KINGSTON - Residents will have an opportunity to voice their opinions about adding 10 parcels at the intersection of New Boston Road and Route 125 to the town’s proposed commercial zone next week.

A Planning Board public hearing is planned for Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Kingston Town Hall to discuss a citizens’ petition warrant article that would ask voters if they want to add 10 properties to the commercial zone if the zoning change passes on the March ballot.

The 10 parcels include residences on New Boston Road and Old Coach Road; Pond View Restaurant; a garage/storage facility; and a store on Route 125.

Many residents thought the Dec. 28 continued public hearing on changing a portion of Route 125 from rural residential to commercial zone C-3 would be the venue to discuss the proposal to add properties. Some residents showed frustration on how long it was taking the Planning Board to vote on the warrant article. Planning Board members said they need to adhere to posting legal notices.

The Planning Board hosted the public hearing on changing four minor words in the proposed commercial zone language. The Jan. 4 public hearing will take up public comment on the petition warrant article.

Planning Board Chairman Glenn Coppelman said the Planning Board anticipated voting on adding the 10 properties to the actual commercial zone proposal. But the meeting at which they were scheduled to vote was canceled due to inclement weather. In the meantime, citizens had already submitted a petition warrant article.

The proposed commercial zone would include all properties touching Route 125 from the Plaistow border to the old Kingston fairgrounds. If voters approve this change in March, this would be the third commercial zone in town, all located along Route 125. The two established zones are at the intersections of Route 107 and the highway.

Residents voiced concerns at a November public hearing about residential property valuations changing and traffic tie-ups.

The purpose of the zoning change is "to establish an attractive, financially viable commercial zone that encourages business development for better services available to the public, increase employment opportunities and broaden the tax base."

Epping resident Doug Canney, owner of Home Town Auto at 12 New Boston Road, suggested at the November public hearing that the Planning Board revise the proposed commercial zone to include parcels of land at the corner of Route 125 and New Boston Road.

Allowed uses in the proposed zone include a business center, retail stores, supermarkets, medical offices, banks, salons, dry cleaners, golf courses, restaurants, bowling alleys, theaters, a veterinary hospital and a nursery.

Some prohibited uses include adult-oriented businesses, new residential construction, motor vehicle junkyards and truck terminals.

The Jan. 4 public hearing will also address a citizen petition to change the definition of pre-existing use in Kingston’s zoning ordinance; an amendment to the certificate of occupancy for residential and nonresidential structures; amending the town’s telecommunications ordinance; amending the proposed commercial zone proposal to coincide with legal suggestions; amending the town’s aquifer protection district’s prohibited uses; and adding special exception criteria to the commercial zones.