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Boscawen TIF advisory board weighs town-owned reuse of tannery as Whitney outlines workforce-housing plan
Summary
At its May 26 meeting the Town of Boscawen TIF Advisory Board discussed mixed-use redevelopment of the tannery site, an alternative town-owned community-use proposal, and a workforce-housing plan from landowner Kevin Whitney; the board agreed to pursue infrastructure analysis and potential Northern Borders grant matching and to reconvene in about six weeks.
The Town of Boscawen TIF Advisory Board met May 26 to review redevelopment options for Commercial Street, hear a workforce-housing proposal for a gravel pit property and consider whether the town should retain and repurpose the tannery site rather than allow private development.
Mike Tardiff, executive director of the Central New Hampshire Regional Planning Commission, said the TIF budget assumes mixed-use development at the tannery site that would combine commercial, retail and housing and noted an opportunity to pursue a Northern Borders Commission grant; a letter of intent for that funding is due in mid‑August, and Tardiff said matching funds and future grant rounds remain uncertain.
Board member Walter Dratner argued the town’s cleanup investment in the tannery site should result in a public benefit rather than private profit, proposing a town-owned facility such as a senior center or community space. Dratner framed his suggestion around the town’s prior expenditures on remediation but did not present a formal funding plan; the advisory board discussed the idea but did not take a vote.
Property owner Kevin Whitney presented his concept for the gravel pit parcel, describing plans for two apartment buildings of about 60 units each and a set of townhouse units targeting workforce housing. The minutes record slightly different townhouse counts in two places (one passage lists 20 townhouse units overall; another describes 4–5 townhouse buildings with four units each). Whitney told the committee he intends to develop the property himself and will bring a reclamation-based plan to the planning board in June.
Committee members and staff focused on infrastructure needs. Tardiff and staff flagged uncertainty about water and sewer capacity for the proposed developments. Kellee Jo Easler, PCD Director, recommended inviting representatives from the Penacook Boscawen Water Precinct and the town Department of Public Works to the next TIF meeting to review water loop plans, hydrant conditions and sewer requirements. Kevin Whitney said the PBWP approved the current water loop plan but noted several older hydrants will need work; he said his engineers (Wilcox and Barton) will calculate required flow rates for sprinkler systems and other upgrades and will share preliminary cost estimates with the committee.
The board outlined next steps: schedule a follow-up meeting in roughly six weeks (targeting the second week of July); invite PBWP and DPW staff to discuss infrastructure; and bring reappointments (Roberta Witham and paperwork for Fred Reagan, Kevin Whitney and Walter Dratner) to the Selectboard on June 10 for signatures. No formal vote on development plans occurred at the meeting. The meeting adjourned after a motion from Tim Kenney and a second from Roberta Witham.
The TIF Advisory Board said it will reconvene to review engineering findings, clarify grant‑matching possibilities and, if appropriate, move toward issuing an RFP for the tannery site once cleanup and planning advance.
