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City of Laconia, NH
Belknap County
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Table of Contents
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New Laws (2) Index
[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Laconia 4-8-1996 by Ord. No. 03.96.3; amended in its entirety 11-24-1997 by Ord. No. 11.97.11. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter is adopted pursuant to the authority granted by RSA 47:14, or any other applicable statutes.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the orderly, compatible and safe use of public and private property during the annual motorcycle week special event and to provide for adequate parking, sanitary facilities, utilities and public safety services.
A. 
For the purpose of this chapter, certain terms or words herein shall be interpreted or defined as follows:
(1) 
Words used in the present tense include the future tense. The singular includes the plural.
(2) 
The word "person" includes a corporation, as well as an individual.
(3) 
The word "lot" includes the word "plot" or "parcel."
(4) 
The term "shall" is mandatory; "may" is permissive.
(5) 
The word "used" or "occupied" as applied to any land or building shall be construed to include the words "intended, arranged or designed to be used or occupied."
(6) 
Section 235-13 of the Laconia Zoning Ordinance will apply when a specific word is not defined in this chapter.
B. 
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BUILDING
Any structure, whether permanent or temporary, with or without a roof, supported by columns, walls or other structural support.
CAMPING UNIT
Any tent, trailer, cabin, lean-to, recreation vehicle or similar structure established or maintained and operated in a campground as temporary living quarters for recreation, education or vacation purposes. For purposes of Motorcycle Week, a camping unit shall also include any of the foregoing exceeding 120 square feet, with each 120 square feet in addition to the first camping unit constituting an additional camping unit thereto.
EDGE OF PAVEMENT
(1) 
For NH Route 3 beginning at Lakeside Avenue, north to the City limits: edge of pavement.
(2) 
For NH Route 11-B, from Weirs Boulevard to the Gilford Town limit: edge of pavement.
(3) 
For Weirs Boulevard from 11-B south to Lake Street: white line.
(4) 
For Lake Street from Weirs Boulevard to Union Avenue: white line.
(5) 
For all other areas in the City: the white line; and where a white line may not be indicated: from the edge of pavement.
LOT OF RECORD
A designated parcel, tract or area of land established by plat, subdivision or as otherwise permitted by law to be separately owned, used, developed or built upon. For purposes of Motorcycle Week only, contiguous lots of record that are owned by the same entity may be considered one lot.
PLACE OF MASS ASSEMBLY
Any place, private or public, whereon it is reasonable to anticipate that 50 or more persons will gather, congregate or assemble at any one time during the entertainment, special event, vending, parking or camping to be conducted upon the site pursuant to this chapter, or during Motorcycle Week activities.
PROPERTY OWNER
Any property owner, agent for a property owner, or any other individual, business, corporation, or company that owns, leases, or otherwise controls real property.
PUBLIC PLACE
A place to which the public or a substantial group of persons is invited or has access, whether publicly or privately owned.
SPECIAL EVENT
A gathering, collecting, assembly or congregating of persons, with or without the levy of an admission fee, that is open to the general public.
STRUCTURE
Anything, with or without a roof, whether permanent or temporary, constructed or erected with a fixed location on the ground or attached to something having a fixed location on the ground. For Motorcycle Week, includes camping units.
TEMPORARY CAMPGROUND
A plot of ground upon which three or more campsites or camping units are located, established or maintained and for the purpose of Motorcycle Week only. (From Laconia Zoning, uses two or more campsites.)
[Amended 3-25-2002 by Ord. No. 03.2002.03; 12-9-2002 by Ord. No. 04.2002.04]
TEMPORARY OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT
The furnishing of entertainment for a period of less than 10 consecutive days, whether or not the audience is not contained in an enclosed structure or building.[1]
TEMPORARY PARKING FACILITY
A plot of ground on which temporary parking of vehicles is located, maintained and operated for the purpose of serving vehicles patronizing Motorcycle Week events, attractions and businesses.
