Property Rezoned To Multi-Family

FARMINGTON — Farmington City Council last week unanimously rezoned an acre lot behind Collier Drug Store from commercial to multi-family housing.

Several property owners spoke out against the rezoning request when it was considered by the Farmington Planning Commission on March 27 but no one from the public made any comments about the proposal at the Council meeting. The Planning Commission voted to recommend the property be rezoned.

Brad Smith presented the request before the Planning Commission and answered questions from Council members last week.

Smith proposes to build two four- plexes and has said the buildings would be similar to ones he has built behind Harps in Prairie Grove. The units would face Old Farmington Road.

Council member Diane Bryant said she drove by the Prairie Grove complex but did not see any green space. She wondered if the Farmington development would have green space.

Melissa McCarville, city business manager, reminded Bryant and other aldermen that Smith would have to submit a large scale development plan for a multi-family complex and would be required to meet all city ordinances, including design standards for multi-family developments and landscaping requirements.

Another alderwoman, Linda Bell, said she understood the rent for the units in Prairie Grove was about $800/month. Smith told the Planning Commission that the lease for the Farmington units would be about $1,200 per month. Bell asked why the rent in Farmington would be higher.

Smith told her the land in Prairie Grove cost substantially less than the land in Farmington. He said he would charge what the market would bear for the area, adding the lease needed to be high enough that he would be able to make some profit on the development.

Smith told Council members the Farmington units would be very nice with each having 1,400-1,500 square feet of living space.

In other action, the Council approved a request from Farmington Public Library Director Rachel Sawyer to turn two part-time positions into a full-time librarian for children’s services.

“The demand is high for a children’s librarian,” Sawyer said.

The position’s responsibilities would include outreach, coordinating with schools and early literacy programs. With the new position, the library would have a full- time director, full-time children’s librarian and one part-time position.

The Council also approved the renewal of a school resource officer contract with Farmington School District for 2017-18 and approved a request to sell a 2006 Dodge Charger from the police department. The police vehicle will be placed for bid.

In addition, the Council agreed to remove an older fire engine from inventory at the request of fire Chief Mark Cunningham. The Farmington-Prairie Grove Rural Association purchased the engine for Farmington Fire Department in 1997.

City Attorney Steve Tennant recommended giving the title of the engine to the rural association so it can sell the truck for $35,000 to Highway 51 Fire Department. The association is in the process of purchasing a new $350,000 fire engine for Farmington.