Tomorrow Thursday August 7, 2008 7:00PM at City Hall the Planning Commission will be holding a special meeting with a public hearing.  This special meeting is to address the changes in text to the TOD (transit oriented development) zoning ordinance.  Since this is a public hearing you should go and express your opinion about what west Farmington should to look like.  If you can't attend the meeting at least send a email to the Commissioners letting them know how you feel.  Here is a list of email addresses: link.

At first blush this may seem like an awfully boring meeting to attend.  After all few people want to sit through a discussion on the language of municipal zoning law.  Take courage the reason you will want to voice your option on this is because a vast amount of acreage in west Farmington is zoned TOD.  All the undeveloped land around the commuter rail station is zoned TOD. This is about 240 acres total.

Last night the developer America West brought a plan to the City Council for approval. The plan called for 160-300 apartment units to be built on 12+ acres. Most Farmington residents oppose this kind of residential density. The reason he could even propose this plan was the current TOD zoning law allows for this kind of development. The City Council denied the plan over technicalities that could easily be fixed for future proposals.

This 12 acre plot is the first of 240 acres to be built out in a TOD zone. If you have a different vision for west Farmington than high density apartment complexes please let the Planning Commission know your feelings by attending the 7:00PM tomorrow night meeting at City Hall.

This is a friendly reminder that the Farmington City Council will be holding as part of their council meeting a public hearing tonight regarding the "Park Place" development.  This specific hearing is only about the proposal of putting 192-264 apartments on the 12 acre lot west of the Fair Grounds.  However the approval of this 12 acres will be a model for how the rest of the 240 acres of open land between I-15 and the D&RGW tracks will be developed.  The City Council must know what Farmington residents feel about this.  The City Council meeting starts at 7:00PM at City Hall.

On Tuesday August 5, 2008 at 7:00PM the City Council will hold a public hearing.  Here is the official description, "Consideration of approval of a Project Master Plan for a 12.86 acre development known as “Park Place” located between Clark Lane, 1100 West and the former D&RGW rail line. The development proposal calls for high density residential and commercial mixed use - America West Development."

Don't let the subject line alarm you, at least too much.  It is there to get your attention.  However someone did describe the development being planned west of the Fair Grounds as "a million apartments". The official description of the development plan is "high density residential and commercial mixed use".  So to some this may seem like "a million apartments".

For anyone who cares about how west Farmington is going to be built out this will be an important meeting to attend and voice your opinion.  America West Development not only owns the chunk of land in question but also owns the 100+ acres north of Clark Lane and east of the D&RGW tracks.  This little 12.86 acre development will most likely be a model for how the rest of the 100+ acres gets built out.

Another consideration for this "Park Place" development is that it will be built right smack in the middle of where UDOT wants to build the Legacy Connector. Some may argue that a "high density residential" wall of homes would be a fantastic way to get UDOT to rethink its connector plans.  Others may see this development as a way for the developer to leverage a higher sale price on the land when UDOT tries to negotiate the purchase.

However you perceive this development you should come to the meeting to make sure your voice and your opinion is known to the City Council.  Whether its high density residential or a freeway, west Farmington is at stake.

Check back at http://www.farmingtoncitizens.org as more information will be posted when it is available.

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Just a note about this email list.  This list only reaches about 300 people.  So if your neighbors don't know about it please forward this email on to them and ask them to sign up at http://www.farmingtoncitizens.org.  They can always opt out anytime.

Since the City Council election of last year is long gone you've probably not noticed but Farmingtoncitizens.org has been quietly posting information on the site. So check back often to see if there is anything you have missed. Better yet, subscribe to the site's RSS feed if you use a feed reader like Google Reader or Bloglines. If there is information you think the community at large would like to know about please reply to this newsletter, comment on the site, or send a message using the contact form.

The real purpose of this newsletter is to pass on some information so those who what to can get involved.

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First, UDOT is holding a Public Open House for the Davis Weber East-West Transportation Study. The open houses will be held at the following times and locations (the first one is tonight):

Davis County
Wednesday, February 20
4:30 - 7:00 pm
Clearfield City Offices
55 S. State Street, Clearfield

Weber County
Thursday, February 21
4:30 - 7:00 pm
Theater Annex, Union Station
2501 Wall Avenue, Ogden

Here is the web address for more information: http://www.udot.utah.gov/daviswebereastwest/default.aspx

Update:  The Salt Lake Tribune has more information about the open house:  http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_8303898

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Second, Senator Killpack is sponsoring legislation (SB208) to change eminent domain rules.

You should be aware of this early stage bill that if enacted would seem to grant UDOT power to condemn land for the Legacy Connector immediately. There is a write up on the site for more information: http://farmingtoncitizens.org/web/sb208-killpack-eminent-domain-bill

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Thank you to all of you who spent so much time and effort in supporting candidates for Farmington City Council. Congratulations to Cory Ritz! Also, Carmen and Joel ran very good campaigns and deserve our appreciation for all of their efforts.

