Farmington board holds workshop on downtown plan draft

FARMINGTON — The Board of Selectmen will hold a workshop to review a draft copy of the Downtown Development Plan at 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, in the downstairs meeting room at the Town Office.

There will be an opportunity at the end of the meeting for public comment, Town Manager Richard Davis said.

After reviewing the draft in November, the three selectmen present at that meeting decided to hold an informal workshop to set clearer direction so the plan can move forward.

The board agreed in July to contract with Eaton Peabody Consulting Group for assistance in creating a tax increment financing district for the downtown area.

As part of establishing the TIF district, a downtown development plan is required. The plan will serve as a guide for the continued redevelopment of Downtown Farmington.

The board agreed to pay $9,850 for the downtown development plan and $9,500 for work to complete the downtown TIF application. The funds will be taken from the town’s TIF Reserve Account.

While the Farmington Downtown Association initiated the work and undertakes many efforts to promote and develop the downtown area, the plan is “intended to provide guidance and an action plan for the FDA and other interested parties in the community,” David Holden from Eaton Peabody wrote.

Selectman Andrew Hufnagel expressed concerns in November about the role of the Farmington Downtown Association in the plan, in light of town funds paying for it.

He also wants the district to include a larger area although there are three areas defined as “downtown” in the plan.

With two board members absent, Selectman Ryan Morgan agreed that Hufnagel had some valid points and suggested holding a workshop when all board members were there to provide the direction Holden asked for.

The draft is a community plan open to anyone, Holden told selectmen. He said his references to the Farmington Downtown Association role in the plan are based on their committee structure, one that helps coordinate what’s going on, not control of it.

The Farmington Downtown Association “has and will continue to be the primary organizer of development activity in Downtown — but not necessarily the only,” according to the plan.

The plan also recommends hiring a staff person, a downtown organizer, who would coordinate downtown development efforts on behalf of the Farmington Downtown Association and other nonprofit groups. The position would be paid for by public, private and other funds.

A copy of the draft downtown plan is available on the town’s website at this link:

http://www.farmington-maine.org/DRAFT%20Farmington%20DT%20Plan%20and%20Map%2010-30-12.pdf

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