Farmington Citizens

Here are John Bilton's responses to questions he was asked by email:

Q: What is your vision for the commercial growth of west Farmington in particular and other areas of Farmington?
A: I know what I do not want, I do not want a commercial center like Layton or Centerville (no offense to those communities), but we have an opportunity to do a much better job with our commercial development because we on the front end of that development cycle in Farmington.  The creation of a destination lifestyle center is a much more desirable goal for Farmington and West Farmington in particular.  Development that is mixed use in nature with a st lye that is congruent with Farmington, creating a sense of place that is walkable, safe, bicycle friendly and offers amenities that draw people from surrounding areas.  We have a project in Station Park that fills most of the goals above, but there is still a lot of ground and work to do to make sure we have a first class commercial mixed use development in our city.

Q: With the changes in the economy what will be your approach to residential development in Farmington?
A: We need to make sure the projects we have approved to date and are in development are held to the standards of their approval.  This needs to be done in order to set the expectation for future residential developers.  I believe Farmington is predominately a single family residential community, but there will be locations and projects that create multi family projects in the future.  The economy has slowed residential development in the city, when development is slow and prices have dropped developers may look to increase density in projects, we will need to make sure we do not create densities that we do not want.

Q: Please state your position on the Legacy North to Legacy Parkway connector?
A: I was on the Planning Commission and voted against the preferred route that UDOT wanted for the Legacy North Connector.  I want to the least impact to Farmington as possible.  I do not want to bifurcate our city.  UDOT ultimately can put the road where they please, but if we offer alternatives that the Army Core of Engineers and UDOT may accept we can create alternatives that will create the least impact to our city.

Q: What perspective can you give on the recently passed Farmington City Master Transportation Plan? What impacts do you see on west Farmington from the changes in the Transportation Master Plan?
A: This is a very progressive plan.  Farmington is forward looking in this plan as to where our preferred route for Legacy is and as to what the street overlay will be for our commercial corridors west of I-15.  Buildings change but the street network often never does.

Q: What changes if any do you want enacted in Farmington and Farmington City government?
A: I want to make sure people understand what is going on, education is the key to understanding issues in our city.  Discussing issues related to Farmington in the context of our ordinances and zoning regulations is important, to often I have seen citizens that do not know these regulations.  Creating opportunities for citizen education is a change I would encourage.

Q: What Farmington issues are most important to you?
A: Please see JohnBilton.com for a complete listing of issues important to me.

Q: What else do you what said about you on farmingtoncitizens.org?
A: I believe I am fair minded, forward thinking and I have a strong desire to see Farmington be a great place to live for decades to come.  I am raising my family here and I love this community, as a result I want to create an environment that honors our past and maintains our unique character.

Here are Preston Child's responses to questions he was asked by email:

Q: What is your vision for the commercial growth of west Farmington in particular and other areas of Farmington?
A: I believe that managing our growth effectively has helped Farmington to remain the great community it is today.  I believe developments such as Station Park are crucial to providing new revenue sources that will also serve to enhance the character and reputation of our city.

Q: With the changes in the economy what will be your approach to residential development in Farmington?
A: Though we are currently in a building lull, this will not always be the case.  New residential areas will need to be given high priority to ensure that any issues regarding traffic, commercial development, and existing neighborhoods are taken care of in their earliest stages.

Q: Please state your position on the Legacy North to Legacy Parkway connector?
A: Like many, I prefer the Legacy Connector to be constructed as far west as possible.  I believe doing so is essential for our future planning and growth as a city.

Q: What perspective can you give on the recently passed Farmington City Master Transportation Plan? What impacts do you see on west Farmington from the changes in the Transportation Master Plan?
A: I believe it is crucial that new infrastructure be planned and constructed with the utmost care and caution.  We haven grown much as a city in the past ten years, particularly on the west side.  It is my goal to keep these areas as appealing and inviting as they are today.

Q: What changes if any do you want enacted in Farmington and Farmington City government?
A: I believe that government works best when new ideas are open to thorough and extensive debate.  I think this will be accomplished best on a council comprised of members with varying backgrounds, experience, and views.  This diversity will help to ensure that as many points of view are presented as possible.

Q: What Farmington issues are most important to you?
A: I believe the state of our residential roads has been neglected for too long.  While it has been important to focus much of our time and attention as a city on very pressing items, I believe caring for and maintaining our streets needs to be a higher priority.  As many of us know, the amount of gasoline tax we receive through the state Class B road fund has proved insufficient.  I believe that as we carefully examine our budget, and evaluate new revenue sources, this problem can be remedied.

Q: What else do you what said about you on farmingtoncitizens.org?
A: As a lifelong Farmington resident, I am committed to maintaining the character and community of the city I love.  I can't think of a better place to have been raised, and I pledge that I will do all that I can to ensure Farmington remains the safe, family-friendly, and beautiful City it is for years to come.

Here are Carson Howell's responses to questions he was asked by email:

Q: What is your vision for the commercial growth of west Farmington in particular and other areas of Farmington?
A: I feel that Farmington needs carefully managed growth.  We need some commercial growth in order to sustain the services the city provides and broaden our tax base.  I don't want to open the flood gates for commercial growth so that we lose the feeling of Farmington which is why I moved here.

