Balsams owners seek building permit

Published Date Written by Barbara Tetreault

"We do not have a start date - as we are working on finalizing the project's financing - but we are taking a proactive step in applying for the permit. We want to have all permits in hand when we are ready to begin construction, said Balsams spokesman Scott Tranchemontagne.
The Coos County Planning Board is scheduled to take up the request at its Feb. 26 meeting at the Northern Resource Center in Lancaster.
Tranchemontagne said the building permit is for the plan presented to the board last summer by Dan Hebert, who owns Balsams View LLC, with Dan Dagesse.
That plan called for demolishing about 400,000 square feet including the former Tillotson rubber factory and renovating the remaining 130,000 square feet. Earlier this year, the owners used a controlled burn to remove the factory and girls dormitory.
Approximately 80,000 square feet of new space will be added with the redesigned hotel totaling about 206,000 square feet. The new space will include a conference center, spa, and pool house.
The state Supreme Court has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit against the sale of the Balsams that the owners said had hindered efforts to get financing.
The project falls under the jurisdiction of the Coos planning board because the hotel property is located in the unincorporated place of Dixville.
At its February meeting, the Coos planning board will also deal with a subdivision/lot line adjustments application from the owners of the Mt. Washington Hotel in Crawford's Purchase.