FARMINGTON —  A third workshop on the Farmington Downtown Redevelopment Plan begins at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, at the Municipal Building.

Anticipated as the final workshop with John Holden, who created the plan, the session was scheduled after selectmen unanimously put the plan on hold during a Jan. 9 workshop.

Farmington Downtown Association members brought the idea of creating a Downtown TIF district to the board last summer. Holden, of Eaton Peabody Consultants, was hired to create the downtown plan, which is needed to create a TIF district.  Selectmen approved spending $9,850 for work done on the plan and $9,500 to develop the TIF district with funds taken from another municipal TIF district.

During the January workshop, Town Manager Richard Davis indicated the fund amount approved for the plan had reached the limit, perhaps exceeding it.

At the time, Selectman Andrew Hufnagel questioned taking a vote because he assumed another workshop would be held so everyone would have the opportunity to speak before a vote was taken.

A workshop in December fell during holiday shopping hours for some downtown business owners, such as Tammy Parsons, who had to leave the session early to attend to her business. 

Parsons spoke in January and questioned the plan’s intent to hire staff to coordinate events, and whether the plan suited Farmington.

She suggested slowing down and producing a better plan.

John Moore agreed, saying the plan “needs more fine tuning.” He also wanted more time for the town to research creating two TIF districts, one for downtown and another in West Farmington.

Moore provided board members a list of  other business owners with similar concerns.

The board authorized Davis to work with Holden to set up another workshop.

Following the workshop Tuesday, the board will convene at 6:30 p.m. for its regular meeting.

A public hearing and board vote on proposed amendments to the town’s traffic ordinance is planned.

One provision is an addition that forbids parking on the south side of Orchard Street.

Another is to correct a typographical error in the ordinance and one to limit parking in lots on Front Street owned by Franklin Savings Bank.  No parking would be allowed in the lots from midnight to 7 a.m.

In other business, the board will discuss potential liquor license violations at the Front Street Tavern and consider an action plan for addressing the violations.

It will also discuss the possible formation of an Economic Development Committee, hear an update on the proposed natural gas pipeline and other items.

abryant@sunjournal.com

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