Q: With the changes in the economy what will be your approach to residential development in Farmington?
A: I think Farmington should be as careful about residential construction as I plan to be about commercial construction.  I lived in a city where the growth was not managed and among other things, it became a traffic nightmare.  I also don't want to end up with entire communities sitting empty.

Q: Please state your position on the Legacy North to Legacy Parkway connector?
A: This is an important road to our region.  I have worked with UDOT and have built a good relationship with the executive level staff as well as the executive director.  I have worked on transportation policy and could use that knowledge to discuss with UDOT our concerns about the placement of this highway and how we want to minimize the impact to residents and Farmington as a whole.

Q: What perspective can you give on the recently passed Farmington City Master Transportation Plan? What impacts do you see on west Farmington from the changes in the Transportation Master Plan?
A: I think that the Master Transportation Plan that was passed was a small victory for Farmington.  The City Council voted to place Legacy North as far west and as far south as possible.  Although this was the route that the Council voted on, the alignment hasn't been set by UDOT and so there is still work to be done.

Q: What changes if any do you want enacted in Farmington and Farmington City government?
A: There are a few immediate changes that I would like to see.  I was surprised that I could not find the city ordinances online.  I don't understand why, with the technology we have, one should have to go down to City Hall in order to view the ordinances.  I would like to do this in order to make government more transparent and accessible.  Another change that I would like to see is in the realm of representation.  As I've campaigned, many people have asked me in what part of Farmington I live.  Why can't we look at an option to make sure every Farmington resident is represented?  I would like to see the North have a representative, the South have a representative, and the West have a representative.  Two Council seats could still remain at-large so that each person would still vote for a majority of the Council, but you would have a representative on the Council whom you could call with concerns and who would be well versed in the issues of your area.

Q: What Farmington issues are most important to you?
A: Balancing the levels of taxation and spending are important to me.  I would like all residents to feel that they get what they pay for and they don't pay any more than they have to.  Growth and development are important as well and really impact the finances of the city.

Q: What else do you what said about you on farmingtoncitizens.org?
A: I have experience and training in government finance.  Government is not a business.  Government should never be looking to make a profit from its citizens.  I understand the complexities of government finance and budgeting and will vote to eliminate unnecessary or wasteful spending.

Here are Jim Talbot's responses to questions he was asked by email:

My name is Jim Talbot.  I'm running for the office of City Council. My wife, Karen, and I have lived in Farmington for 20 years.  We have raised our family here.  We feel blessed to live in a beautiful rural setting with honest, hard-working, educated people.  There aren't many places on earth that match our style of living here.  If elected, I will do my best to protect what we have.

Q: What is your vision for the commercial growth of west Farmington in particular and other areas of Farmington?
A: I have five years of service on the Planning Commission and two years as the chairman.  I'm familiar with many of the current issues facing the city now and in the coming years.

One of my main concerns in the west part of our city is the development of Station Park.  Station Park is a critical part of our economic future. My vision for Station Park is a tastefully planned landmark with up-scale shopping and restaurants to compliment the Front Runner  stop.  I envision it much like the Riverwoods in Provo.  I have visited CenterCal Development in Portland, the developer of Station Park, and am pleased with the quality of work that they do and the tenant mix they plan to bring to Farmington.

I've been in commercial development for 25 years. This experience would help me to ensure that all developers adhere to the recommendations of the City Council.  Controlled growth and carefully planned development, both commercially and residential is still very important to me.  I am also concerned that we provide a tax base for the citizens of Farmington without increasing taxes, by carefully developing our commercial and residential base throughout the city.

Q: With the changes in the economy what will be your approach to residential development in Farmington?
A: I would like for us to develop first those areas which have all ready been approved for residential development before bringing on new developments.  I would like to see continued open space for developments complimented by a trail system connecting the residents of Farmington.

Q: Please state your position on the Legacy North to Legacy Parkway connector?
A: As chairman of the Planning Commission, I chaired those public meetings with UDOT regarding Legacy North to Legacy Parkway connector.  We voted to deny the plan for this connector that was proposed by UDOT.  We passed our recommendation on to the City Council to deny UDOT's proposal as well. It was our recommendation that we push this Corridor as far west as possible. I personally was passionate about this.  I don't want to see our community divided again by a major arterial road.

Q: What perspective can you give on the recently passed Farmington City Master Transportation Plan?
A: I'm in favor, as stated in my answer to the question above, to move this collector as far west as possible, thus preserving our neighborhoods on the western side.  I'm hopeful that the state will take our recommendations and realize that as a city we will fight them for the best solution for our residents.

Q: What changes if any do you want enacted in Farmington and Farmington City government?
A: There is no one major thing I would like to see changed.  I believe if we plan ahead and make changes carefully and skillfully, that the changes that are inevitable will not  infringe on the integrity of the city as it stands today.

