Laconia council sends Weirs Beach commercial-docking rule to ordinance committee after business objections

The Laconia City Council moved on Monday to send a proposed change to the city—ode that restricts commercial use of the Weirs Beach docks to the government operations and ordinances committee for review. The move followed public comments from local boat operators who said the restriction harms small businesses and downtown commerce.

The request before the council concerns Laconia City Code, chapter 2-29, section 2-29-3, "commercial use restricted," and asks the council to consider allowing short-term docking by commercial vessels for the purpose of transporting passengers in and out of Weirs Beach via the Weirs docks. Councilor Haines moved to send the matter to the government operations and ordinances committee; the motion passed 6-0.

Why it matters: multiple local tour and charter operators said restricting commercial use of the docks discourages visitors from coming to the Weirs and reduces spending at arcades, restaurants and bars the operators said they recommend to customers. Business owners also raised safety concerns about inexperienced rental-boat operators on crowded summer weekends.

Boat operators told the council the rule will hurt local businesses. "Charging a fine for people in the business of paying customers to make absolutely no sense is the exact opposite of what we're trying to do here at the Weirs to grow and thrive," said Chad Pazzo, owner of Mini Winnie Party Bus Company, who said he and other operators typically dock only long enough "to pick people up and drop people off respectfully, quickly and safely." Bill Verner, owner of Lake Wendesaukee Boat Tours, said he did not see a handicapped-accessible dock among the new signage and asked the council to consider shared handicap docking. "It'd be a great idea to be able to share a dock with a handicap," Verner said. Jeff Hagopian, owner of Lake Winnipesaukee Pontoon Boat Charters and Tours, told the council operators provide an added safety benefit for visitors who lack local boating experience.

Council members said the ordinance already exists and that enforcement and signage prompted some of the complaints that spurred the request. "What was happening was posting signs for something that already was there," Councilor Cheney said, noting constituents had asked why the existing ordinance was not being enforced. Councilor Cheney and other members encouraged operators to participate in the committee review.

Process and next steps: the council moved the item to the government operations and ordinances committee, which is scheduled to meet Wednesday the 13th at 2:00 p.m. If the committee reaches a consensus and the council pursues a code change, a public hearing will be required before final action; councilors estimated the earliest the council could resolve the matter would be in September if the process proceeds quickly.

Discussion vs. decision: the council's action was limited to referring the request to committee; no code change was adopted at Monday's meeting. The transcript records business owners' appeals, council discussion about enforcement and signage, and the procedural vote to send the item to committee.

Ending: Operators were urged to attend the ordinance committee meeting and to provide input during the subsequent public hearing if the council pursues a change to section 2-29-3.