One response has already come back from a grocery developer interested in the 12-acre parcel off of Exit 3 in Candia.

The Exit 3 Committee announced the delivery of Requests for Proposals to area grocers. More will be sent out shortly, said committee member John Cole, who compiled the document outlining the town’s intent for the property’s use.

“They’re looking at it, and they’re very interested,” said committee chairman and Selectman Joe Duarte about the responding party.

The deadline for official responses is Jan. 28, but committee members have agreed to adjust that deadline if necessary.

After that, the committee will set up meetings with interested parties to go over their plans for developing the property. Those meetings will likely be nonpublic to protect the developer’s plans, but committee members added that public information meetings introducing potential developers to the community will be scheduled before any deals go through.

The packets have been on display for public viewing in the past few weeks at the Town Hall, Smyth Library, Stubby’s Restaurant and Fred’s Auto.

The request states the town’s intent for the developer to finance, design and construct a minimum 40,000-square-foot “concept style grocery store.” It goes on to say that Candia residents have expressed interest in including a pharmacy and family- style restaurant in the development.

It includes the criteria by which potential developers will be considered, which include “a demonstrated knowledge of rural development” and “a demonstrated cash liquidity to ensure the satisfaction of all commitments and undertakings.”

The document asks for a financial analysis to ensure that the developer is monetarily fit to take on the project, which would include the developer’s cash flow projections for a period of ten years.

At a meeting on Nov. 26, Cole said the packet was submitted to DeMoula’s first, as the community members voiced enthusiasm for getting that particular grocery store. Packets were also submitted to Harvest Market and Vista foods, he added.

Duarte said the town counsel, Bart Mayer, thoroughly reviewed the draft of the packet and cleaned up some of the language to make sure there were no misconceptions of any of the building and financial specifications listed in the document.

“It’s pretty concise. It’s clear,” Duarte said. “I don’t see many places where they could go astray.”

Committee members agreed site walks should be encouraged for the community as well as responding developers in order to see first hand what the land truly offers.

The committee will meet as needed in the coming months until responses come in prompting meetings with potential buyers, committee members agreed.

Following that will be the public presentations prior to a final decision on the developer.

Before the project can go much further, a petition circulated through town in October asking the land sale be resubmitted to voters. It requires a warrant article be passed in March to get the voters’ blessing.

Voters approved a town warrant article in 2003 giving the Selectmen the right to vote to sell and acquire the property for the purpose of building a 40,000- square-foot retail establishment after hosting two public input sessions.

The article also allowed Candia residents to submit a petition prior to such a vote with the signatures of at least 50 registered voters asking the land sale decision be brought to voters again at Town Meeting.

The question: “Are you in favor of the proposed sale of town property at Exit 3?” will now be included on the town warrant in March.