LONDONDERRY — A request to postpone a scheduled public hearing on the proposed Woodmont Commons project was met with scrutiny Wednesday evening when the board reluctantly agreed to continue the item for the eighth, and presumably the last time.

The project will now go before the board on Oct. 10.

Members of the Planning Board adjourned for a private consultation with the town’s attorney at the start of this week’s meeting.

According to Chairman Art Rugg, the consultation wasn’t considered a private meeting under current town statute, which permits board members to confer with legal counsel behind closed doors.

Ari Pollack, one of several attorneys representing the project’s developers, sat in the audience awaiting the board’s return. Pollack did not comment on the matter during the meeting.

The board returned to the Moose Hill meeting room about 45 minutes later with Town Attorney Mike Ramsdell offering words of apology to the audience, many of whom came out to the meeting for the Woodmont Commons item.

Ramsdell said the decision to postpone yet again was a mutual decision made between himself and project officials.

“I’m pleased to report progress is being made,” Ramsdell said. “Though I know this process has taken way longer than any of us would like.”

The attorney further noted that the ultimate goal at this point is to continue coordination efforts between town staff, Woodmont project officials and members of the third-party consultant team hired by the town.

The town hired consultants from the Howard Stein/Hudson firm last spring in hopes of getting an unbiased, third-party perspective on the proposed development.

Ramsdell noted several residents had approached him Wednesday evening and expressed they put the brunt of the blame on Woodmont officials when it came to the repeated delays.

“That would be unfair to hold them entirely responsible,” he said. “And please don’t blame the folks up here; there’s no one more responsible than I am.”

He added that town staff would be meeting with Woodmont developers and the Howard Stein/Hudson team next week for a series of workshops, with the project to be brought before the Planning Board again next month.

Board member Mary Wing Soares expressed skepticism over the prospect of another delay, and stressed she wasn’t necessarily in favor of granting yet another continuance should the developers request another one come October.

“There’s no guarantees this time,” Soares said. “We’re not making any decisions until Oct. 10.”

“It hasn’t been an easy journey,” Rugg said.

According to Ramsdell, folks will be notified of any proposed continuances well before the night of the meeting.

“If there’s not going to be any public discussion here then we’ll make sure any motion for continuance will be filed by noon on Sept. 24. And if we don’t follow through with that, I’ll bring my own tar and feathers.”

Woodmont Commons officials said they expect the 600-acre, $1 billion development to be completed over the course of several phases, turning acres of former orchards into a sprawling village of 1,300 new homes as well as offices, hotels, retail and agricultural areas.

According to the Woodmont Commons’ project website, woodmontcommons.com, the initial plan is to build over a 20-year period, averaging about 60 new housing units each year.

aguilmet@newstote.com