DERRY — Next month, the Planning Board will begin consideration of a change in the zoning ordinance that would allow elderly housing in the office/medical/business zone.

Several years ago, the Planning Board approved a medical office building for the parcel on the north side of Rockingham Road north of Winter Hill Road. According to George Sioras, town planning director, the approval for the proposed office building has lapsed, and the parcel was purchased by Elmer Pease.

“Mr. Pease has purchased that property form the original owner and his proposal is to build elderly housing,” said Sioras.

Although assisted-living facilities are allowed in the office/medical/business district, elderly housing facilities are not.

There are 86 parcels in the district, which stretches westerly from Rockingham Road to Parkland Medical Center, that would be affected by a proposed zoning change.

Pease brought the proposal forward to the Planning Board at last week’s meeting, but the board chairman, David Granese, noted that potential zoning changes are typically first addressed in workshop sessions.

“We just got this proposal because it was too big to fax,” said Granese at the meeting. “We should schedule a workshop for this.”

With a workshop on town sign regulations and a subdivision hearing scheduled for the board’s next meeting on Oct. 15, board members agreed to hold the workshop during its Nov. 7 meeting.

aswift@newstote.com