Hampton Beach pier south of Boar’s Head? $150K approved to take next step

HAMPTON — With approval by the governor and Executive Council last week, the Hampton Beach Area Commission will undertake a study to judge the feasibility and impact of building a pier off Hampton Beach.

“It went right through; they didn’t even have any questions for us,” said Hampton Beach Area Commission (HBAC) Chairwoman Nancy Stiles, who had made sure the five councilors had all the information they needed beforehand to understand the project.

The June 15 vote funds the contract needed to execute Senate Bill 346, which passed the House and Senate this session. It allocates $150,000 in state money to pay for the study on a possible pier south of Boar’s Head. The bill’s primary sponsor, state Sen. Kevin Avard, R-Nashua, was joined by seven other senators from both sides of the aisle, including the Sens. Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, D-Portsmouth, and Tom Sherman, D-Rye, as well as three House representatives.

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According to Stiles, getting all the information in time for the council’s June 15 meeting was a challenge. But timing is critical in the execution of SB 346, she said, because the bill requires the study’s report to be completed this year by Nov. 1.

“I spent all of May 31 at the Statehouse getting the paperwork in so governor’s council could vote on the engineering contract on June 15 so the feasibility study could start immediately,” Stiles said. “I didn’t wear my heels; I wore my running shoes. I told the first person I met with from the Parks Department, ‘Just so you understand, I’m not going away until I get this done.’”   

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GEI Consultants to conduct Hampton Beach pier feasibility study

The HBAC recently went through a bid process and chose GEI Consultants of Portland, Maine to perform the commission’s update to its master plan. The proposal approved by the governor and council last week, awards the pier study contract to GEI as well, she said. According to Stiles, the firm offers a vast amount of expertise in engineering, especially around water.

According to its website, GEI provides consultation in areas including geotechnical, environmental, water resources, civil design, engineering, and construction services, as well as conceptual planning and permitting.

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Being able to utilize GEI for the project makes getting the study done and on time possible, Stiles said. Had the commission had to prepare and go out for new bids, it would have made completing the project by the deadline almost impossible, she said.

“And I’m not sure with the short turnaround time we’d get any bidders,” she added.

Pier Advisory Committee formed

With the consultant in place, Stiles will soon hold a meeting with the 23-person Pier Advisory Committee she’s put together. The committee includes no legislators, she said, but it covers all the stakeholder groups, with HBAC member Bob Preston as the chairman.

There are beach and Boar’s Head residents on the committee, she said, as well as representatives from state agencies like the departments of Transportation, Parks, Fish and Game, and the Port Authority. There are representatives from the town of Hampton and the Beach Village District, she said, and from all related safety departments, like police, fire and lifeguards. And there are representatives from the physically disabled community.

“And I know there are people who don’t think this pier is a good idea, and I put one on the committee,” Stiles said. “I think it’s important for all voices to be heard.”

Making Hampton Beach fully accessible

According to Stiles, the bill’s genesis came after Avard visited Hampton Beach. He thought a pier at the beach would give those with mobility or physical disabilities access to the sea, especially those who use a wheelchair. 

“Hampton Beach is an amazing jewel on our Seacoast and is considered one of the best beaches in the country,” Avard wrote in a press release. “A pier would not only enhance the Hampton experience, but it would also be fully accessible to handicapped and disabled visitors, which is absolutely the right thing to do.”

Should the study indicate it is feasible to build a pier, Stiles said, another bill would be needed to fund the construction.

According to Stiles, Avard already indicated he would be willing to file another bill for the coming legislative session to do just that.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Hampton Beach NH pier south of Boar’s Head? $150K study approved