Policy Makers Receive Master Plan Update

Community Development Director Andre Garron called town policy makes "enthusiastic" about the town Master Plan effort following a presentation from the plan's consultant on Sept. 12.

The presentation took place at the town's Planning Board meeting, which according to Garron was not designed as the typical public hearing meeting.

Garron said that the consultant took the board through the plan, identifying the key elements, vision and guiding principles. Also identified was how those principles will ultimately end up in an implementation plan.

"We've still got a few more months to go," Garron said. "But based on the feedback of the members there, everybody seemed to be really on board."

Garron commended the Master Plan Steering Committee, which he said has done a lot of work to reach out to residents through multiple mediums, be it email, phone calls or meetings.

He also praised the consultant for what he called a unique approach compared to previous Master Plans he has seen in his 13 years in Londonderry and 11 more in Goffstown.

"We picked this consultant because they have presented to us a unique approach to getting more people involved with the process and creating a document that people would read," Garron said.

But as with any new concept, the feedback hasn't all been positive.

Garron acknowledged that there has absolutely been people that "don't want anything to happen in town," preferring that Londonderry stay as is.

He explained that Londonderry will change even if nothing is done.

"We have an opportunity to guide that change," he siad.

One part of Londonderry's transition could be the undertaking of the massive, 625-acre Woodmont Commons proposal.

Garron said that the focus of the Master Plan is on the "big picture," not one element of that picture.

While Woodmont is a big item, he said that the entire town is thousands of acres.

He also said that the direction of the Woodmont project appears to be in line with the direction of the plan.

"I think some of the recommendations and directions we are taking seem to be in constant with what Woodmont is proposing," Garron said.

A Facebook page has been established to give members of the public regular updates on the Master Plan. On that page is a copy of the most recent draft.