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Select Board accepts Northern Border grant to fund Bow Mills feasibility study, authorizes TIF withdrawal
Summary
The Bow Select Board voted to accept a Northern Border Regional Commission grant to fund a feasibility study for a possible waterline extension and mixed‑use development in the Bow Mills district, and approved withdrawing $30,007.35 from TIF funds as the local match.
The Town of Bow Select Board voted Sept. 9 to accept a Northern Border Regional Commission grant intended to fund a feasibility and master‑planning study for the Bow Mills Mixed‑Use Zoning District and to approve withdrawing TIF district funds as the required local match.
David, town manager, told the board the study will evaluate municipal waterline expansion, traffic impacts, zoning and cost‑benefit analysis so the town can decide whether water extensions or other infrastructure investments are justified. "Conduct a feasibility study supporting municipal waterline expansion and develop[ment]," he said, describing the study’s scope.
During the public hearing Tom O'Donovan, representing the Boat Drinking Goods section committee, confirmed that in‑kind contributions would raise the match and said he was "a little bit concerned about what this grant actually is for," noting inconsistent descriptions between the TIF advisory minutes and the study’s opening page. David and other board members clarified the study is intended as a feasibility assessment and "may not end up supporting" a waterline extension; accepting the grant does not commit the town to build.
A board member moved "to accept the Northern Border Regional Commission grant in the amount of $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 motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
Board members then approved a separate motion to withdraw $30,007.35 from the Bo Business Corner TIF district funds to serve as the local match; the balance of the match will be covered by in‑kind contributions and staff time, David said. That motion passed by voice vote.
The record contains inconsistent dollar amounts: an earlier staff statement listed $52,002.65 as the grant figure in the meeting packet, while the motion recorded at the meeting used $52,265. The board approved the motion as read on the floor; the packet amount and the motion amount differ in the transcript.
Next steps: staff will work with the TIF advisory committee and the grant administrator to finalize withdrawal paperwork and the scope of work for the consultant‑led feasibility study. The board was clear that the study will inform future decisions and will not obligate the town to construct water mains absent further approvals.