[Added 12-9-2002 by Ord. No. 04.2002.04]
TEMPORARY SIGNAGE
Any device, fixture, placard, landscaping or structure, used for a period not to exceed 30 days, that uses any color, form, graphic, illumination, symbol or writing to advertise, announce the purpose of or identify the purpose of a person or entity or to communicate information of any kind to the public. (From Laconia Zoning.)
VENDOR
All persons, both principals and agents, including those persons whose principal place of business is not in this state, who engage in the temporary or transient business in this state, whether in one locality or traveling from place to place, selling goods, wares and merchandise from stock or buying samples for future delivery and who, for the purpose of carrying on such businesses, hire or occupy a temporary place of business.
[1]
Editor's Note: The former definition of "temporary outdoor sexually oriented dancing or exhibitions," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 3-25-2002 by Ord. No. 03.2002.03.
A. 
Permanent land alterations. Any person or property owner making permanent land alterations for the purpose of supporting Motorcycle Week activities shall be required to apply to the Planning Board under RSA 674:43 for site plan review. These activities may include, but are not limited to, the following activities: tree stumping, regrading of land, excavating/filling of land, graveling or paving a grassed, dirt or graveled area.
[Amended 12-9-2002 by Ord. No. 04.2002.04]
B. 
Temporary land uses. Any person or property owner operating any of the following land uses before or during Motorcycle Week shall apply to the Motorcycle Technical Review Committee (MTRC) for review prior to the start of any land use:
(1) 
Any property containing one or more temporary vendors or places of mass assembly.
(2) 
Any property containing a temporary campground or temporary structures.
(3) 
Any property containing temporary parking.
A. 
Application requirements. A completed application form, and with such attachments and action, security, sanitation plans, etc., and nonrefundable application and other fees that the City may require from time to time, eight sets of the proposed plan and any other supporting documents shall be submitted to the Planning Office by the specified deadlines. Application forms, plan checklist and schedule of deadlines are available in the Planning Office.
[Amended 12-9-2002 by Ord. No. 04.2002.04]
B. 
Completed applications. Upon receipt of an application, the Planning Department will review the application for completeness. An application is considered complete when all of the application and plan checklist information has been submitted and application fees are paid.
C. 
Public hearing notice. Once an application has been determined to be complete, the application shall be noticed for public hearing in a newspaper of general circulation.
D. 
Motorcycle Technical Review Committee. Completed applications are forwarded to the Motorcycle Technical Review Committee, consisting of the following City review departments: Planning Director (Chair), Public Works Director or designee (Vice Chair), Water Superintendent or designee, Police Chief or designee, Fire Chief or designee, Code Enforcement Director and Licensing Clerk. The Committee shall review the application, hold a public hearing and act to grant final approval, approval with conditions or denial of the application. A quorum of four members of the Committee is required to conduct a review meeting.
[Amended 11-26-2007 by Ord. No. 14.2007.14]
E. 
Decision to Licensing Board. The MTRC shall forward its decision and a copy of the application to the Licensing Board within five days after the meeting at which a final decision is made.
F. 
Grounds for denial.
(1) 
The MTRC may deny the application for any of the following reasons:
[Amended 12-9-2002 by Ord. No. 04.2002.04]
(a) 
The requirements of this chapter have not and cannot be met;
(b) 
Provisions for public safety, health, welfare and well-being of persons or property have not been adequately addressed;
(c) 
The application will require the diversion of so great a number of police officers or emergency medical and fire personnel to properly serve and protect the site and areas contiguous to the site that it would deny routine and reasonable protection to all other Motorcycle Week events or to the remainder of the City.
(2) 
Denial of the application shall be in writing and shall state the reasons for denial.
G. 
Expiration of approvals. Each application approval shall expire 24 hours following the completion of the event. No permanent land use approvals are granted or implied by this chapter. All structure signs, and any other equipment used during the event that is not in an approved storage area, shall be removed from the site by the Friday following the event.
[Amended 3-25-2002 by Ord. No. 03.2002.03]
H. 
Appeal procedures. A property owner or any affected person may appeal the MTRC decision to the City Council, within a ten-day period from the date of final decision. The City Council's final decision may be appealed to Superior Court within 30 days from the date of the final City Council decision.
