November 20, 2025 from the HW BOD:
Last night (Wednesday November 19) the Londonderry Zoning Board, in a vote of 3 to 2, denied the developer’s request for a rehearing on the denial for variances to develop six duplexes on land adjacent to Hickory Woods. Given the Zoning Board denial, our understanding is that the developer has the option to take his case to Superior Court. We will monitor the situation going forward.
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November 19, 2025 – From Tori William:
Zoning Board agenda for Wednesday November 19. Please note the Hickory Woods developer request for rehearing is in section: “VI. Other Business” of the agenda and highlighted in yellow. LINK
An update will be provided to the community after the meeting.
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NOVEMBER 19th Hearing: Check the Londonderry Agenda page for information
The Developer has the right to a hearing on NOVEMBER 19th. This is not a public hearing (no public comment) but a re-examination of the evidence presented at the September hearing. If the developer’s request is approved, there will be a hearing in December when we (Hickory Woods) can say what we wish. If the November meeting denies the request, the developer could go to Superior Court and it could take 6 months+ to resolve. Hickory Woods could file an objection if necessary.
Our show of force (numbers) at the meeting is important.
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Hickory Woods was well represented by our lawyer and our able spokespeople, Brian Wells and Paul Ramsey.
9/17/2025 – SUCCESS! – the Zoning Board of Adjustment DENIED the variance in a 5-0 vote.
Well done! THANK YOU to the 80+ people who attended the hearing.
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The variance requests for the property adjacent to Hickory Woods are the FIRST TWO items on the AGENDA for the September 17, 2025 meeting of the Zoning Board of Adjustment LINK The first two items:
Case No. 08-20-2025-7 Request for variance from LZO Section 4.6.6.5 to allow the construction of six duplexes. The parcel is located at 296 Nashua Road in the Commercial II (C-2) zoning district. Tax Map 002, Lot 25-0, Vigeant Family Properties, LLC (Owner/ Applicant) Documents: Case No. 08-20-2025-7 296 Nashua Road.pdf
Case No. 08-20-2025-6 Request for variance from LZO Section 4.6.6.7.D.4.d.1 of the Route 102 Performance Overlay District to allow the encroachment into 75 feet of the AR-I Zoning District buffer. The parcel is located at 296 Nashua Road in the Commercial II (C-2) zoning district. Tax Map 002, Lot 25-0, Vigeant Family Properties, LLC (Owner/Applicant) Documents Case No. 08-20-2025-6 296 Nashua Road.pdf
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August 20, 2025: NO GO for tonite! The Londonderry Code Enforcement officer made an announcement at 6:45 that the variance cases involving 296 Nashua Road would not be heard because of the 75 foot vs. 50 foot buffer. Apparently, the lawyer needs more time to prepare. So, mark your calendars for next month – September 17th.
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August 20 Agenda for the Zoning Board of Adjustment is now available: LINK
The adjustment to the buffer zone is noted on the agenda.
We all received a certified letter this week including the 75 foot buffer zone.
IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT HICKORY WOODS RESIDENTS SHOW UP IN FORCE TO THE MEETING AT 7 PM ON AUGUST 20TH.
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July 16, 2025 – The developer asked for a continuance to August 20. It might have had something to do with the approximately 60 Hickory Woods residents who packed the room. We were ready! There were only 3 Zoning Board members present; appeals had to get 3 positive votes for success.
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Londonderry Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting is on Wednesday, July 16th at 7 PM. The hearing of the variance request for the development of the property abutting Hickory Woods is on the docket. It is SO IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A SHOW OF FORCE by attending in person! LINK to the agenda – we are 4th and 5th on the docket (there are two variance requests).
Our new property administrator assistant Tori William has suggested talking points for writing letters to the Zoning Board opposing the the variance request:
- It would fundamentally change the “character” of Hickory Woods in a negative way.
- It ignores the 2019 Town Council vote to grant Hickory Woods a 75-foot buffer as a residential property.
- Removing the 75-foot buffer will result in extensive cutting of trees; the high voltage power line will come into view of Hickory Woods thus diminishing property values.
- Closeness to the Hickory Woods pickleball, bocce and basketball courts encourages trespassing by residents of new development.
- Danger to any children coming onto Hickory woods property and falling into retention ponds.
