FARMINGTON — More funding for the new Police Department garage and changes to the town zoning ordinance will be considered during a special town meeting set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28, at the Community Center on Middle Street.

Selectmen will begin their regular meeting at 6:30 p.m., stop at 7 p.m. for the town meeting and resume the board meeting when it’s done.

Among the eight articles on the warrant, voters will be asked to appropriate a sum not exceeding $25,000 from the town’s undesignated fund balance to complete construction of the Police Department garage.

Voters set aside $25,000 in a reserve account for a future garage at the March town meeting. 

A generous donor, Richard Bjorn, then offered to fund the remaining cost so that the construction could be done this year, said police Chief Jack Peck.

Previous estimates at around $75,000 were expected to be covered by the reserve amount and about $50,000 donated by Bjorn.

Bids for construction were recently opened. The lowest bid was $94,600, Peck said. An architect fee runs another $2,500.

If voters approve the extra funds, construction could start the following week and be finished by the end of October, Peck said.

The funds would help keep the donation down closer to the originally intended amount and complete the work.

Voters will also be asked to amend the town zoning ordinance to include zoning changes in West Farmington and zoning maps to change the zoning district at the corner of Franklin Avenue and High Street.

Without the zoning change in West Farmington, Kevin and Cindy Madore and other business owners cannot expand or start new businesses. Madore’s Market and other existing businesses in the area now exist within a residential zone.

A change to a residential light-commercial zone would provide an opportunity for businesses to expand or for future growth without upsetting the village-residential feel, Code Enforcement Officer Steve Kaiser previously said.

Jon and Lois Bubier, owners of Ron’s Market on High Street, are also looking to expand their store in the future.

The area around the store is already a mix of businesses but is currently zoned as village residential. The businesses are grandfathered because they existed before zoning, but without a change no expansion can be done.

Under the change, most of the block surrounded by Farmington Falls Road, Franklin Avenue and High Street would become a village business district, while village residential zones would remain to the north of the block on Maple Avenue and to the south below Franklin Avenue.

Other articles ask voters to adopt an ordinance called Property Assessed Clean Energy.

Although there is no cost to the town, the ordinance is needed to enable Farmington residents to borrow up to $15,000 to make energy efficiency improvements and heating system upgrades through Efficiency Maine Trust’s PACE loan program.

Copies of the warrant are available at the town office.

abryant@sunjournal.com

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