By Nicholas Brown
Staff Writer

Hooksett voters will have to wait until at least May to decide on whether the town should have an ordinance limiting residential growth.

The planning board had considered proposing a 17-page residential growth limit to voters during the upcoming September primary elections.

At the board’s June 19 meeting, members voted unanimously to postpone the proposal, said Town Administrator David Jodoin.

The town council recently allocated $15,000 for a detailed analysis and study to firm the foundation of the town-sponsored growth law, and Jodoin said planning board members seemed to favor waiting for the results over moving immediately forward.

The town has shelled out more than $10,000 in legal fees over the last year to defend a residential growth management ordinance that was submitted by petition last year, and which voters approved by about a two to one ratio.

A Superior court judge ruled the restriction unconstitutional two months ago.

“I think (planning board members) want to be safe and make sure they have a good product that’s defendable in court,” said Jodoin.