Hart 'Not Surprised' About Woodmont Delays

With the Woodmont Commons development representing such significant scope and size, Acting Town Manager Bill Hart is not surprised about the continuations requested for the project.

"It's not surprising to me that this takes time to make sure that from (the developer's) perspective and from the town's perspective that it's done right and properly," Hart said.

Hart called the Woodmont development potentially one of the most important developments for the region.

"I think it has the potential to bring significant new jobs to our community," he said.

When asked whether there should be concern about the length of time the development will drag out should it pass through the boards, Hart said that the town will work with the developers and take community concerns into consideration.

"What I can say is we look forward to working with the developers of this important project to assure the community that it is a design that is properly put together," he said.

Hart wouldn't speak to the timetable for the developers since everything is still in the planning stages.

Planning Board Vice Chair Mary Wing Soares explained that the project has been a two-year saga, with several public sessions held by the developers along with a third-party review of the project that delayed the process.

Soares said that now Woodmont representatives have asked the Planning Board for continuances about four times.

"Woodmont has chosen to ask for continuances month after month to try and do whatever they want to do behind the scenes with our staff," she said.

While indicating that she is only one member of a nine-person board, she did express frustration.

"It's frustrating to have them come before us and give us zero notice that they were going to ask for a continuance," Soares said.

Since then, Soares said the developers have been giving a notice of 24 to 48 hours so the board can put that information out to the public.

"In my opinion there will be a time that I'm at a point, Im going to say as one person, 'we need to move along,'" she said.

Soares did make a similar remark to Hart, indicating that she also wants the developers to have the time that they need to "make sure that the plan has been good for Londonderry (and) good for the neighbors."

John Michels, attorney for Woodmont Commons, said that the project is "very complicated," which has caused the need for continuation requests to the Planning Board.

"Ther has been nothing like this in Londonderry, nothing like this in New Hampshire and nothing like this in New England," he said.

He explained that the developers can either waste the town's time or make sure they are prepared.

He also didn't rule out another continuation request at a meeting scheduled for Sept. 5 at 7 p.m.

For more information on the proposed $1 billion redevelopment, visit the Woodmont Commons website.