Brandon Swisher and his engineer, Doug McGuire, came before the Planning Board last week to discuss a proposed development of 43 single-family elderly housing units on 16 acres at 48 Old Nashua Road. The property presently houses a single dwelling and a barn.
At the Wednesday, July 13 meeting, the developer showed the board a conceptual drawing and layout of the proposed 43 units and said he planned to remove the dwelling and barn and have the entrance to the development off Old Nashua Road.
The proposed development meets the open space and density requirements. The acreage could sustain more than 100 units and the open space is 40 percent greater than what is required.
Swisher said the emphasis would be to make the units affordable and attractive. He said landscaping would be a priority and no clubhouse is planned, noting this would have a positive impact on affordability. He also said the units would be smaller than the majority of units now being offered in Londonderry. Sidewalks are contemplated throughout the development, with walking paths around the pond on the property.
Swisher said they were there looking for feedback from the board before starting the full design review phase.
Geographic Information Services and Comprehensive Planner John Vogl said there is a cap on elderly housing units in Londonderry but the town is not near it and it would not impact this development. He said the emphasis on affordable was excellent and most of the board members agreed, saying they were favorably impressed with the proposal and especially with the emphasis on keeping it modest, something several board members said is needed in Londonderry.
In other business:
• Vogl took the board members through staff recommendations for proposed amendments to the Site Plan Regulations to improve the approval process, especially for small developments.
The motivation for the changes is to make the application process more friendly for small businesses and minor developments. At present a small development must go through the same lengthy process as a large development, costing small business applicants money and time.
He said the board also would see an improvement from the changes, with the staff being able to handle minor developments without having to come to the board. The improvement for small businesses would be a shorter application process, resulting in less time and less expense. For example, a small development that has no traffic related issue at this time must still go through a traffic impact process. That is one area that would see changes.
The board members expressed pleasure at the proposed changes and Chairman Art Rugg pointed out some typos, awkward language and errors that Vogl said would be corrected before the amendments were brought in as finalized for a public hearing Aug. 10.