FARMINGTON – A developer for Home Depot said he and his client would like time to assimilate the revised sewer connection fee proposed by selectmen at their meeting Tuesday night.
The building supply and home furnishings chain is developing plans to build a 104,686-square-foot store and adjacent shopping center on Wilton Road next to the Mt. Blue Shopping Center.
Representing Home Depot Tuesday, Will Haskell of Gorrill-Palmer Consulting Engineers Inc. of Gray, said he had not had the opportunity to look at the proposal before the meeting.
Initially the town calculated a sewer connection fee of $209,372 based on the store’s square footage and the district’s retail rate.
Developers said issues at the site causing unexpected expenditures of almost $1.5 million might drive the company away. The addition of an expensive sewer connection fee might deter the company from choosing to build there, representatives said. They countered with a proposed fee of $11,250, based on 24 times the fee for a three-bedroom residence – the proportional size difference between a single-family home and the store – at a selectmen’s meeting two weeks ago.
Selectmen tabled the matter two weeks ago to allow for further research.
A committee made up of selectman and town employees calculated a compromise fee of $85,645.80 based on the Wilton Road sewer assessment, expected number of employees and anticipated water consumption taken from a similar-sized store in Ellsworth.
Haskell said the committee’s approach “makes sense,” but had concerns that there may have been some double accounting in using anticipated employee counts and water consumption in the calculations.
He also said the 120-employee estimate, supplied by the company, might be too high, having been based on an urban store. Haskell expects the project to bring 75 to 80 employees to the site in a 24-hour period, he said.
Changing the employee number would not result in a significant reduction, said Town Manager Richard Davis.
Selectmen discussed tabling the issue after Haskell’s comments, but Selectman Mark Cayer said he thought the number was fair. Selectmen agreed, voting unanimously to approve the connection fee of $85,645.80. It is unknown whether Home Depot will accept the offer and continue with the planning process.
Farmington resident Bob Vallette asked selectmen later about their decision to support the project.
“I know 80 to 120 jobs is important,” he said. But what about the smaller businesses like Dexter, Hammond and Aubuchon? he asked. Also, if the business failed, the town would be stuck with a potential eyesore building like the former Ford dealership on Wilton Road.
“Is this the kind of atmosphere that we’re creating?” he asked them.
Chairman Mary Wright said Home Depot attracts a different sort of customer than the smaller businesses, which tend to serve contractors. Davis agreed, saying he spoke with one of the suppliers, who said he wasn’t concerned.
“Unbridled growth is not a good thing in any town,” said Vallette, a two-year resident of the town. “How do you prevent this town from looking like any town?” he asked, calling the expansion along Wilton Road sprawl.
“It is not sprawl,” said Selectman Charles Murray, it is controlled growth as spelled out in the town’s comprehensive plan currently under revision.
“The next phase is to address appearance,” he said.
“I feel your sentiment,” said Selectman Stephan Bunker. But, he explained, the board must act according to town ordinances unless voters choose to change them.
“We have to look at what is good for the whole town,” added Wright.
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