WATERMARK
WHERE TO START???
I want a new dock, beach, or other shoreline structure - Where do I start?
Most all work in-the-water requires a permit so the first question we ask is: Do you have a permit?
If not, this is where we start. In order to delineate the project and your frontage, we need to gather a bundle of information which will guide us through creating a game-plan for permit preparation.
We will typically ask the following:
Are there existing structures on the frontage?
Do you have previous Wetlands permits for the existing structures?
If not, can you prove "grandfather status" of the existing structures?
Ideally, what do you want to do on the frontage?
What is your average shoreline frontage?
Are there any previous Wetlands issues on the site such as past violations, etc.?
Are there going to be abutter issues once the permit is submitted?
Once we analyze the above, we can move on to the property information:
Who is the legal owner (individual, trust, corporation, etc.)?
What is the tax map and lot number?
Do you have a survey or other plans we can use to start the planning process?
At this point, we can generally commence a preliminary plan of the frontage and structures. Important considerations when sketching a waterfront property include:
Full lake shoreline delineation...
Wetlands delineation if applicable...
Existing structure dimensions (docks, beach, boathouse, breakwater, walls, etc.)...
Relation of full lake shoreline to existing structures (parts "over" the water or "over" shore)...
North arrow and site GPS coordinates/locus on USGS chart...
Slope and bank information such as walls, rip-rap, etc....
Water depths and hazards to navigation around structures (if appl.)...
Shoreland structures existing and proposed (if appl.)...
Visit Town/City and obtain abutter info and copy of proper tax map(s)...
Calculation of existing and proposed impacts surface areas and volumes...
After looking over all of the above, we can start to narrow-down the type of Wetlands Permit we will need to file and the package is assembled. At this point, we will notify the NH Natural Heritage Bureau to see if there are any "hits" in the area. If no, the permit is submitted. If yes, we need to determine what the "hit" is and if any measures are required to deal with the particular issue.
From this point forward, the specific permit type guides the timing and process. Please ask us to describe the process and our expectations once the permit package is submitted. This will take a considerable amount of time so plan ahead!!!
Information is for guidance only. We suggest you contact the NH Wetlands Bureau for additional information. Administrative Rules and NH Statute are subject to change any time and Watermark cannot be responsible for accuracy of the information contain herein. There is no way this short page could contain all the information necessary to prepare a permit application. Most of the above relates to Lakes and not necessarily Tidal Waters or River frontage. When in doubt, please ask!!!
Copyright© 2007 Watermark Navigation Systems, LLC