[Amended 12-9-2002 by Ord. No. 04.2002.04]
I. 
Annual review. All applications shall be reviewed and renewed annually. Renewal approval is not guaranteed and an applicant shall enjoy no right thereto.
A. 
Structure setback. All proposed buildings and structures shall be set back 10 feet from the edge of pavement as defined in § 195-3, except for those properties that abut Lakeside Avenue, Route 3 between Weirs Boulevard and Lakeside Avenue, and Weeks Street.
[Amended 12-9-2002 by Ord. No. 04.2002.04; 12-23-2002 by Ord. No. 05.2002.05]
B. 
All vendors subject to Fire Safety Regulations for Vendors (See Appendix A).[1]
[Amended 3-25-2002 by Ord. No. 03.2002.03; 12-9-2002 by Ord. No. 04.2002.04]
[1]
Editor's Note: Said appendix is on file in City offices.
C. 
Vendors prohibited in certain residential zones. Vendors are prohibited in the following zones, as defined in the City of Laconia Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map: Residential Single-Family, Residential General, Residential Apartment, Rural Residential 1, Rural Residential 2, Shorefront Residential (permitted in A1, P, BC, CR, C, IP, I, and BCI). See Appendix B Zoning Map.[2]
[Amended 12-9-2002 by Ord. No. 04.2002.04]
[2]
Editor's Note: Said Zoning Map is on file and available for inspection in City offices.
D. 
Temporary campgrounds prohibited in certain residential zones. Temporary campgrounds are prohibited in the following zones, as defined in the City of Laconia Zoning Ordinance: RS, RG and RA.
E. 
Loitering or tailgating along any public way is prohibited on private property approved under this chapter.
[Added 3-25-2002 by Ord. No. 03.2002.03]
F. 
Burn-out pits, or any other gathering of a crowd to watch or participate in vehicular displays of engine revving or tire squealing, are permitted only if the event is approved as part of an application, in a known fixed location with set hours of operation, which may be revised as necessary by the MTRC Committee based on public safety and health requirements.
[Added 1-23-2012 by Ord. No. 04.2012.04]
G. 
Any applicant, property owner or vendor having an outstanding accounts receivable from the City for previous special events shall not receive an approved application until those past due accounts are paid in full.
[Added 1-23-2012 by Ord. No. 05.2012.05]
A. 
Vendor layouts are subject to the following requirements:
(1) 
Vendor properties shall provide an accessible aisle with a width of no less than 15 feet and adequate turnaround for emergency vehicle access.
(2) 
Property owners/applicants may be required to install temporary fencing around vendor areas.
(3) 
Property owners/applicants shall be required to submit maintenance contracts for solid and sanitary waste removal.
(4) 
Topography may prohibit certain food vendors from operating on steep slopes.
(5) 
Vendor layout shall allow for adequate on-site pedestrian circulation.
(6) 
Adequate security shall be provided.
(7) 
The application shall include the name of the owner and person responsible for managing the vendor property and twenty-four-hour phone/beeper number(s) where the contact can be reached.
(8) 
Access to the vendor area must be directly from a public way.
(9) 
All vendor sites located on Endicott Street North, Endicott Street East, Rollercoaster Road, Watson Road, and Scenic Road may be required to vend in to the site and chain-link fencing a minimum of five feet in height may be placed along the right-of-way.
[Added 3-25-2002 by Ord. No. 03.2002.03; amended 12-9-2002 by Ord. No. 04.2002.04]
(10) 
All sites shall have trash and sanitary waste, if applicable, removed throughout the event to maintain a healthy environment.
[Added 3-25-2002 by Ord. No. 03.2002.03; amended 12-9-2002 by Ord. No. 04.2002.04]
B. 
Temporary campgrounds.
[Amended 3-25-2002 by Ord. No. 03.2002.03]
(1) 
Density requirement. A minimum of 600 square feet shall be provided for each tent site and a minimum of 1,000 square feet shall be provided for each recreational vehicle and recreational camping cabin campsite, with or without connections to an approved sewage disposal system.