Our work as citizens is not completed. We need to stay active to ensure our voices are heard. Our efforts were a major contributing factor to denying UDOT's request to divide our city with another freeway. This issue is not over. I am confident that it will surface again.

Development issues will continue and will have a major impact on our city for many years to come. With Cory's election to City Council there should be two seats available on the Planning Commission. The Mayor has requested that individuals interested in applying for these appointed positions should notify him in writing. Let's get someone to step up and volunteer to fill at least one of these important positions.

Our efforts also resulted in one of the current city council members stating that a park in west Farmington is one of his top priorities. Let's remind him to keep his promises.

Once again, thanks to all who gave of their time, energy, and resources.

Roger Eggett
www.farmingtoncitizens.org

We will be meeting at the Farmington Bay Elementary school Saturday at 11:00 AM to deliver our final flyers and to drum up interest in the City Council candidates with the hot dog/drink wagon. The candidates and wagon will be circling the neighborhoods, and we will deliver the flyers at the same time. Anyone who can come and help would be appreciated. A special thanks goes out to all those who have donate time and money to make the flyers, posters, and the wagon event possible.

Along with the newly placed signs throughout the neighborhoods this flyer and hot dog wagon will be the last effort by the Farmington Citizens Committee to get the word out on Joel, Cory, and Carmen. Please come on Saturday to show your support. Don't forget to vote next Tuesday the 6th. If you can't vote on Tuesday swing by the County Clerks office by Friday (November 2nd) and cast an early ballot.

Your Friends and Neighbors,
Farmington Citizens Committee
www.farmingtoncitizens.org

Thank you everyone who attended the Farmington Citizens planning meeting last Thursday night. The discussion was lively and entertaining. We were able to zero in on a plan for the Farmington Citizens Committee to help Joel, Cory, and Carmen get elected on November 6th. The plan involves signs, flyers, hitting the streets, and a good ol' fashioned "meet the candidates" party.

Now that a plan is in place a critical piece of the pie is missing, money. This community effort needs a contribution from you. Here is how you can donate. Just reply to this message with your information:

1) Your Name
2) Address
3) Phone number

Someone will come by to pick up your donation. Checks can be made out to "Farmington Citizens". Cash donations can be made as well.

The results of the primary election made it real that Joel, Cory, and Carmen can be elected to the City Council. There is just 4 weeks left until the General Election. The outcome of this election will materially shape our community. The newly elected City Council will decide major Farmington issues. The majority of these issues will be focused west of I-15.

Many of you have expressed a desire to help in this community effort even though you could not attend citizen meetings. Now is the time to help.

Reply to this message. Let's get Joel, Cory, and Carmen elected.

 

Farmington Citizens Committee
www.farmingtoncitizens.org

This is a reminder that tonight will be a Citizens Committee meeting. The meeting will begin at 8:00PM in the barn of Bob Wilkes (1108 South 650 West). All who are in the reach of this email are invited to attend.

One hour prior at 7:00PM there will be a work session to put together a strategy to get Joel, Cory, and Carmen elected to the City Council on November 6th. This strategy will be presented to the whole group at 8:00PM.

Joel, Cory, and Carmen need all of our help. Let's keep the momentum going from the successful primary election.

See you tonight.

First of all congratulations to Joel, Cory, and Carmen for the outstanding success they had in the Primary Election. Check out farmingtoncitizens.org to see a breakdown of the voting data. The FA1 precinct which is the Farmington voters west of I-15. FA1 had a tremendous turnout and because of that Joel, Cory, and Carmen did so well. Thank you for the support.

The next Citizens Committee meeting has been set for October 4th at 8:00PM at Bob Wilkes Barn (1108 South 650 West). Prior to the meeting there will be a work session at 7:00PM for those who want to put together plans for the General Election. These plans will be presented at 8:00PM. Please plan on coming. Visit farmingtoncitizens.org for more information.

UDOT has posted a survey to its website. They are gathering opinions from South Davis County residents about road, rail, and bus projects. The survey is simple so please take a moment and voice your opinion. Please visit farmingtoncitizens.org for the link to the survey.

Lastly farmintoncitizens.com is trying to get an idea how the citizens community feels about the .25% sales tax increase for Davis County transportation projects that will be proposed on the General Election ballot. Visit farmingtoncitizens.org and cast your vote on the right side of the page. You can also post a comment if want to leave your opinion about the proposed tax.

After today's September 11th election the 9 Farmington City Council candidates will become 6. If you live west of I-15 then your polling place is most likely Eagle Bay Elementary School. The polls are open until 8:00PM tonight. If you don't know where your polling location is then visit this farmingtoncitizens.org page for information on how to figure it out: http://farmingtoncitizens.org/web/municipal-primary-voting-information

Remember that Farminton City needs a healty dose of vitamin C: Cook, Cory, and Carmen. See the three candidates that farmingtoncitizens.org endorses: http://farmingtoncitizens.org/web/three-candidates-farmington-city-council

GO VOTE!