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Abutters press board over Cotton Falls dock expansion; DES compliance disputed
Summary
Residents said Cotton Falls LLC added slips and moved buoys without adequate notice; the applicant said DES inspected and approved the work. The board agreed the issue involves state DES jurisdiction, will share contacts and forward materials to the town attorney.
A prolonged public discussion before the Ashland Planning Board focused on Cotton Falls LLC’s docks and boat slips, where abutters say changes were made without adequate notice and that new slip placement reduced sightlines and safety in the channel. Residents asked the board to help secure a meeting with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES).
Several residents said they were not notified about the work and that buoys had been moved about 150 feet, degrading sightlines through the covered bridge. One resident said, “Abutters were never notified of what was gonna be happening here. We were never informed.” Another said the dock layout is now less than the 20-foot setback that DES guidance references.
The applicant and town staff said DES examined the site and issued a compliance letter in March 2026; the board provided attendees a copy and identified DES staff (including Melinda Towne and Peter Conte) as contacts. Planning members noted a distinction between town zoning and state wetland/permitting authority and discussed whether the existing docks predate zoning (a grandfathered use).
The board concluded that many questions fall under DES authority and that the town lacks jurisdiction to overrule state permits; it agreed to forward relevant documentation to the town attorney for review and to help residents by sending a letter of introduction to DES and requesting a meeting with the agency’s compliance staff.