(2) 
Water supply. An accessible, adequate, safe and potable supply of water shall be provided in each recreational campground or camping park.
(3) 
Disposal system.
(a) 
Septage or wastewater shall be discharged from recreational vehicles or portable recreational toilets into portable sanitary service vehicles, individual sewage disposal system connections, or sanitary stations.
(b) 
The storage, collection, and disposal of refuse in recreational campgrounds or camping parks shall be conducted in a manner that will prevent health hazards, rodent harborage, insect breeding, accident or fire hazards.
(c) 
A sanitary station shall be provided for disposal of waste from recreational vehicle holding tanks, portable recreational toilets and portable sanitary service vehicles.
(4) 
Temporary campgrounds shall provide circulation aisles, no less than 15 feet wide, throughout the campground that are accessible for emergency vehicle access.
(5) 
Temporary campgrounds shall be required to install fencing around camping areas or other sufficient methods to secure the site from abutting properties.
(6) 
Temporary campgrounds shall provide a separate area for solid waste disposal.
(7) 
Property owners shall provide contracts for solid waste disposal and sanitary waste removal, which should specify days during the event garbage and sanitary waste shall be removed.
[Amended 12-9-2002 by Ord. No. 04.2002.04]
(8) 
Registration. All persons upon entering a recreational campground or camping park shall register with the appropriate authorities. All recreational campground or camping park owners or operators or their agents shall, upon the registration of each camper or camper's guest, cause an entry to be made on a registration book or card system which shall record the camper's or camper's guests' agreed-upon departure time and date. No camper or camper's guest shall, without the consent of the campground or camping park owner or operator or his agent, remain on a campsite beyond the departure time and date so recorded at registration.
(9) 
Access to the camping area must be directly from a public way.
(10) 
All campsites must be at least 30 feet from any public row.
(11) 
A minimum separation may be required between campsites.
Toilets
Sinks
Showers
Number of
Campsites
Men
Women
Men
Women
Men
Women
1 to 50
1
1
1
1
1
1
51 to 100
2
2
1
1
1
1
101 to 150
3
3
2
2
2
2
151 to 200
4
4
2
2
2
2
(NOTE: For each additional 1 to 50 campsites, add one of each fixture for toilets. For each additional 1 to 100 campsites, add one of each fixture for showers.)
C. 
Temporary parking lots.
(1) 
Temporary parking lots shall be reviewed to ensure that police, fire, and emergency medical personnel have adequate access and to ensure that health, fire, and other applicable public safety regulations can be complied with.
[Amended 12-9-2002 by Ord. No. 04.2002.04]
(2) 
Parking lots shall be managed from open until closing of the lot.
(3) 
The application must contain the name of the property owner and the person responsible for managing the parking lot and a phone/beeper number where the contact can be reached.
[Amended 12-9-2002 by Ord. No. 04.2002.04]
Any person or property owner installing a temporary structure shall comply with the following requirements:
A. 
Temporary structures.
(1) 
Temporary structures must meet one of the following fire-retardant or fire-resistive requirements:
(a) 
Approved fire-retardant material by California Fire Marshal.
(b) 
Meets United States Government requirements GPA 1-84.
(c) 
Listed in the current Underwriters Laboratory as flame retardant.
(d) 
NFPA 701.
(2) 
The structural frame of all temporary structures shall be made of steel, aluminum or of wood. The smallest wood member must be a minimum of two inches by four inches in width.
(3) 
Wood such as paneling may not be used in temporary structures.
(a) 
Wood that may be used for the interior and exterior skin of a temporary structure are as follows: three-eighths-inch plywood, one-half-inch chip board and one-half-inch particle structure.
(b) 
Wood as defined in Subsection A(3)(a) above may also be used as shelving in a temporary structure.
(4) 
All temporary structures for food service shall have floors of asphalt, concrete, wood or other materials which are approved by the local or state health inspectors.
(5) 
All temporary structures shall be removed upon expiration of the time limit stated in the permit.
