During a special meeting on May 9, the Londonderry Planning Board held a second public hearing and gave conditional approval of the Village on Technology Hill Planned Unit Development Master Plan.
The proposal was originally continued following a lengthy meeting on April 10.
Dick Anagnost, the co-developer for the project, explained at the previous meeting that the proposed space for the development which was listed as Map 28 Lots 31- 6, 29-2 and Map 17 Lots 2, 5-3, 5-4, 5-5, is “essentially off Kitty Hawk Landing,” currently consisting of seven parcels, for a total of 110 acres which he said meets the definition of a PUD.
“The Village is accessible via Akira Way and Kitty Hawk Landing in Londonderry, NH,” the proposed PUD Master Plan stated. “The current physical address is 5 Kitty Hawk Landing, Londonderry, NH 03053.”
In the proposed Master Plan executive summary Londonderry Holdings, the applicant, explained that they were proposing “a mixed-use development consisting of over 180,000 square feet of industrial and office buildings with provisions to increase to 333,460 square feet of industrial and office buildings, 439 apartments for workers at the businesses that will occupy these and adjacent office and industrial buildings, a child care center and a general retail building (which will encompass a general store and will hereinafter be referred to as “general retail store”) to support the residences.”
Assistant Town Manager, Kellie Caron, explained previously that the PUD master plan is essentially the regulatory framework for the PUD and that any individual site plans would then need to be brought forward in order to get approval, based on the master plan. Caron said no formal site plan reviews could happen until the Master Plan is approved.
In the executive summary, it was explained that the “Village consists of 3 distinct zones.”
“To the east is the industrial zone consisting of a 60,000 square foot building for Envision Technology, an approximately 20,000 square foot building for OnPoint Systems, a 5,000 square foot office building for the Solinsky Family Office and Family Foundation,” the executive summary stated.
It was explained that an additional pad site “will also be prepared for a 263,000 square foot industrial building to support Envision Technology as it continues to grow, and future pad ready site for an additional 12,000 square foot building.”
Envision Technology is owned by the other co-developers, Anagnost noted. It was previously described by Anagnost as having a focus on “developing and producing electro optical systems which helps their customers detect, see, and locate their targets.”
He also said that it’s “clean manufacturing.”
“West of the industrial zone and separated by the natural topography, a road, and landscaping, is the residential zone consisting of 439 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments in 9 residential buildings, as well as a community building,” the executive summary stated. “These 10 buildings are formed in a large oval surrounding a village green. This expansive green grass area will have a children’s playground area, dog park, and picnic tables. In addition, the northwest area of the property will have a parcourse for walking and exercising in a wooded environment.”
It was explained in the summary that to the north of the residential area “is the Village entrance from Akira Way.”
“This entrance will have a general retail store,” the summary stated. “This general retail store will provide convenient access to sundries, sandwiches, ice cream and other items associated with general retail stores historically in small villages throughout NH. The Akira Way entrance will also include a childcare facility to serve the Village and employees of other companies in the area who have preschool children. A covered bus stop will be by the entrance area and along Akira Way.”
At the May 9 meeting, Town Staff was prepared to make a recommendation on the PUD.
“We are recommending conditional approval this evening,” Caron said.
One of the questions raised was what kind of conversations have occurred with the public and how they have gone.
Nick Golan from TF Moran explained that Kevin Smith, a consultant for the project and the former Town Manager, reached out to”several stakeholders” to make sure there is understanding on the project.
He said specific concerns people had were able to be addressed, particularly for abutters.
Asked about the timeline for the project it was noted the goal would be to have construction done in three to six years, for the entire project, once the site plans are approved, along with the PUD.
Golan previously went through a number of proposed modifications as part of the Master Plan proposal, including to allow 200 dwellings to be built per year, with the goal of having them all built in a four year span. He said that’s in comparison to the ordinance which allows 20 per year.
Resident, Dan Bouchard, during public input, raised concerns about the effect it may have on the schools by bringing in additional housing.
Golan explained their study, and Superintendent, Dan Black, agreed it wouldn’t have a significant impact since there is still capacity in all the grades, noting that enrollment has been declining. He added that it was one of the things looked at following the first public hearing.
It was noted by Caron that based on the state formula, each unit would add .17 students.
One of the concerns raised by some residents in town, during the previous meeting, and the May 9 meeting, was in relation to traffic.
Planning Board Chair, Jake Butler, explained that if the PUD was approved then each stage that goes forward would start the process from the beginning for each individual site plan, noting that they would need to go through the Planning Board process, which would include traffic studies among other things.
“This is by no means the end of the process for traffic,” Butler said.
Resident, Kevin Zin, on the other hand, said he was in support of the project, based on what is trying to be accomplished and the area.
Planning Board member, Lynn Wiles, said he thinks they need a “comprehensive corridor plan” for the north part of town.
Caron said they have started looking at it for part of the area.
Butler said he thinks this project is really interesting,” noting that the part of town where it would be originally had the intent to be a place where people worked and had housing in the same area, 200 years ago.
The Planning Board ultimately gave its conditional approval for the PUD Master Plan.