By Nicholas Brown
Staff Writer

A proposal for a water park off Candia’s Route 27 drew mostly favorable reviews from residents at a recent hearing, though zoning variances and a traffic study may be needed before the plan will make a real splash.

Liquid Planet, a small Dover-based group headed by Kevin Dumont is proposing the park, which would occupy about three acres of a 43-acre industrial parcel off Raymond Road, east of Deer Run Road.

Dumont spent much of the evening trying to quell any preconceived notions about commercial water parks.

“We’re not trying to build a Six Flags here ­ we’re not trying to build a Water Country,” Dumont said. “We really want to try and keep with the rural feel of the town.”

About 50 residents turned out to the Wednesday, Sept. 6, hearing, and voiced an array of concerns about issues including traffic, safety, environmental pollution and water use.

As proposed, the park features a 5,000-foot “sprayground,” a concave area with play structures that would have water 12 inches at its deepest, Dumont said.

The park would also feature four water slides extending from a 20- to 25-foot tower. Two of the slides would empty into a 35-foot by 70-foot pool, part of which would also be for swimming.

Also proposed is a main building with concessions, first aid, an office and locker rooms. Dumont said the park would be permanently staffed by trained safety workers.

The park would employ about 100 people, said Dumont, and would be open from mid-June to Labor Day.

The conservation commission has already successfully gotten Liquid Planet to scale its parking lot back in order to protect a 150-foot buffer between the gravel lot and the North Branch River.

Protecting the river from contaminants was a concern repeated at the latest hearing.

Dumont assured residents that the swimming pool water chemicals ­ mainly chlorine ­ would be evaporated before the water was reintroduced to the ground on the site. Dumont said the water would also be inspected by state environmental officials before its return.

Peter Mastro, who would be a neighbor if the plan is approved, said his biggest concern was protecting the wildlife and natural resources of the immediate area, which is largely untouched by development.

“We’ve got wonderful wildlife back there,” Mastro told Dumont. “As long as you don’t mess up the river ­ good luck.”

Abutter Ron Severino may have eased some fears about private wells near the proposed park by describing his own well.

“You could pump millions of gallons out of there, and it’s not going to affect the area,” he said.

Dumont wasn’t able to provide an answer when resident Ron Thomas asked of he had any decommissioning plans ­ or plans for removing unused structures ­ in the event the park were to go under.

“All good things have to come to an end someday,” Thomas said. “I don’t think used water parks sell very well.”

Planning board member William “Kim” Byrd noted that the board requires cell phone tower developers to float a bond up front to cover costs that may accompany the tower coming down.

Several residents questioned if Raymond Road could handle the 150 to 175 additional cars Dumont estimated the park would draw, especially as the town prepares to build its new transfer station and recycling center nearby.

Town Engineer Bernard Hamill said Saturday mornings would likely see the most car visits to the two locations, and suggested Dumont move forward with a traffic study.

“Approval is not going to be granted until we take a look at those numbers,” he said.

Late in the meeting, the board gave informal opinions about whether members would support a zoning variance to allow Dumont to live in an existing house on the proposed commercial property.

Byrd, who was insistent in his belief that the plan required at least one variance from the town’s zoning regulations, said the polling of opinions was putting the planning board on “thin ice.”

Another public hearing on the water park plan will take place on Nov. 15.