Old Stage Campground expansion reviewed by board
posted by admin in Sewer SepticSite review of the plans for the proposed expansion of the Old Stage Campground began on Dec. 19. David and Karen Redfearn plan to add 19 new campsites to the 150 which exist now along the Bellamy River.
Planning Board members wanted to know how the septic system works now and what would happen should 19 more sites be added. They were told that there are three leach fields to which sewage is pumped and that 22 of the present sites are not on the system.
Upon studying the plot plan drawn up by SFC Engineering Partnership, Inc., of Manchester, board members noted that the proposed new site area is five feet above flood level. They were told that no grading is anticipated; that the gravel access road would be 18 feet wide; that a minimum number of trees would be removed; and that the site pads would be 45 by 65 feet.
Conservation Commission Chairman Eric Fiegenbaum presented photos taken of the area. He stated that the area probably has poorly drained soils with the possibility that some soils there are in the town’s Wetland Overlay District. He suggested that the additional sites might increase the impervious area, causing it to exceed the 10 percent threshold beyond which there could be damage to the river.
Fiegenbaum noted that the area shows erosion, and questioned the series of expansions which have taken place since the campground’s establishment before and after town zoning was put in place. He called attention to deeds in the 1980s which might limit the number of sites.
Lesley Stein, whose property abuts the campground, with the road to the campground bisecting her home lot, questioned whether the expansion is appropriate since it is in an Agricultural/Residential zone.
Her research showed that in 1969 there were 35 recreational vehicles at the campground. She reported that the activity during 51?2 months per year attracts not only passenger vehicles but waste trucks, gas trucks, UPS, all manner of other supply trucks, as well as motorcycles, creating a “huge” dust problem since the 15 mph speed limit is seldom adhered to on this private road. She reminded the board that each family in the campground could have two cars and that the employees all use the road, too.
The board has scheduled a site walk for 11 a.m. on Jan. 5 and continued the public hearing to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6, at the Town Hall.
Following this, Peter Rice, the water and sewer engineer for the City of Portsmouth, speaking for a contingent of four on hand from the Portsmouth Department of Public Works presented an overview of the upgrade the department plans for the Bellamy Reservoir and the Portsmouth water treatment plant on Freshet Road. He said such upgrades are needed since the system was built in the 1950s and the equipment is not functioning properly.
Rice stated that at the reservoir a new intake structure will be built, along with supporting structures.
The Bellamy Reservoir was built when the federal government, upon creating the Pease Air Force Base, took Portsmouth’s water supply. There are wells in the Johnson Creek area which are also part of the water supply for the City of Portsmouth, which sells water to Newington, Greenland, Rye, and the Pease International Tradeport, and parts of Durham, Madbury and New Castle.
Tags: 1980s, anc, crease, embers, flood, Government, lt, photos, sewerRelated posts
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