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Planning Board OKs six-month extension for Panama Hill major site plan
Summary
The Milford Planning Board voted unanimously Feb. 18 to grant a six-month time extension for the Panama Hill major site plan, moving the project’s approval expiration from May 8 to Nov. 8, 2025, at the applicant’s request while easements and final recordings are completed.
The Milford Planning Board on Feb. 18 approved a six-month extension for the Panama Hill major site plan, extending the approval expiration date from May 8, 2025, to Nov. 8, 2025.
The extension was requested by the project’s design team because final legal paperwork — primarily recorded easements — remained under preparation following the resolution of appeals at the New Hampshire Housing Appeals Board. The applicant asked the board to grant the extra time to allow the town’s attorney and the project attorney to complete recordings without triggering an expiration.
Matt Peterson of Keach Nordstrom Associates, representing the applicant, told the board the appeal period had ended and that the design team was "dotting our i's, crossing our t's" as they prepared final plan sets and expected to record easements within days. "We'd appreciate the 6 months, but I really don't think you're gonna be signing before then before the May hearing anyway," Peterson said.
A member of the public, Scott Campbell of Whitten Road, urged the board to deny an extension, arguing the project’s original school-pupil generation calculations had undercounted likely students and could create costs for the town. "I would request that this be denied," Campbell said, adding his view that the town could see higher student-generation than the applicant estimated.
The board closed the public portion and voted on a motion to extend the approval period to Nov. 8, 2025, "as requested by the applicant in the event that they do need the extra time." Janet Langdell, planning board vice chair, made the motion; it was seconded by Andrew Chelly. In a roll-call vote the board recorded ayes from Paul Amato, Susan Robinson, Andrew Chelly, Jenna Lindell, Chris Labonte and Chair Peter Vasselier. The motion passed unanimously.
The board’s action preserves the applicant’s ability to complete required legal recordings and return with final plan documentation without needing to reapply if the May 8 expiration would otherwise have lapsed. No additional conditions were attached to the extension.
The extension cites the Milford Development Regulations, section 4.07 (Site Plan Extension and Expiration of Approval), the standard provision the board relied on when granting the additional time. The planning board record will reflect the extension and the applicant’s commitment to record easements and provide final plan sets ahead of any formal signature by the board.
The board moved on to other agenda items after the vote; the Panama Hill extension does not change the substantive conditions or approvals on the previously granted major site plan.
