The current president of Londonderry Fish and Game, Richard H. Olson Jr., attended the Town Council meeting on Monday, May 20, and raised a number of concerns regarding a new clubhouse the group had approval to build on their property.
Olson explained, during public comment, that his club came to the town a while back to request building a clubhouse. At the time, the club hired a number of reputable professionals to design the site plan for the building and got all the necessary permits to move forward with the project.
Olson also added that through the process of getting their plans approved by the town, they did everything that was asked of them including meeting the conditions that were given to them when the site plan was approved by the town.
Olson went on to say that after they began site work recently, his general contractor was denied a building permit because a couple of variances would need to be obtained.
He said he hadn’t even gotten any official notice of the town’s request until he was handed a letter as he walked into the Town Hall that evening.
“We’re now $170,000 into this project. We’ve got materials ordered, and we’re stalled.”
Olson added, “I’ve read this letter [he was given] thoroughly, and to be honest, I don’t have any problem with anything here, but we should have had this done during planning, not after everything has been said and done.”
The letter stated that 150 feet of frontage is needed for a Class V or better road and a variance is required.
The other varience was in regard to the size of the building, The 40×76-sq. foot building is much larger than what was granted for the existing clubhouse and is not allowed in an AR1 zone.
Variences from LZO 4.2.1.3.B.1 and LZO 8.2.A.3 are needed.
He finished by saying how ticked off he is at the way the project was handled by the town adding, “This is just buffoonery.”
Olson explained that the plan was to have the shell of the clubhouse closed up by September/October, but that’s not going to happen now.
“I’m ticked off. I think the process is broken when you have the unmitigated gall to tell us that we need variances after the planning board approved it.”
Councilor John Farrell responded to the issue by saying he was made aware of the issue at 5 p.m. that evening and would be discussing the problem with the town’s attorney at 8 a.m. the following morning.
In a letter sent to current club members before attending the Town Council, Olson stated, “In most other towns, the issues of variances and non-conforming uses arise BEFORE the project is approved by the Planning Board. Once a planning Board puts its signature on the project IT IS A DONE DEAL. That is the normal course of action. But, obviously, NOT in Londonderry.”
Olson ended the letter by saying, “For those of you who are Londonderry residents, perhaps the time is now to take a good long hard look at the Council and think about replacing anybody who does nothing, defends this incompetence, and generally tolerates this rank intolerance.”
When reached the following day, Olson said he was told the town’s attorney and the club’s attorney would be meeting to discuss a quick resolution to the problem.
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