Kearsarge Community Common Seeks Confirmation of Zoning Status

Kearsarge Community Common (KCC), the proposed 244-acre nature-based learning and gathering place in Sutton, is seeking confirmation that the longstanding multiple uses, including educational, community, and recreational use of the former Camp Wabasso property may continue. Project leaders will go before the Zoning Board of Adjustment on June 17 seeking a favorable ruling to provide the clearest and most efficient path forward for preserving the property’s multiple existing uses and future development as a publicly accessible community resource centered on education, recreation, conservation and environmental stewardship.

The appeal follows KCC’s conceptual master plan presentation to the Sutton Planning Board on Feb. 24, during which questions were raised regarding zoning and the historical use of the Route 114 and Old Blaisdell Road property. KCC maintains that the property’s longstanding existing uses including educational, recreational and community-oriented use, for more than 96 years, continued over time and respectfully disagrees with the Zoning Administrator’s determination that the uses have been abandoned.

“While COVID impacted the steady flow of campers, the Girl Scouts and KCC never abandoned the property,” said Jackie Hudkins, manager of the project. “Camp Wabasso was actively marketed, maintained and served as a host to trainings, tours and public meetings. Most recently, it has hosted the Kearsarge Food Hub and Kearsarge Regional School District for community and educational uses such as the Seed to Table program. We remain hopeful the community will continue to see this project for what it is intended to be – a continuation of the long legacy of Camp Wabasso, rooted in stewardship, accessibility, learning and bringing people together.”

If the appeal is granted, the project will still move through a public process involving additional review, permitting, public hearings, and opportunities for community input before any final plans could be approved. Resolving this zoning issue simply allows the formal public review process to begin and allows KCC to protect its existing property rights. The Town would continue to exercise oversight and discretion throughout every subsequent stage of planning and permitting.

“New England’s proud summer camp tradition helped create generations of lifelong conservation advocates — and New Hampshire is no exception. But at too many former camps and similar properties, that way of life could disappear forever as some sites are sold for private development and others simply sit vacant,” said Sally Manikian, New Hampshire and Vermont state director for The Conservation Fund. “KCC is a rare opportunity for a private buyer to create a publicly accessible benefit, preserving a beloved space of conservation, recreation, education and community-centered use for future generations.”

In 2025, Camp Wabasso was purchased to help save it from an uncertain future with the hope to carry forward the spirit of the former Girl Scout camp. Plans for the project include a 46-acre public common spanning Blaisdell Lake and Billings Pond, along with preserved open space, recreational trails, gathering areas and educational programming designed to serve all ages and abilities. The broader vision for KCC also includes plans for New Hampshire’s first fully ADA-accessible public beach and dock, community gardens, nature-based educational opportunities and potential childcare and intergenerational programming. Project leaders say the initiative would come at no cost to Sutton taxpayers.

Since the project’s inception, the team has approached planning with a focus on research, sustainability and long-term community need. The team completed an ecological and forestry assessment (available at www.kearsargecommunitycommon.com), engaged organizations including The Conservation Fund, and recently finalized a childcare study identifying a growing need for childcare and family resources within the Kearsarge region. KCC is now encouraging residents and supporters to contact the Sutton Zoning Board of Adjustment ahead of the June 17 hearing to express support for the continuation of the property’s longstanding community-oriented uses.

A sample support letter has been made available to community members on the KCC website and can be submitted to:

Tiffany Favreau

Town of Sutton Land Use Office

Email: landuse@sutton-nh.org

"We appreciate the engagement of Sutton residents and recognize that people care deeply about the future of this property," Hudkins said. "Our request is straightforward: we are asking the Town to confirm that the longstanding educational, recreational and community uses that have existed at Camp Wabasso for generations remain valid today. KCC's goal is not to change the historic use of this property, but to preserve and continue it in a way that serves the community for generations to come.”

About Kearsarge Community Common

Kearsarge Community Common (KCC) is a proposed 244-acre nature-based learning and gathering place in Sutton designed to bring people of all ages and abilities together outdoors. The project aims to preserve open space and wildlife habitat while creating accessible recreation, educational opportunities and community gathering spaces for the Kearsarge region. More information may be found at: www.kearsargecommunitycommon.com