LONDONDERRY — As the Town Council was revisiting its six proposed goals for this year, they hit a roadblock.
The council hopes to find a way to streamline the commercial and industrial development approval process in order to make the community more attractive to businesses looking to build or relocate. At the same time, council members have said that they don't want to remove the teeth from existing zoning ordinances.
But questions were raised at the April 21 meeting about whether revamping the approval process is a task that should be tackled by the council or if it is best left to the Planning Board.
"I've thought about this goal and talked with people in town," Councilor Paul DiMarco said at the April 21 council meeting. "I'm not sure I'm comfortable with it. I feel like we're stepping on the Planning Board's toes."
Planning Board Chairman Art Rugg and Vice Chairman John Farrell said a proposed subcommittee of two town councilors, planning board members and town staff to identify strategies was not needed.
Farrell said the planning board's goals were similar to the Town Council's and that they are already looking at streamlining the approval process to make it easier for new businesses to come to town.
In the end, the council and planning board agreed to a joint meeting on May 12 to discuss the issue.
