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Camp Birchmont presents plans for permanent pavilion and covered gym; Planning Board outlines engineering and ZBA steps
Summary
Representatives of Camp Birchmont presented conceptual plans on Feb. 10 to add a permanent wood pavilion and a steel-covered gym over an existing basketball court; the Planning Board advised on engineered drawings, TRC items and a March 2 ZBA appearance.
Charlie Edwards, representing the Pierce family, told the Wolfeboro Planning Board on Feb. 10 that Camp Birchmont is proposing two new structures at 693 Governor Wentworth Highway: a permanent wooden pavilion to replace the camp's seasonal tent over picnic tables and a steel building to cover an existing basketball court and serve as a gym and off-season storage.
"It is strictly a picnic area," Edwards said of the pavilion, describing a post-and-beam wooden structure with a structural roof and a four-foot frost-wall foundation to protect campers from sun exposure. Edwards said the camp serves children ages 7–15, has been family-owned for 75 years and covers more than 240 acres; he told the Board the proposed buildings are more than 1,000 feet from water.
Edwards described the second structure as a steel building from Seacoast Steel in Kittery, Maine that would be built over the existing basketball court and used for storage of boats and golf carts in the off season. He said the presented drawings were preliminary and that professional engineered drawings would be provided later but are expensive.
Shanna Saunders, Circuit Rider Planning Director with the Lakes Region Planning Commission, summarized items that arose during the Technical Review Committee (TRC) review: a map labeling every building on the camp property, acceptance of engineered drawings, and the need to appear before the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Edwards said they hope to appear on the ZBA agenda on March 2, 2026.
Board members asked technical and procedural questions. Roger Murray asked whether the indoor cover would require a variance in addition to a special exception; the Board discussed the municipal definition of "recreation" and whether the structure would be treated as an indoor facility. Julie Jacobs asked whether the new gym would have a floor; Edwards said it would not, that the building would cover the existing court. Paul O’Brian asked whether both buildings would be constructed at once; Edwards said the pavilion would be built first and the gym later.
The Board requested additional materials for formal review: engineered drawings acceptable to staff, a survey with dimensions and reference points, and compliance with Section 175:15 of the Town site-plan regulations. No formal approvals or votes were taken at the pre-consultation; the discussion concluded at 7:40 PM.
