By Alex Malm
The New England based Outdoor & Sporting Goods Company, New Balance, was given conditional approval by the Planning Board to build a 102,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Londonderry on Pettengill Road during their meeting on July 5.
The proposed site plan was in front of the Planning Board after approving a subdivision for 21 acres at 55 Pettengill Road.
As part of the subdivision, it created a 17.8-acre lot, which will be occupied by a New Balance manufacturing facility.
Jim Petropulos, who was representing New Balance, said they were looking to build a 102,000 square foot manufacturing facility on the site.
“This proposal is intended to be the sixth U.S. based manufacturing facility for New Balance,” Petropulos said.
Petropulos stated that they would originally have about 160 employees to start off with and to have 240 employees within the first year.
He said they might also have potential development in the future.
“We’re really here tonight for 102,418 square feet,” Petropulos said.
Out of the approximately 102,000 square feet, Petropulos said about 22,000 square feet will be used for office space and the rest for manufacturing of sneakers.
Petropulos also explained that the main access to the facility will be on Innovation Way.
He also noted that they were proposing to have a right turn exit only onto Pettengill Road, which he said would be a more direct route to leave the site and to go westward.
Petropulos said they would have “do not enter” signs along with “no left turn” signs on the property.
Petropulos also noted that they may have an earlier shift than the morning peak hours and before the PM peak hours as well.
“I think that’s an important thing when we’re thinking about traffic at the site,” Petropulos said.
Petropulos said they were proposing to have 272 parking spaces with 9 being reserved for handicap.
“There’s also five electric vehicle parking spaces being proposed,” Petropulos said.
Petropulos said they would have one shift for the manufacturing facility from 6:30 AM to 3 PM.
Petropulos also noted that they are going to have sustainability as part of the facility including solar rooftop units, having all electric and no gas, and high efficiency light fixtures.
He said they hope to have the project done by 2024, which will take about 15 months in total.
“Our client hopes to break ground in late summer 2023,” Petropulos said.
Following the 7-0 approval vote by the Planning Board, Kevin Smith, former Town Manager and a consultant on the project, said it’s a “great project for our community” and thanked town staff for working with them on the project.
“We submitted these site plans in April and they worked hand in hand with us the entire way to meet New Balance’s timeframe. Kudos to them,” Smith said.
The next Planning Board meeting is slated for Aug. 2 at 7 p.m.