Council will hear blasting proposal

MERRIMACK – Residents will have another chance Thursday to talk about a proposed measure that encourages developers to wait before bulldozing historic buildings.

The town council will hold a public hearing on a proposed demolition ordinance, two weeks after some planning board members knocked down the idea because they said it would add another layer of bureaucracy to the development process.

The idea originated after the former Madden’s Restaurant on Daniel Webster Highway was razed in September 2007.

Developers said the building, considered historic by many in town, wasn’t structurally sound enough to work with and wouldn’t pan out financially.

Town councilors then asked the planning department to investigate an ordinance that would “hit the pause button” on the razing of historical buildings.

This past fall, community development director Walter Warren presented an ordinance mirrored after one that exists in Concord.

Basically, if a building proposed for demolition is on the town’s historic properties map, a review period not to exceed 49 days kicks off.

The period includes a public hearing before the town’s heritage commission as well as discussions about alternatives.

Town Meeting ‘08

In the end, because the ordinance doesn’t have any legal teeth, the developer would still decide whether to move forward with demolition.

The point, Warren has said, is to “hit the pause button” before such projects move forward.

The planning board met last month to discuss the proposal. Members ended up coming to a 2-2-2 vote, meaning they did not issue a recommendation to the town council.

Also on Thursday, Town Manager Keith Hickey is expected to make his first budget presentation to the council.

Karen Lovett can be reached at 594-6402 or klovett@nashuatelegraph.com. board members knocked down the idea because they said it would add another layer of bureaucracy to the development process.

The idea originated after the former Madden’s Restaurant on Daniel Webster Highway was razed in September 2007. Developers said the building, considered historic by many in town, wasn’t structurally sound enough to work with and wouldn’t pan out financially.

Town councilors then asked the planning department to investigate an ordinance that would “hit the pause button” on the razing of historical buildings. This past fall, community development director Walter Warren presented an ordinance mirrored after one that exists in Concord.

Basically, if a building proposed for demolition is on the town’s historic properties map, a review period not to exceed 49 days kicks off. The period includes a public hearing before the town’s heritage commission as well as discussions about alternatives.

In the end, because the ordinance doesn’t have any legal teeth, the developer would still decide whether to move forward with demolition. The point, Warren has said, is to “hit the pause button” before such projects move forward.

The planning board met last month to discuss the proposal. Members ended up coming to a 2-2-2 vote, meaning they did not issue a recommendation to the town council.

Also on Thursday, Town Manager Keith Hickey is expected to make his first budget presentation to the council.