CONCORD — The Long Range Capital Planning & Utilization Committee voted to approve a series of Department of Transportation and Department of Administrative Services requests on Nov. 12, including sales of mitigation parcels tied to the dissolved Conway Bypass, a bulk disposal of 22 improved parcels from the circumferential project, leases for private docks on Lake Winnipesaukee and several easements to support utilities and a wireless facility.

Eric Sargent, Right of Way Bureau administrator for the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, told the committee that LRCP25-044 would transfer four state-owned parcels in Conway totaling 445.6 acres to the town of Conway for $355,000. "The department is requesting to sell 4 parcels of state owned land in Conway consisting of 445.6 acres for a total of 355,000 to the town of Conway," Sargent said, adding the parcels are intended for conservation. He said a $1,100 administrative fee will be assessed and that, if Conway declines, DOT would list the parcels on the open market.

Committee members pressed DOT on valuation and restrictions. Representative Bogart questioned the per-acre price compared with local market values, noting it "seems to be a very lucrative price at $797 per acre." Sargent said the appraisal reflected conservation-easement restrictions and that the intent is to sell with a conservation easement "in perpetuity." Representative Faulkner asked whether federal funds or mitigation agreements limit the transaction; Sargent confirmed parcels acquired with federal funds could require Federal Highway approval and reimbursement.

The committee approved the Conway sale by voice vote. The meeting record shows similar approvals for other individual disposals: a 1.15-acre Madison parcel (LRCP25-045) to be listed at $79,000 with a reserved 30-foot trail easement for the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources; a 1.78-acre Chesterfield parcel (LRCP25-048) for $7,800; and a 6.13-acre Madison parcel tied to the Conway Bypass proposed for direct sale to Mark Olsen for $17,000 (LRCP25-049).

DOT also requested and received approval to bulk dispose of 22 improved parcels originally acquired for the circumferential highway project (LRCP26-002). Lewis Barker of DOT's Bureau of Rail and Transit told the committee the parcels — in Merrimack, Litchfield and Hudson — will be sold to towns, the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority, existing tenants, or by listing with prequalified realtors, and that DOT intends to set listing prices no lower than each parcel's assessed value. DOT said tenants currently renting improved properties will be notified, given an opportunity to acquire the properties, and that statutory offer procedures (to towns and NH Housing Finance Authority) will be followed. The committee's motion to approve the bulk disposal carried by voice vote.

Other approvals included a 0.63-acre lease of Hillsborough Railroad Corridor land in Greenfield to an adjoining equestrian business for $5,500 with a five-year renewal provision (LRCP25-050); DOT said lessees must maintain the leased area, provide fencing, and carry liability insurance.

The Department of Administrative Services asked the committee to grant a perpetual utility-line easement to Public Service Company d/b/a Eversource at 296 Rochester Hill Road to install a subsurface electrical distribution line and transformer needed to complete the new Rochester courthouse (LRCP25-053). Jared Niland of DAS explained the easement will "enable Eversource to install that transformer and install the distribution line and, therefore, finish the construction." The committee approved the easement and a requested waiver of the $1,100 administrative fee as specified in DAS's request.

DAS also received committee approval for a retroactive lease of 300 square feet of state-owned space at the Rockingham County Superior Courthouse in Brentwood to Rockingham County (LRCP26-001) for the 2026–2028 period, producing total revenue of $9,891.

On the railroad-frontage docket, the committee approved leases allowing private noncommercial docks for CE Realty Trust and the Needle Eye Association on Lake Winnipesaukee (LRCP25-046 and LRCP25-047). DOT confirmed liability insurance provisions and noted some leases required retroactive governor-and-council approval.

DOT requested authorization to grant approximately 0.4-acre private-road easements over the Mountain Division Railroad Corridor in Carroll to Industrial Wireless to accommodate access for a cell tower (LRCP25-051 and LRCP25-052). DOT described historical private access, the need for bridge replacement and engineering evaluation, maintenance obligations for grantees, and required indemnification and insurance. The committee approved those easements by voice vote.

Votes at a glance
• LRCP25-044 (Conway — 445.6 acres to town of Conway, conservation easement, $355,000): approved (voice vote).
• LRCP25-045 (Madison — 1.15 acres, list at $79,000; 30-foot DNCR trail easement): approved (voice vote).
• LRCP25-048 (Chesterfield — 1.78 acres, $7,800): approved (voice vote).
• LRCP25-049 (Madison — 6.13 acres to Mark Olsen, $17,000): approved (voice vote).
• LRCP26-002 (Bulk disposal — 22 improved parcels, circumferential project): approved (voice vote).
• LRCP25-050 (Greenfield rail lease, 0.63 acres, $5,500, five-year renewal): approved (voice vote).
• LRCP25-053 (Rochester courthouse easement to Eversource): approved (voice vote).
• LRCP26-001 (Rockingham County lease — Brentwood courthouse, retroactive 2026–2028): approved (voice vote).
• LRCP25-046 & LRCP25-047 (Lake Winnipesaukee dock leases): approved (voice vote).
• LRCP25-051 & LRCP25-052 (Carroll private-road easements; Industrial Wireless access): approved (voice vote).

What to watch next
DOT said a number of remaining parcels tied to the Conway Bypass and circumferential projects remain and will be brought to future LRCP meetings. An informational item noted a previously approved disposal's acreage and price were corrected after further review (reduced from 4.7 to 4.02 acres; sale price adjusted from $940,000 to $805,000). The committee set its next meeting for March 16 at 09:30.

Sources and attribution
Quotes and details are drawn from committee proceedings where Eric Sargent (Right of Way Bureau, DOT), Lewis Barker (Bureau of Rail & Transit, DOT), Jared Niland (Department of Administrative Services) and committee members including Representative Bogart, Representative Faulkner, Representative Newman and Senator Pearl spoke. Direct quotations in this article are taken from remarks presented during the meeting and attributed to the speaker named in the transcript.

The meeting record indicates approvals were taken by voice vote with motions moved and seconded on the record; individual roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript.