Londonderry planning commission schedules site visits to weigh zoning boundary changes

The Town of Londonderry Planning Commission voted May 26 to postpone deliberation on zoning-district boundary changes and proceed with on-site reviews of multiple areas in South and North Derry.

Chair Jennifer Greenfield opened a discussion of proposed site routes and property considerations, and commissioners agreed to visit the Town Hall-to-Crescent Street corridor, Melendy Hill/Bungalow Road, Route 100 South (including 2046 VT Route 100), Middletown Road/Parsons Lane, and several Route 11 parcels in North Derry. The commission specifically noted the Town Office has no existing outlet to Crescent Street and discussed adding that corridor to the Village Commercial district; they also identified a right-of-way from Middletown Road that crosses private parcels.

Commissioners characterized parts of Melendy Hill/Bungalow Road and nearby Windy Hill Road East as having lower flood risk and therefore potentially suitable for development. On Route 100 South they discussed expanding village commercial zoning and considered the former Smith's Mill property for industrial use. In North Derry, members discussed whether to extend commercial zoning up Route 11 from the Plaza but said residents had voiced opposition to such an extension. They also identified a roughly 60-acre privately owned parcel behind the Snowdon Motel (parcel references discussed as 110002.100, 110018.002, 110029.100, 110078.000) as a site previously contemplated for development.

The commission tabled the zoning-district discussion to complete the site visits before reopening the agenda item at a future meeting.