FARMINGTON – A $1.2 million, two-building apartment complex will be opening sometime in mid-2005 after the Planning Board here approved the project Tuesday night.

The board met for a special session on Tuesday night to deal with issues carried over from a meeting last week.

Community Concepts, a non-profit community action agency, plans to construct Farmington Heights Apartments, two buildings with six apartments each. The project will be off of Cascade Leisure Park Road.

According to Dennis Lajoie, director of housing and real estate development for Community Concepts, there will be six two-bedroom units of around 1,100 square feet each and six three-bedroom units of approximately 1,300 square feet, including two two-bedroom handicap accessible units.

The building would be open to those with a combined household income between $18,000 and $28,000 annually, he said.

The project is designed to fit into Farmington’s architectural scheme.

Rents would be roughly $500 a month for a three-bedroom apartment with one and half baths including heat, Lajoie estimated.

Planning Board members unanimously approved the application, with a few conditions. One was that a recreational area should be added into the plans. Board member Tom Eastler suggested to the applicants that they speak with the town’s recreation director, Steve Shible, for ideas.

The second was about the sewer system. In order to add the two buildings, there must be around $22,000 in upgrades to the pumping system that services that area. Planning Board members expressed concern over who should pay for that and wanted the applicants to work that out with the sewer department. Community Concepts will pay around $13,000 in sewer impact fees.

The property will be taxable. Lajoie said construction should start by June and hopefully be completed by next spring.

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