FARMINGTON — The latest draft of the Downtown Development Plan will be reviewed with its author, John Holden, at a public workshop at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, at the Municipal Building.
The Board of Selectmen is expected to take a vote on the plan during their meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
It’s a slimmer version, one that defines a broader downtown Farmington, acknowledges the necessity of help from a variety of citizen volunteers, groups and organizations to accomplish, and lists specific activities to pursue.
“The plan offers the community a list of tasks, categorized as either Projects or Programs that, as implemented, will provide for continued development of Downtown Farmington,” Holden wrote in the introduction.
The brick and mortar projects discussed at last month’s workshop are included, such as a recreational bridge over the Sandy River, public restrooms downtown, a parking garage and streetlights.
The programs are defined as development of a TIF district, branding for future advertising and promotion of Farmington, a web presence, a signature event, market analysis, continued bus tours, a shop local campaign and a downtown cultural center.
During a third workshop on the plan last month, Holden offered, for a fee, to complete the draft based on what he had heard during the workshops.
Holden drafted the original one while working for Eaton Peabody Consultants, which was hired by the board last summer to create the plan for $9,850 and a downtown TIF district.
Selectmen agreed last month to pay an extra $1,000 for Holden’s services to complete the plan. It was funded through a local tax-increment financing district.
Some board members and business owners wanted a simpler, more streamlined plan. There were concerns that it was too broad and allotted too much reference to one organization.
The plan also includes consideration of the town uniting with the University of Maine at Farmington as they celebrate their 150th year this fall.
Events are being planned for the anniversary of its charter, Oct. 9, 2013, and a yearlong celebration as the state’s first public institution of higher learning.
abryant@sunjournal.com
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