- Potential for increased traffic on Hickory Woods private roads as new residents take a “shortcut” to West Road
- The additional traffic on already congested route 102 opposite the flea market is a safety consideration.
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HICKORY WOODS was well-represented at the Planning Board meeting on 6/18. We took most of the 50 chairs and had many standing around the room. We sat through 1.5 hours of cases (interesting!) and when the case involving the development of the land contiguous to HW, the developer abruptly requested a continuance to July 16 at 7 PM – mark your calendars!
From our BOD:
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6/17/2019: SUCCESS! Rezoning HW from commercial to residential approved
June 18: Tonight was the Londonderry Town Council meeting where our rezoning request was discussed. We were granted our request to be rezoned to AR-I. This is wonderful news for us! Thank you all for coming to the meeting.
Sincerely, Hickory Woods Board of Directors
May 20: Four (4) hours prior to the scheduled meeting, notice was received from the Town Council that the public hearing was continued until June 17thbecause the Town had not taken the necessary steps to insure complete compliance with state statutory requirements for public notice.
The exact explanation is as follows:
“Pursuant to state statute, there is a state requirement that all abutters need to be notified via certified mail before the meeting, and that requirement was not met.”
May 18th from the HW BOD:
We want to remind you that our rezoning application has been placed on the agenda for a public hearing and final decision at the Town Council meeting on Monday May 20 at 7:00 PM in the Moose Hill Council Chambers at the Londonderry Town Hall.
The Planning Board voted to forward our application to the Town Council with a recommendation that it be approved. We have been advised that a strong showing of Hickory Woods residents would be to our advantage.
IT IS CRITICAL THAT ALL RESIDENTS ATTEND THE MAY 20 TOWN COUNCIL HEARING.
The primary benefit of being rezoned from C-II (commercial) to AR-1 (residential) will
be to increase the buffers between us and the commercial properties to our south and
east to 75 feet. That means anything built on those properties will have to be at least
75 feet from our property line.
Regards,
The Hickory Woods Board of Directors
Hickory Woods Board of Directors
From Hickory Woods BOD 3/29/2019:
Dear Neighbors,
On Wednesday, April 3, 2019 there will be a Londonderry Planning Board meeting in the Londonderry Town Hall where our application to be rezoned from commercial (C-II) to residential (AR-I) will be discussed. All our abutters have been notified of our application and this is their opportunity to voice their disagreement with our rezoning request. It is critical that we, as a community, have a strong presence to clearly demonstrate our support for the change to residential status.
Being rezoned to AR-I (residential as opposed to commercial) will enable us to realize some of the benefits (75 foot buffer from commercial buildings) now being enjoyed by over 90% of the senior communities in this Town.
Please join us and attend this meeting to help protect our properties.
Wednesday, April 3, 2019 Moose Hill Council Chambers, Town Hall, 7:00 PM
Thank you,
Hickory Woods Board of Directors
From March 9, 2019:
Dear Neighbors,
We sent you an email several days ago relating to the letter you received from the Town of Londonderry regarding proposed zoning changes and informing you that the Planning Board will hold an informational/planning workshop on March 13, 2019 at 7:00PM in the Moose Hill Council Chambers
As we informed you several days ago, we met with Planning officials from the Town of Londonderry and were led to believe that the planned changes would have little or no impact on our community.
However, upon further investigation we found that the Route 102 Performance Overlay District, of which we are a part, affords us certain advantages such as increased setbacks and protections from certain forms of obnoxious businesses. The elimination of this Overlay District would also eliminate some of these protections. Based on this additional information, we are now advising you to attend this workshop.
Prior to the March 13 workshop you may want to inform yourself. To that end, we are providing the following links:
Proposed Zoning Changes
http://www.londonderrynh.org/Pages/LondonderryNH_BComm/Planning/CommercialZoning/
Existing Zoning (See 4.6.6 Performance Overlay District – Route 102 Corridor)
http://www.londonderrynh.org/Pages/LondonderryNH_PlanEcoDev/plandocs/zoning/zoning
As mentioned in our previous letter, we are still pursuing having Hickory Woods rezoned as residential (AR-1) instead of the current zone (C-2) which is commercial. This would afford us additional protections.
Sincerely,
Hickory Woods Board of Directors
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