Hooksett committee weighs up-to-$10 million TIF bond, zoning overlay to bring sewer to Exit 10

The town’s Economic Development Advisory Committee met to discuss reviving a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) project to bring sewer service across the Merrimack River to properties around Exit 10 and Quality Drive.

Committee members said outreach this month to major property owners — including representatives of KGI Properties (which owns Target and Kohl’s), Bass Pro, Walmart and Market Basket — produced conditional interest in contributing money toward sewer connections but that owners asked for specific cost and routing details before committing. The group identified the need for engineering estimates broken into segments so outreach can request defined private contributions for discrete phases.

Why it matters: The TIF would fund infrastructure intended to spur retail and restaurant development along the west side; members said past TIF work and the perception of unmet promises at Exit 11 left voters skeptical. Several committee members argued that ballot language showing private contributions and a zoning overlay…