition signed by 467 townspeople during the last week. She said she spoke for the year-round residents who were trying to protect their homes and their lifestyles.

Nothing can be decided until official transcripts have been reviewed by the Appeals Board, which Ryan said wouldn’t happen until mid-November.

Ryan adjourned the meeting at 5:30 p.m. She said the public was invited to the Appeals Board’s deliberations, but could not speak.

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