By Patrick Adrian
Staff Writer
CLAREMONT — All-terrain vehicle (ATV) riders will be unable to access key roads to the Cat Hole Trails when the trails open on Sunday, May 23, as the Claremont City Council remains undecided on whether to renew certain road permissions to the Sullivan County ATV Club.
The city council heard from the public on Wednesday about whether to continue allowing ATV access on four previously-permitted Class V roads that are deemed essential entries to the popular Cat Hole Trails, a 55-mile wooded trail system spanning across Claremont, Cornish, and Newport. The four roads are Cat Hole Road, Roberts Hill Road, Slab City Road, and Veterans Park Road.
The council, which was short-handed with only six councilors in attendance, found themselves deadlocked on the issue and opted to table the discussion until its next meeting on Wednesday, May 26.
Complaints by some nearby residents about the noise produced by the ATVs, particularly on Cat Hole Road, have led to hesitancy among several councilors to renew permission of these roads to the Sullivan County ATV Club, who have been permitted since 2013 to use these roads by previous city agreements. .
“The amount of noise and amount of traffic is just bonkers on the weekends,” Michael Jurkowski, a resident on Cat Hole Road, told the council. “I pay my taxes, I go to work and I support Claremont yet the noise and nuisance we have to deal with is just ridiculous.”
Michael and Maggie Saracino, who live at the top of Cat Hole Road, raised the initial complaints to the council in March when the Sullivan County ATV Club first sought to renew the road-use agreement.
A significant minority of riders ignore posted speed limits or courtesy signs, producing excessive noise, according to the Saracinos. Many of these riders pass through as late as 10 p.m., despite a state law prohibiting riding after 30 minutes past sunset.
The issues exacerbated last year during the pandemic, which triggered a surge in ATV ridership and trail use, including by people from out-of-state. The Saracinos previously said there were frequently a couple of hundred riders on the trails every weekend in 2020.
Steven Wilkie, president of the Sullivan County ATV Club, agreed that last year’s surge was overwhelming and made it more difficult for the club and New Hampshire Fish and Game officials to monitor trail use.
But Wilkie said he believes the volume of riders will be less this season.
In addition to the pandemic some trails in New Hampshire remained closed last year, Wilkie explained. Those trails are expected to be open this season, so ATV activity will be less concentrated in certain areas.
Additionally, the Sullivan County ATV Club had access to a significantly larger parking area last year due to neighboring businesses being closed. This year the club’s parking along Washington Street will be reduced to about 25 spaces, down from 75 spaces the previous year.
This reduction did not appear to satisfy the Saracinos, who asked the council on Wednesday to cease ATV activity on Cat Hole Road completely.
“Even if you cut [the volume] down by half, it’s way too much,” Michael Saracino said. “It’s unbearable. Please shut the noise off.”
Some residents on these roads express support of the ATV club.
“I specifically bought my home here because of the ATV use,” said Mark Kennett, a resident on Veterans Park Road. “My realtor even marketed my home under that circumstance.”
While acknowledging the presence of a few transgressors, Kennett said Saracino’s estimate of 200 or 300 riders per weekend seemed an exaggeration and that Kennett did not find the traffic bothersome.
Kennett noted that part of the Saracinos’ grievance had been the air pollution from dirt kicked up by speeding vehicles. This issue, Kennett said, could be circumvented by paving the road,
which is only about 300 to 400 feet in length.
State Rep. Walt Stapleton, a resident on Veterans Park Road, also voiced his support for allowing ATV use.
“I am upset with the speed, noise, and unsafe conditions that mixed traffic and some of these renegades cause,” Stapleton said. “But the club members go by at 10 mph, they are properly spaced [when in a group], they are courteous and a pleasure to watch and wave to. I don’t think we should deny those folks the ability to enjoy the recreation.”
Stapleton added the riders who come to Claremont benefit the local economy by patronizing stores and restaurants. Some visitors to Claremont as ATV riders have purchased homes as well.
The council voted on a motion to deny permission of ATV use, made by Assistant Mayor Allen Damren, who said he wished to see a feasible plan for how trail rules will be enforced. The motion failed to pass due to a tie vote of 3-3. Mayor Charlene Lovett, Damren, and Councilor Jim Contois voted to deny permission. Councilors Jon Stone, Nicholas Koloski, and Dale Girard voted against it.
The council hopes to have a full council vote on May 26 to finally resolve the issue. The council is already scheduled to appoint a candidate to fill the open council seat recently vacated by former councilor Erica Sweetser. This appointment will return the council members to an odd number.
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