An area of

West Farmington would have been changed to village commercial.
By Donna M. Perry
Staff Writer

FARMINGTON – Voters rejected a proposal Monday to rezone an area of West Farmington from village residential to village commercial.

The area proposed for rezoning was between Bridge and Oakes streets and Thomas McClellan Road.

Anders Olafson who runs a retail sales and service business, which is grandfathered in the village residential zone, wanted to expand his business to include small engine repair.

But he couldn’t in the existing zone. The Zoning Board had approved an amendment to the zoning ordinance and sent it to selectmen after months of discussions and two public hearings. Selectmen sent the rezoning proposal to the voters. The residential area is surrounded by a village business district.

The change would have opened up the village residential area to amusement facilities, automobile repair and sales, small engine repair, bed and breakfast establishments, boat building, building materials and retail sales, commercial schools and conference centers.

In its finding, the Zoning Board stated the change would promote economic development, especially service businesses and tourism, and would support the development of the recreational and alternative transportation right-of-way, which would meet several goals in the town’s comprehensive plan.

Zoning members had concurred that the proposal would have no negative impact upon existing public infrastructure and the municipality’s ability to provide municipal service in the future.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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