Disapproval Growing Against Proposed 210 Homes in Holiday Acres

In Sept. 2016, representatives of the Hynes Group presented a proposal to purchase several large town-owned parcels at the rear of Holiday Acres and to build a total of 200-210 double-wide, manufactured homes for buyers over age 55 on that land at a rate of 10-12 per year. There will be a separate entrance off Chester Tpke. The homes are expected to sell for about $110,000 but the park keeps the land (sounds just like a trailer park).

The Hynes Group, headquartered in British Columbia, Canada, builds manufactured housing parks across the U.S. They currently manage Holiday Acres in Allenstown, which is a mobile home park of some 298 mobile homes.

At the February 27th BOS meeting, several residents spoke out against the project and asked why the Board has not been able to attract any businesses that could reduce property taxes and provide local jobs. The BOS had a purchase and sale agreement ready to go but tabled the issue because Selectman Tardiff was absent. See the Selectmen's page for details on that discussion.

 ➤ Resolution for sale of town-owned land
 ➤ Purchase & Sale Agreement for land

Several factors are in dispute. The addition of these 210 homes may burden the school system, despite the rosy picture of only 15 new students as painted by the Hynes Group. The Purchase and Sale Agreement requires that only one buyer must be 55 or older. Thus a parent may buy a home and allow an adult child with children to move in. The buyers may have started a family late in life and have teenage children. The buyers may also be legally raising their grandchildren.

The project may adversely affect property values of custom built homes in town. The value of the manufactured homes may decrease over time, despite the claims of the developers, who point to a similar project in Rochester, NH, which is a city of 30,000 people with a large commercial base. Bear Brook State Park occupies half the town and provides no direct revenue to the town. It is crucial that the remaining town land be developed so as to maximize property tax revenue and minimize town service expenses.

What You Can Do

You need to attend the March 6th BOS meeting at Town Hall at 6 p.m. and (hopefully) state your opposition to this project.

You should also read the Letter to Residents that was mailed out recently and jot down your questions to ask the selectmen at the naext BOS meeting.