{"id":12549,"date":"2026-08-01T07:38:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T11:38:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/townunderground.com\/?p=12549"},"modified":"2026-08-01T07:38:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T11:38:15","slug":"how-does-it-work-planning-board","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/townunderground.com\/?p=12549","title":{"rendered":"How Does It Work &#8211; Planning Board"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I&#8217;m starting a new series of video &#8216;How Does It Work&#8217; the first video comes from a question on the TU Facebook page of a person asking about the planning board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Below is a description of the video and a brief outline and links<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An overview of the\u00a0Londonderry Planning Board\u00a0in New Hampshire, detailing its\u00a0quasi-judicial role\u00a0and administrative functions. The video explains that the board is strictly bound by\u00a0state laws and local zoning ordinances, meaning members must approve applications that meet established legal criteria regardless of personal preference. It describes the\u00a0nine-member appointed structure, the distinction between voting and alternate members, and the importance of\u00a0public hearings\u00a0as the primary venue for community input. Additionally, the overview highlights the\u00a0procedural flow\u00a0of meetings, ranging from conceptual discussions to the approval of site plans and subdivisions. Readers are encouraged to utilize\u00a0town resources and information packets\u00a0to understand how evolving property rights and regulations impact future local development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Website information <a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/365\/Planning-Board\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/365\/Planning-Board\">Planning Board<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How Does It Work - Planning Board\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4oIB4GAcUls?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Members<\/strong><br>Board shall consist of nine (9) members<br>(6) are appointed &#8211; By Town Council 3 year terms<br>(3) are ex officio &#8211; Two Appointed by the Town Manager and one Town Councilor<br>(3) alternate appointed members<br>Must have 5 members present to fulfill the quorum requirement<br><br><strong>Planning Board Rules of Procedure<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/1137\/Planning-Board-Rules-of-Procedure-PDF\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/1137\/Planning-Board-Rules-of-Procedure-PDF\">Link<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Order of Business for Meetings shall be as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Call to order by Chair<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Administrative Board Work<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consent Agenda<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Discussions with Town Staff<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Application Acceptance and Public Hearings on new Subdivision &amp; Site Plans<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Continued Public Hearings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Public Hearings on Ordinance\/Regulation Amendments or Re-zonings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Work Sessions (workshops)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Conceptual Designs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other Business<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adjournment<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Administrative Board Work<\/strong><br><strong>Approval of Minutes<\/strong><br>Regional <strong>Impact Determinations<\/strong><br><strong>Discussions with Town Staff<\/strong><br>work (such as Regional Impact<br>Determinations, conditional approval extension requests, actions regarding performance or<br>maintenance bonds, or other similar procedural processes),<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Public Hearings<\/strong> &#8211; <strong>PACKETS<\/strong>,  <strong>PACKETS<\/strong>, <strong>PACKETS<\/strong>, <strong>PACKETS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Chair Opens Public Hearing and Reads the application into the record<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Apllicant presents to the board<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Planning Board members may ask questions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Town Staff will present comments and recommendations to the board<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Public Comment<br>Open Public Comment<br>Abbutters, Applicants or interested persons may speak or submit written before the hearing<br>Comments are limited to 5 minutes, State Name and Address<br>All questions are addressed to the chair<br>No public comment on matters outside the Public Hearing<br>Close Public Comment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Board will entertain motions o waivers or conditional use permits<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Board The Board makes any appropriate motions regarding conditional approval, denial, or continuance of the application<strong>.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Close or continue the Hearing<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Work Sessions<\/strong><br><br>Work sessions (workshops) are designed to allow the Planning Board to form a consensus<br>on what to bring forward to a public hearing. Work sessions do not require public notice,<br>as they are not a public hearing<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Call to order<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Staff Presentation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Member questions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No Public Comment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A consensus will be formed on whether to bring the items presented during the work session to a public hearing<strong>.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Conceptual Discussions<\/strong><br><br>Conceptual discussions allow an applicant to present a conceptual rendering of a potential<br>plan to the planning board for non-binding feedback prior to submitting an application for<br>formal review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Call to order<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Applicant presentatin<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Member questions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>TownStaff comments and recomendatins<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No Public Comments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Board provides feedback<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Helpful Links<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Documents<\/strong><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/1137\/Planning-Board-Rules-of-Procedure-PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Planning Board Rules of Procedure (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/593\/Tax-Maps\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/593\/Tax-Maps\">Tax Maps<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Land Use