(6) 
If the structure is not removed by the expiration date, the City shall remove the structure without further notice to the owner and shall charge the cost of removal to the owner. At the time the permit is issued, the Code Enforcement Officer shall provide the applicant with a copy of this section, and the applicant shall sign an acceptance of service thereof at the time said permit is issued. The City may bring an action in court for recovery of the costs of said removal. No new or subsequent permit for such a structure shall be issued to the same applicant or owner at this or another location in the current or any future year until the cost of removal has been fully paid.
B. 
Temporary signage. Temporary signs shall meet the following requirements:
(1) 
Temporary sign(s) shall be attached to a vehicle, structure or poles in such a manner that it will not endanger the life or safety of others.
(2) 
Temporary sign(s) shall not be attached to any public property, including but not limited to the following: power poles, streetlight poles, traffic signs, fire hydrants or any public buildings.
(3) 
Temporary signs shall not be permitted in any part of the street right-of-way.
(4) 
Temporary sign(s) may not interfere with traffic signs, signals or site distance.
(5) 
If a sign is erected which does not meet these requirements, it shall be removed upon written notice from the Code Enforcement Officer or any other authorized City official and subject to the cost collection provisions of § 195-8A(6), above.
(6) 
Banners which hang on or across public property are exempt from this section, and shall be approved by the Department of Public Works before they are erected.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 195-8, Open-air sexually oriented activities and businesses, was repealed 12-28-1998 by Ord. No. 11.98.11. This ordinance also renumbered this chapter accordingly.
If, after an approval has been granted, it has been determined that any of the representations and/or statements contained in the application or any of the conditions of the permit have not been complied with, the Chairperson of the MTRC or duly authorized agent is hereby authorized to serve upon the applicant or the applicant's agent a written notice suspending the approval and specifying the reasons for which the applicant has not complied with the terms of the approval. Upon issuance of a suspension order, all activity authorized by the approval shall immediately cease. The applicant may file a written notice of appeal with the Licensing Board, within 24 hours following receipt of the written notice. The Licensing Board will then meet and may reinstate, modify or permanently revoke such approval.
[Amended 7-23-2001 by Ord. No. 04.2001.04; 11-28-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-195-10]
The fee schedule, including public notice fee, shall be as follows:
A. 
Applications:
(1) 
One to 10 vendors: $350.
(2) 
Eleven to 25 vendors: $400.
(3) 
Twenty-six to 50 vendors: $500.
(4) 
Over 50 vendors: $1,000.
B. 
Temporary campgrounds for 50 or fewer people: $350.
C. 
Temporary campgrounds for more than 50 people: $500.
D. 
Parking lots for 50 motor vehicles or fewer: $350.
E. 
Parking lots for more than 50 motor vehicles: $500.
F. 
Special events or other miscellaneous uses: $200.
G. 
Beer tents: $1,000.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 195-11, Annual review and fee for application renewal, was repealed 7-23-2001 by Ord. No. 04.2001.04.
The following residential property owners may be exempted from the land use provisions of this chapter, provided that the following requirements are met:
A. 
Residential property owners who occupy their property may vend from their property:
(1) 
If the property is within a permitted vending zone; and
(2) 
If they have a valid vendor license.
B. 
Residential property owners who occupy their property may allow less than 10 vehicles to park on their property.
The Motorcycle Technical Review Committee shall be responsible for interpretation and enforcement of §§ 195-1 through 195-13. The city's Licensing Board shall have jurisdiction over all matters related to vending, licensing, etc.
Violations of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine of up to $500, and each day during which a violation is committed or continued shall be a separate offense.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former §§ 195-15, Vending; license required, 195-16, Number of licenses required and fees, 195-17, Not for profit; license required, 195-18, Deadline and penalties for obtaining vending licenses, 195-19, Subletting of vending space and 195-20, Raffles, were repealed 12-28-1998 by Ord. No. 11.98.11. Said ordinance also renumbered this chapter accordingly.
The property owner and any applicant or lessee for permits for camping, vending, parking or other activities on the property owner's property shall jointly and severally be responsible and liable for compliance with all of the terms of this chapter.