Conceptual plan for 85‑site campground on Roller Coaster Road draws board questions about access, seasonality and utilities

A conceptual proposal for an 85‑site recreational vehicle campground and 12 cabins on a parcel on Roller Coaster Road drew questions from the Laconia Planning Board and set a clear list of issues the developer must address before a formal application.

Applicant Larry Chase presented an older, previously approved campground layout for the roughly 40‑acre parcel and told the board the site had been approved as a campground in the 1990s; he said the modern proposal would include RV pads sized at about 1,700 to 3,000 square feet, water and sewer at each site, 50‑amp electrical service, a bathhouse, a pool and a small store/office set back well off the road. Chase said there is town sewer and water near the property frontage and he would pursue service extensions. He described the parcel as relatively deep and wooded, and said much of the existing internal circulation aligns with old logging roads.

Board members and others present raised immediate process and safety questions. Members asked whether the campground would primarily serve seasonal tenants (who leave for the winter) or transit guests (who come and go regularly); several board members and attendees recommended the developer prioritize seasonal sites to limit traffic movement on Roller Coaster Road. Concerns focused on the road’s geometry and a tight nearby intersection at Parade Road, safe sight distance at the proposed entrance, space for large fifth‑wheel rigs to turn within the site and the road’s condition: a board member said the city previously reclaimed and partly degraded the surface and that a full rehabilitation to city standards would be costly.

The applicant said he was prepared to widen and improve the entrance and to coordinate with public works on where the curb‑cut should be located to maximize sight lines; he also said he would contact utilities about transformer capacity and that his electrician was planning a 400‑amp service with distribution and transformer design. The board suggested the developer consult DPW about borings and the likely cost of improving Roller Coaster Road and to seek early input from utilities and fire officials on access and fire suppression requirements.

The presentation was conceptual only; no vote was taken. Board members recommended the developer pursue zoning relief from the zoning board if required, meet with DPW and utilities, and return with a formal application that includes detailed entrance design, evidence of sewer and water service availability, a traffic‑management plan and utility capacity details. Quotes in this article are drawn from the public meeting record.