By Nicholas Brown
Staff Writer

About 60 people turned out to ponder the $18 million bond proposed to trigger the town’s new 150-acre economic development district, conceived through a partnership between the town and Nebraska-based outdoor sports retail giant Cabela’s.

The $18 million bond will be the subject of a warrant article at the upcoming April 1 deliberative session of Town Meeting.

Some local planning and economic development officials seem eager to seal the $18 million deal. Cabela’s plans to guarantee payments on the bond, and the company’s large retail developments tend to attract other businesses that could provide an economic boon, say proponents of the plan.

The tax increment finance, or TIF, district sits around I-93’s Exit 11, where Cabela’s hopes to build its store. “I don’t care whether it’s Cabela’s or XYZ corporation,” said planning board chairman Richard Marshall. “Don’t pass up the opportunity to invest in this town.”

Several residents questioned the use of tax dollars – specifically $4 million earmarked for Cabela’s “museum elements” – in private developments.

Also included in the $18 million is $4,500,000 for town infrastructure improvements including upgrades to the Hooksett Village Water Precinct, the historic Lilac Bridge and a potential fire station.

The remainder of the $18 million would go toward infrastructure upgrades to the Cabela’s development including a new public road from Hackett Hill Road, a new Hackett Hill sewer pump station, Hackett Hill road upgrades and a signalized intersection at Route 3A and Hackett Hill Road.

In a hypothetical construction of the district, Cabela’s engineers envision a go-cart track, six restaurants, two hotels, one to two gas stations, three specialty retail spots and water and RV parks.