Conservation Commission Meeting on Quimby Mountain Stewardship Plan - March 12, 2026

The Conservation Commission held a public meeting on March 12, 2026, starting at 5:05 PM, to present and gather input on the draft stewardship plan for the 97.7-acre Quimby Mountain Conservation Area. The meeting featured a detailed ecological inventory by Moosewood Ecological, followed by extensive public comment from nearby property owners who raised concerns about proposed trails, parking, fire risk, and boundary issues. The plan remains a draft; final adoption will be decided by the Town Council after further revisions.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jeremy Freund (resident adjoining property): Expressed two concerns: (1) the monetary value of timber harvest may not outweigh ecological damage from a "working forest" designation; (2) the proposed summit trail cuts through backyards of neighbors, and he prefers a more direct route or no summit trail, citing existing trash issues with minimal traffic.
• Mark (last name not stated) (summit landowner, recently purchased): Noted that his surveyed property includes about 50% of the summit, making the trail map inaccurate. He argued that the trail would invite trespassers onto private land, and that the conservation easement requires trails to follow best practices (AMC guide), which recommend avoiding residential edges. He also stated that the summit is a unique three-owner high point (two private, one conservation), possibly unprecedented in New Hampshire, and urged the commission to conduct a formal survey before planning.
• Jesse Tringali (neighbor closest to summit): Opposed the summit trail, citing extreme wind and fire risk (his house has steel beams and shakes; fire chief said his house would burn with the culvert and cistern). He emphasized that his subdivision covenants prohibit access to adjoining parcels, and that the trail would put people in his backyard, creating liability. He also noted that the town never owned the summit, so the trail is not in the master plan or easement, and asked for the summit trail to be removed from consideration.
• Bob (resident at 20 Quimby Mountain Road): Supported a loop trail using existing logging roads to avoid backyards, and echoed concerns about fire risk (a small fire spread in 15–20 minutes despite fire department response).
• Another neighbor (name not given): Referenced subdivision covenants that protect the peace and quiet of the neighborhood, and asked the commission to respect those covenants as neighbors.
• Julie Tyson (Bearpaw Regional Greenways representative): Noted that conservation easement allows parking lot, and best management practices would be followed for wetland crossings (need DES approval). She also stated that the property is monitored yearly.
• Tony McCass (likely resident): Clarified that when the plan goes to Town Council, the public can comment during council meetings.

Discussion Items

• Stewardship Plan Presentation: Jeff Lytleton and Stephen Lamont of Moosewood Ecological presented findings from an ecological inventory: 254 plant species, 63 bird species, 10 reptiles/amphibians, 14 mammal species (including bobcat, black bear, and coyote using camera traps), and a total of 550 species of flora and fauna. They documented 43 species of conservation concern. The property contains a 600-year-old black gum tree, a vernal pool, and several uncommon plant species (American chestnut, yellow screw stem, Cyperus sedge). The plan recommends management zones (working forest, habitat, recreation, sense of place), a parking area off Goffstown Road, and a proposed trail to the summit.
• Trail and Parking Controversy: Multiple residents objected to the proposed parking area (which would require crossing a wetland) and the summit trail alignment. Concerns included: wetland disturbance requiring DES approval, trespass risks because the summit is partly on private land, fire danger due to high winds and lack of water, trash and illicit activity, and inconsistency with conservation easement language requiring trails to avoid residential edges. Some residents, including Jeremy Freund, suggested using an existing logging road as a trail that avoids backyards.
• Survey and Legal Issues: The commission acknowledged they are in the process of collecting bids for a survey of the summit. The conservation easement does not explicitly prohibit a parking lot but limits disturbances to wetland. Commission member Joe Carroll noted that the trail in the plan is a recommendation; the actual trail will be designed with site-specific grades and may differ.
• Fire Risk and Archaeology: Jesse Tringali raised the fire threat; the commission had previously discussed fire in minutes. Jeff Lytleton noted the plan includes measures to protect historic and cultural sites, and an archaeological study may be required (RSA 227-C9).

Key Outcomes

• The draft stewardship plan will be revised based on public input and then finalized.
• The final plan will be presented to the Town Council, which will vote to adopt or reject it. Public comment will be allowed during that council meeting.
• No formal vote was taken at this meeting; the commission accepted the public comments for consideration.
• The commission committed to conducting a survey of the summit boundaries before finalizing trail plans.
• The commission did not commit to removing the summit trail from the plan but acknowledged residents' legal concerns and the need to respect private property boundaries and conservation easement requirements.