Laconia City Council creates ad hoc committee to review plans for 10‑acre Old North Main parcel

Mayor Hosmer opened the council’s report on housing and said the city had received multiple responses to a request for qualifications for the 10‑acre Old North Main Street parcel and needed a transparent public process to review them. He proposed creating a special ad hoc citizen advisory committee under the council’s rules of procedure and appointing two councilors to the panel.

The council approved the creation of the committee 6–0. Councilor Felcher made the motion; Councilor Haynes seconded. The mayor said he would appoint Councilor Cheney and Councilor Hoffman to the committee and asked the city manager to staff the group and schedule an initial public meeting.

Why it matters: Old North Main is a city‑owned, 10‑acre parcel that drew public attention after the council issued a September 2024 RFQ for potential development. Residents who live adjacent to the property and others raised concerns at recent meetings about transparency, traffic, design and the types of housing proposed. Council members…