Keep the Whites Wild has been monitoring development proposals on Mount Washington as part of our Protect Mount Washington campaign. Although this campaign is focused on the alpine zone, we’re also concerned about development in other elevation zones on the mountain. If you would like to support our work, please consider donating (DONATE NOW).
In 2021, the Mount Washington Railway Company (The Cog) received site plan approval for a platform and shelters at Waumbek Station, at an approximate elevation of 3,800′. This platform would be 18′ wide and not encroach upon the 25′ setback to the White Mountain National Forest (WMNF). KtWW does not and did not oppose this 18′ wide platform as it follows the Zoning Ordinance for the Unincorporated Places of Coos County.
On July 12, 2022, The Cog was denied a building permit for an expanded 28′ wide platform that would not meet the setback requirements, as 10’8″ of the platform would encroach upon the 25′ setback to the WMNF. On August 8, 2022, The Cog applied for a zoning variance in order to expand the platform from 18′ to 28′. KtWW opposes this variance because the expanded platform is not necessary for The Cog’s operations, it encroaches upon the 25′ setback to the WMNF, and the facts do not support granting of the variance.
On August 30, 2022, The Cog went before the Coos County Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) for a hearing on the variance application. This was a public hearing and KtWW attended. Please refer to the letter sent by KtWW’s attorney to the ZBA regarding the hearing details, the vote, further ZBA actions, and The Cog’s construction progress.
Reference Material
Keep the Whites Wild letter to Coos County ZBA (PDF)
Coos County Zoning Board of Adjustment website (Zoning Ordinances, Agendas, Minutes, Calendar)
The Cog’s Waumbek Station platform expansion on 9/10/2022.