GILFORD — The selectmen have told the owners of the Walmart Plaza that their request to hold a carnival in late July on the property is problematic because of timing and permitting issues, in large part because the plaza sits above Laconia Airport.

The selectmen did not deny the application, but their answer to the owners, WS Development Associates, was that the soonest the town could schedule a special town meeting for the request would be July 11, which would not allow enough time for the owners to secure permits for a carnival, said Town Administrator Scott Dunn.

“There was a general openness to the idea,” Dunn said. “But there just doesn’t seem to be enough time to do it.”

WS Development, which owns 11 properties in New Hampshire, among them shopping centers with Walmart stores in Tilton, Epping and Rochester, had asked to hold the carnival July 26-29. On Monday, the manager of the airport said the Federal Aviation Administration would likely require permits for the carnival.

The plaza was built on a hill above the airport’s landing strip, and any rides that are taller than the existing plaza buildings and the surrounding trees in the plaza require government approval, said Diane Cooper, the airport’s manager.

At Wednesday night’s selectmen’s meeting, Scott Miller of Miller Amusements in Webster told the selectmen that his plan was to bring a 55-foot “Cage Zipper” ride and another 40-foot ride to the plaza, Dunn said.

The selectmen are still open to the idea of the carnival, Dunn said.

“We told them if they can come back to us with (FAA) permits for a 55-foot and a 40-foot ride up there, it could still be possible, but I don’t see how they can do it. These permits usually take a lot of time,” Dunn said.

Town officials said they could not remember having a carnival in town.

“We just said, ‘Had you come to us sooner, it might have been possible,’ ” Dunn said.

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Dan Seufert may be reached at dseufert@newstote.com.