Windham Economic Development Committee hears updates on commercial, housing and sports projects

Windham — At its June 5 meeting the Windham Economic Development Committee heard a roundup of local projects from Alex Mello, Community Development Director, including newly occupied commercial space and a number of planning-stage proposals. The committee met in the Community Development Department and was chaired by Dale Valvo.

Mello reported that the autobody repair and additional rental units at 16 Rockingham Road are now occupied, foundation work is underway for a restaurant at 1 Indian Rock Road, and all contractor bays at 135 Rockingham Road are leased. He said the exterior work on the 1 Sharma Way Convenient MD building is complete and that the Starbucks proposal on Enterprise Drive has Planning Board approval.

Why it matters: these projects represent both immediate occupancy that contributes to the local tax base and a pipeline of potential new commercial and housing options that may affect traffic, infrastructure and demand for town services. Several planning-stage items will require further hearings and approvals.

Mello also outlined items still in planning. A proposed sports complex at 140 Rockingham Road has received initial feedback from the Planning Board. The Windham Woods School sports dome proposal on Delahunty Road remains before the Zoning Board of Adjustment and will have further public meetings. A Planning Board public hearing is scheduled for a proposed self-storage and contractor-bays project at 14 Ledge Road; the Dubay Group is expected to present plans that will require variances related to Gateway Park. On housing appeals, Mello said the Arena Square multi-family housing petition to the New Hampshire Housing Appeals Board was referred back to the Town ZBA for local consideration.

There were no formal votes on those planning items at the meeting; Mello’s update was informational and committee members noted that the Planning Board and ZBA will be the next decision points for matters requiring variances or appeals.

Next steps: committee members and staff noted public hearings and Board-level meetings on the above items will determine whether they proceed and what conditions may be imposed. The committee recorded a unanimous 9-0-0 vote to approve the May 8 minutes and then continued discussion of other agenda items.