Bow Select Board accepts Northern Borders grant to fund Bow Mills water-feasibility study; TIF match approved

The Bow Select Board on Sept. 9 voted to accept a Northern Border Regional Commission grant to fund a feasibility study examining municipal waterline extension and development in the Bow Mills Mixed Use Zoning District and approved a withdrawal from town TIF funds to provide the required local match.

The board’s motion described the grant as $52,265 pursuant to RSA 31:95-b to be used for “a feasibility study supporting municipal waterline expansion and development in the Bow Mills Mixed Use Zoning District.” The board also approved withdrawing $30,007.35 from the business-quarter TIF district to cover the town’s cash match; remaining match is expected to come from in-kind staff and volunteer contributions, according to meeting discussion.

The study’s stated scope, as discussed at the public hearing, includes a feasibility analysis of waterline expansion and associated elements such as traffic impacts, zoning implications and a cost-benefit review for the Bow Mills area. Tom O’Donovan of the Bow Drinking Water Section Committee asked whether the study’s purpose was to determine only feasibility or to plan an actual waterline extension; a town staff member responded that the study is a feasibility study and “may not end up supporting it,” meaning accepting the grant does not obligate the town to build a waterline.

Board members and public commenters framed the study as a tool to inform decisions about water extensions, zoning and other investments in Bow Mills after years of slow regional progress on state transportation planning. Select Board members also noted the study could help the town pursue development and tax-base growth without waiting for state action.

Separately, the board named Selectwoman Colby as the board’s designee to work with town staff and Hooksett officials on possible water interconnection terms; Selectman Bridal was named alternate. Town staff said Hooksett had expressed interest in resuming discussions about an interconnection agreement regardless of the status of a proposed water-bottling facility. The board noted it had received no response yet from Concord on an earlier letter about a North-Side interconnection.

Votes and next steps: the board approved acceptance of the grant and the TIF withdrawal at the meeting; staff said the town will use a consultant for the study and that the TIF advisory committee recommended the withdrawal. Meeting discussion made clear the study is descriptive and advisory rather than a binding commitment to build a waterline.