The Laconia Zoning Board of Adjustment voted to allow a mixed residential/campground use and to grant a special exception for a small RV campground at 371 White Oaks Road.

At a public meeting on Dec. 18, Brown Engineering representative Dari Susana told the board the 3.8-acre parcel owner, Troy Mahoney, seeks relief to operate a campground alongside the existing single-family residence. "We're here tonight, again, for 371 White Oaks Road, a 3.8 acre parcel in the RR2 District," Susana said, describing the proposal as a low-density, 15–16-site campground (materials provided to the board contain both numbers; the motion approved by the board described a 15-site, year-round campground). Jeremy Fisher, the project's designer, said the site currently uses septic and that the project anticipates tying into a proposed sewer main; "we are working in that with DPW," Fisher said.

Neighbors voiced mixed responses. Long-time resident Glenn Joyce said he opposed the plan, telling the board: "I just don't agree with the... campground idea. Think it significantly changes White Oaks Road." By contrast, an abutter, Ian Byrd, submitted a letter read into the record saying, in part, that he "thinks his idea will be great for the area" and that he is "not opposed as long as I'm kept in the loop," noting a city conservation easement on his property.

Board members questioned compatibility with the RR2 district and whether the proposal would alter neighborhood character; some members raised traffic and density concerns and noted frequent development along White Oaks Road. Applicant representatives emphasized on-site management and screening: Susana said the property owner would continue to live on-site to provide caretaker coverage, and Fisher said the RV area is set back and largely not visible from the road. The applicant offered plantings or other screening measures as mitigation.

After debate, the board first approved a variance to permit two primary uses on one lot (mixed residential and campground), as moved from the floor. The board then considered the special-exception application to allow the campground use itself. An amendment to require the RV sites be screened from the road by plantings or similar measures was added to the motion. The board approved the special exception as amended; one board member recorded an abstention during each vote. Staff noted that detailed site design and any screening plans will be reviewed by the Planning Board as part of the permitting process.

The applicant and staff were asked to coordinate with public works on sewer connections and to keep abutters informed if additional access or temporary impacts are required; Ian Byrd's letter called for conservation staff to be involved if temporary access across his land is needed. The record shows the board closed the public hearing portion of the matter and that the approvals now move on to Planning Board review for site-level design and conditions.

The meeting transcript contains inconsistent references to the application identifiers and site count: the variance motion was recorded as approving application ZB2026-016 for mixed use, and the special-exception motion as ZB2026-017 (the applicant's materials used both 15 and 16 sites). The board's final motion describes a 15-site, year-round RV campground and includes the added condition that the RV sites be screened from the road. The board thanked staff for their assistance and closed the matter for the Zoning Board's part of the review.