Hartford Joint Review Board reviews draft plan for TID 14 to fund Innovation Way extension and new housing

The City of Hartford Tax Incremental District (TID) Number 14 Joint Review Board met May 28, 2026, to review a draft project plan that would create a new 20‑year TID to fund infrastructure and encourage industrial and multifamily residential development. City Planner Jacob Maas told the board the primary purpose of the proposed TID is to use tax increment to finance an Innovation Way extension, estimated at about $3.3 million and currently out for bids.

Maas said the draft anticipates a developer-backed industrial project (identified in the draft as DJS) with an expected assessed value of $6,112,000 by Dec. 31, 2026, and that a portion of the increment—about $561,210 in the plan—would be applied to the Innovation Way bond payment. The plan also models a PayGo arrangement for the industrial developer capped at about $400,000 if the facility expands from 80,000 to 160,000 square feet. Huntington provided a 20-year amortization schedule for the bond repayment, Maas said.

On the residential side, Maas described a proposed Winter Park Builders subdivision recently expanded by an annexation of roughly 60 acres. The developer’s offer contemplates about 600 dwelling units: roughly 200 multi‑family units, 184 villa/townhome-style units, and about 108 single‑family homes. The draft projects an assessed value for that residential build‑out of about $1,770,540 in 2033; the draft assumes a 60% developer incentive and uses a $13-per‑thousand mill rate for increment calculations.

Maas reviewed TID fiscal tests required under state law, noting the city’s maximum allowable TID property value of $281,134,140 and that the proposed TID would represent about 3.16% of the city’s equalized value—well under the statutory cap. Based on the revenue projections, staff recommended a 20‑year term for the TID.

Board members asked operational and fiscal questions. Aaron Daul asked whether both phases of Innovation Way would be constructed; Maas said both phases are included in the bonding approved by Common Council. Adam Majerus asked how the multifamily mix aligns with the comprehensive plan; Maas said it is consistent and that staff will provide exact ratio details at the July meeting. Dennis Hegy asked about the lagoon’s blight designation and whether nearby towns had raised concerns; Maas said the parcels are within the city sanitary boundary and that a recent annexation had proceeded without objections from the Town of Hartford.

Maas reviewed the Joint Review Board’s duties under state law and the three main decision criteria: the 'but for' test (would the development occur without TIF), whether the net economic benefits (jobs, income, property value) justify the cost, and whether the benefits outweigh tax impacts on overlying taxing jurisdictions. Maas said staff will provide an economic impact breakdown from the Economic Development & Workforce Committee (EDWC) at the next JRB meeting.

Members also raised public‑service questions. Bonnie Baerwald asked about emergency‑response impacts; Maas said police and fire chiefs had been consulted and that the city had approved bonding for a new fire station intended to help response times. Maas said EMS impacts were expected to be minimal for TID 14 but noted TID 13’s assisted living proposal would affect EMS demand more; he cautioned school impacts from 600 units could be meaningful even if only a share of units include children.

The board took procedural actions: it appointed Dennis Hegy as the citizen member and selected Mayor Dennis Regan as chair by unanimous vote. City Planner Maas told the board a Common Council resolution and Plan Commission review are scheduled in June (Common Council on June 23; Plan Commission on June 8) and that a formal JRB meeting must occur within 45 days of council approval. The JRB scheduled its next meeting for July 16, 2026. Aaron Daul moved to adjourn, seconded by Dennis Hegy; the motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 7:07 p.m.