FARMINGTON — Planning Board members approved applications for construction of a Family Dollar store, a new barn for L. Herbert York and a parking lot expansion for William Marceau on Monday.

But by a vote of 4-3, they declined to review an application for construction of additional storage buildings because the application was submitted a day after the board’s deadline.

The applications were for site review plans and soil erosion control/storm water management plans.

Board Chairman Clayton King said he initially approved of putting the application submitted by Tim Bowen for T&J LLC on the agenda, even though it was submitted 24 hours late.

He said that after thinking about it, although he is pro-business, he wanted to uphold the rules and regulations made by the board.

Bowen wants to expand, adding another storage building to the one he built on the corner lot of Town Farm Road and Marvel Street in West Farmington.

Board members agreed the first building was well done and some were ready to review the application, especially when they realized the deadline fell on a Monday holiday when the Town Office was closed. Bowen’s application came in Tuesday.

“Time is money,” member Tom Eastler said of making Bowen wait for review at the next meeting.  “He’ll waste four weeks of valuable time. It’s a tax increase for the town and there’s no reason for it not to happen.”

It was one day late, but it was a holiday, Gloria McGraw said, agreeing with Eastler, as did William Marceau. 

“We need to look at it case by case,” she said.

Members Lloyd Smith, Donna Tracy and alternate member Matthew Smith agreed that the rules needed to apply to all and voted with King to not review the application.

In other business, Steven Bradstreet explained plans for construction of an 8,300-square-foot store for Family Dollar.

On behalf of Hunt Real Estate Services of Tampa, Fla., Bradstreet of Ransom Consulting Inc. said the company is purchasing 1.08 acres from Patrick and Chong Boivin. The lot is on the south end of the Harvest House Restaurant property and next to HealthQuest Chiropractic.

The plan proposes construction a 80- by 104-foot building with 34 parking spaces and an entrance on Routes 2 and 4.

Construction is expected to start this summer.

Marceau, who recently purchased Sunny Hill Apartments at 276 Fairbanks Road, the site of the old hospital, sought permits to expand parking on the back of what he now calls Foothill Heights.

He has cleared trees and will bring in gravel and grade the existing area for more parking, especially for handicapped access from the back of the building where the elevator is located, he said.

A long-term plan includes building a parking garage or shelter on the space. Tenants who chose to use the shelter would pay a premium.

York proposes building a new 9,000-square-foot barn on his property at 560 Farmington Falls Road. The barn would be used for young stock and dry cows, he said.

It’s the first barn he’s built under an organic type of system, he said. No pressure-treated boards can be used without being covered by regular wood.

A bedding created by loads of sawdust from Stratton would help keep the 60 animals warm. The barn would have a common eating area in the middle with room for 30 animals on each side.

abryant@sunjournal.com

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