Regulations<\/strong><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/660\/Londonderry-Look-Book-Advisory-Document-PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Londonderry &#8220;Look Book&#8221; (Advisory Document) (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/659\/Londonderry-Buffer-Mitigation-Policy-Advisory-Document-PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Londonderry Buffer Mitigation Policy (Advisory Document) (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/661\/Londonderry-Street-Numbering-Policy-PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Londonderry Street Numbering Policy (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/663\/Named-Wetlands--Perennial-Strams-Maps-For-the-CO-District-PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Named Wetlands &amp; Perennial Strams Maps (For the CO District) (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/664\/Site-Plan-Regulations-PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Site Plan Regulations (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/665\/Subdivision-Regulations-PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Subdivision Regulations (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/662\/Typical-Details-for-Site-and-Roadway-Infrastructure---May-2009-PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Typical Details for Site and Roadway Infrastructure &#8211; May 2009 (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/666\/Zoning-Ordinance-PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Zoning Ordinance (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Planning Board Applications<\/strong><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/672\/Administrative-Review-Application-PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Administrative Review Application (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/671\/Conditional-Use-Permit-Application---CO-District---Form-A-PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Conditional Use Permit Application &#8211; CO District &#8211; Form A (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/670\/Conditional-Use-Permit-Application---CO-District---Form-B-PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Conditional Use Permit Application &#8211; CO District &#8211; Form B (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/667\/Condominium-Conversion-Application-and-Checklist-PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Condominium Conversion Application and Checklist (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/678\/Lot-Line-Adjustment-Application-and-Checklist-PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lot Line Adjustment Application and Checklist (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/673\/Minor-Site-Plan-Application-and-Checklist-PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Minor Site Plan Application and Checklist (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/668\/Notice-of-Merger-of-Parcels-PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Notice of Merger of Parcels (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/669\/Rezoning-Application-PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rezoning Application (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/674\/Site-Plan-Application-and-Checklist-PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Site Plan Application and Checklist (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/675\/Subdivision-Application-and-Checklist-PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Subdivision Application and Checklist (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/676\/Subdivision-Design-Review-Request-Form-PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Subdivision Design Review Request Form (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/677\/Subdivision-Formal-Application-Request-Form-PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Subdivision Formal Application Request Form (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Zoning Board of Adjustment Applications<\/strong><br>Please&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/Directory.aspx?EID=8\">contact the Chief Building Inspector \/ Zoning Administrator<\/a>&nbsp;to determine which application you need.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/687\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Variance &#8211; Guidelines, Application &amp; Criteria (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/686\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Special Exception for Home Occupation: Application &amp; Guidelines (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/685\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Special Exception for Residential Garage Setbacks (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/684\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Special Exception for an off-Premise Sign (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/683\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Equitable Waiver of Dimensional Requirements (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/682\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Relief of Administrative Decision (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/681\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Special Exception for a Portable Storage Structure (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/680\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Special Exception for a Home Occupation for a Child Care Facility (PDF)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/679\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Special Exception for Farm Sale of Consumable Non-Farm Products (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Land Use Fee Schedule<\/strong><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.londonderrynh.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/1977\/Land-Use-Fee-Schedule-PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Land Use Fee Schedule (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I&#8217;m starting a new series of video &#8216;How Does It Work&#8217; the first video comes from a question on the TU Facebook page of a person asking about the planning board. Below is a description of the video and a brief outline and links An overview of the\u00a0Londonderry Planning Board\u00a0in&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/townunderground.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12549","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/townunderground.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/townunderground.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townunderground.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townunderground.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12549"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/townunderground.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12549\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12554,"href":"https:\/\/townunderground.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12549\/revisions\/12554"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/townunderground.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12549"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townunderground.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12549"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townunderground.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12549"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}