In discussing the conversion of Woodmont from a working orchard, to a mixed use high density residential/commercial subdivision, the word “village” keeps coming up. The north end of Londonderry is called “The Village.” It was by-passed years ago by Route 28 and again by I-93. With the advent of the automobile it lost its rail link and its dependent mill industry. It is a village in name and history only.
Annis Mill was located in "The Village" in North Londonderry and was significant factor in the economy of the town. The Boston and Maine Railway made frequent stops at the mill.
“Historically, villages were a usual form of community for societies that practice subsistence agriculture, and also for some non-agricultural societies.
“In Great Britain, a hamlet earned the right to be called a village when it built a church. In many cultures, towns and cities were few, with only a small proportion of the population living in them.
“The Industrial Revolution attracted people in larger numbers to work in mills and factories; the concentration of people caused many villages to grow into towns and cities. This also enabled specialization of labor and crafts, and development of many trades. The trend of urbanization continues, though not always in connection with industrialization.
“Villages have been eclipsed in importance as units of human society and settlement.” (This quote from Wikipedia.)
Woodmont can be called whatever its developers decide to call it, but to imply that what they are planning is anything but a high density mixed use residential/commercial subdivision is misleading at best and possibly disingenuous.
With the advent of I-93’s two Londonderry exits fifty some years ago, the residents had to come up with a plan to deal with growth. Unlike surrounding towns they made the decisions to convert from an agricultural community to a rural residential town. They would do this by using the existing farm roads, developing an industrial tax base in the north and hold residential construction to one acre parcels with road frontage. Multi-family construction was limited. This town model allowed for the managed growth of a school system and a related municipal support infrastructure.
22,000 new residents arrived in the intervening time, thus approving of the plan implemented by the 2,200 people that voted it in. Everyone invested their savings and mortgage money in the plan and in the lifestyle the town provided. The town protected those investments by managing its growth and development according to the accepted plan.
The issue Woodmont brings to the table is: what advantage is there to the town and its residents and taxpayers to change the managed growth plan that has served us well for over half a century, to one of high density, mixed residential/commercial development on a 600 plus acre parcel adjacent to exit 4?
This is the question that has not been answered. The detailed questions around this central issue have been artfully, or not so artfully, evaded by the developer. Should we go from a residential plan allowing one dwelling per acre to allowing six dwellings per acre? Why should the town do this? How do the taxpayers/residents/”investors” benefit? We need to know this before zoning is changed.
We have Century “Village”, a 350 unit residential subdivision on a contained campus with a single signalized access road which also services Buttrick “Village”, a senior residential subdivision. These are moderate density developments that have been well planned and well implemented for minimal impact on the town. They are an excellent model of how to adapt to change and to serve different residents without disrupting others or the overall character of the town. (Century “Village” was a residential conversion from the Anderson Farm. It eventually included Appletree Mall as a distinct commercial and walk-able component. Mixed use zoning was not required to achieve this planned harmony.)
Seen here is the Anderson Farm, which once stood where the Apple Tree Mall, Hess Station and other stores now stand.
The scale, design, density and impact of the proposed Woodmont conversion has raised all kinds of questions about why it should be allowed in Londonderry. Regardless of the wisdom of the ordinance allowing this possibility, it is of legitimate concern to all residents that the details of this development be out in the open and on the table before a master plan is voted on by our planning board. Unfortunately the developer has decided that a vague and illusory strategy of disclosure of detail and impact should be implemented until new zoning and his plan have been approved.
That is unfortunate because it is impossible to make an informed decision on the merits of the conversion without full disclosure. There are many parts of the proposed conversion that might fit well with Londonderry’s growth model, but they can’t be supported without full disclosure.
To say that future conditions will determine the impact of the project on the town and the developer’s judgment must be trusted to do the right thing for the taxpayers is not the best case that can be made for support of the project.
Here is one of the many proposed plans for the Woodmont Commons site.
I look forward to whatever details the future master plan submission will provide. At present I’m neither for or against the project until the developer will tell us exactly what he wants us to allow. We are told to approve his requested zoning, and he will then tell us his plans for us, one site plan at a time.
So far we have been presented with a Potemkin “Village”. The economic, environmental, infrastructural and life style impacts on Londonderry have not been put on the table. I would like to reserve judgment on Woodmont and its developer until such time as we know how his plans will affect our town.
“Jack Falvey Et al:” provides a hometown analysis of Woodmont Commons. Since attending the design charrette offered by the developers of the project Jack has been asking questions, you too have been asking questions, many to Jack himself. He has provided thoughtful analysis from his point of view and shared it back to the questioner and a growing list of Londonderry residents wanting of more information.
As they become available we will provide these questions to our readers and the search engines. We hope to provide a broader view of the project through the eyes of someone that came to town in the 1960′s. Jack raised a family here, volunteered in local government and founded his company “Making the Numbers” after a career at Gillette. As a motivational speaker and a prolific writer with major media outlets his views on the project may take you by surprise!