Q: What Farmington issues are most important to you?
A: I've already mentioned some of my greatest concerns that will be facing the residents of Farmington during the next few years--the development of Station Park, providing a much needed revenue for city services, the transportation issues that will be on-going in Farmington, careful planning of residential and commercial development. These are some of the important issues to me and our citizens.  There is no substitute for experience.  I have that experience with all of these issues.  I want an open communication with the residents of our city.  The citizens must be kept informed at all times.  That is my obligation to them and my responsibility as a member of the City Council.  I have a web site, a cell phone, a home phone, a face book site.  I'm hopeful that this shows that I'm available at all the times for their questions and needs.

Q: What else do you want said about you on farmingtoncitizens.org?
A: My family and I have lived in Farmington for 20 years.  My children have all grown up here and all graduated from Davis HS.  I am at a time in my life with my business and family where I have the time to devote to community service. I have served on the Planning Commission and understand the amount of time these assignments require.  I will not have a problem putting whatever time is necessary to fulfill this assignment.

My main reason for running for City Council is that I have a strong desire to serve my community.  I have no political agenda--just a desire to serve.  I feel strongly that with my five years of  experience on the Planning Commission and my commitment to protect the integrity of Farmington, that I can bring valuable assets to the Council.  I am also a good listener and have what I consider good common sense in decision making. Please visit my website at: www.jimtalbot.org

Here are Anita Todd's responses to questions she was asked by email:

Q: What is your vision for the commercial growth of west Farmington in particular and other areas of Farmington?
A: I was born and raised in Bountiful, lived in Centerville for 18 years. I moved here from Centerville 6 years ago, because I loved the open space focus in Farmington.  I was the Parks and Rec  Committee Chairman in Centerville and I was very disturbed by the lack of open space per 1000 person ratio in Centerville.  I felt that the fast and furious development of Centerville's retail businesses, ruined Centerville.  I loved the "old town" feeling of Farmington, the focus on "Historic", the lack of modernization and the quiet peace of the "west side". My Dad has been the barber for 41 years in Farmington, so I've been watching Farmington for a long time.

Q: With the changes in the economy what will be your approach to residential development in Farmington?
A: SLOW DOWN...I don't like the signs and the flags and the circus atmosphere.  Also, there should be some way to insure that the City isn't left with failed developments that become eyesores.  I realize that there are some density requirements for Cities, but I would fight for the lowest density developments possible...with open spaces.

Q: Please state your position on the Legacy North to Legacy Parkway connector?
A: If you are referring to the existing developed roadway,  I'm not thrilled that we needed it, but I am happy that it seems to be a good design and lowkey approach to traffic.  I'm not up on an extension of Legacy farther north, but do want to know the plans.  I'm sad to see so much wildlife killed and hope that incentives to change our mode of transportation will slow us all down.

Q: What perspective can you give on the recently passed Farmington City Master Transportation Plan? What impacts do you see on west Farmington from the changes in the Transportation Master Plan?
A: I don't like it...real bad.  I live 2 blocks east of the Buffalo Ranch.  I love the quiet neighborhood that I live in.  My neighbors are unaware of the proposed Master Plan.  I am aware...farthest west and farthest south it can go.  It sure would be easy for a City Council Member who doesn't live where I live to simply say...as long as I'm not affected by it...let it happen.  I lived in Las Vegas for a short time and they have a similar plan.  I wouldn't want to live in the middle of freeways.  Surrounded on all sides by noisy, crazy traffic.  I'd like to see it kept where it is.  Call it the "taffy pull" interchange and leave all the traffic near Lagoon.

Q: What changes if any do you want enacted in Farmington and Farmington City government?
A: It seems that we simply need better balanced representation.  With Paula Alder out, there should still be a woman on the Council.  Who better than a woman who lives on the West Side and knows how to battle city issues!  Where is most of the development going to take place?  I have personally been trying to be a presence at the City meetings to simply remind folks that there are people on the west side. (I also feel that the south end of Farmington should be concerned about representation...my son lives there).  I believe we have at least one developer on the Council, do we need more?????

Q: What Farmington issues are most important to you?
A: Maintaining the small town feel, historic emphasis, open spaces, peace, quiet, government for the whole city, good/fair communication.   Government for the people, not the developer.

Q: What else do you what said about you on farmingtoncitizens.org?
A:

Professional Experience:

• Accounting - Bosworth & Sullivan 
• Accounting - A G Edwards 
• Operations - Tracy Collins Bank
• Accounting - MorganStanley Dean Witter 
• Accounting, Sales & Design - Midwest Office
• Management, Accounting, Sales & Design - New Life Office
• Management, Accounting, Sales & Design - Allman's Carpet
• Wife and Mother - 36 years

Leadership Skills:

• Various Church Positions - LDS Church (Youth and Adults)
• PTA Safety & Welfare Commissioner - Coordinated with City Hall and Davis Schools to complete a secondary road to a "dead-end" Elementary School.  (2 year battle, mission accomplished)
• Parks and Rec. Committee Chairman - Coordinated City Recreation programs and development of City Parks.
• Advocate for Neighbors - Coordinated approval and building of city street for all neighbors living on a city-owned undeveloped road.  (2 year battle, mission accomplished)
• HOA Government Relations Officer - (Coordinating regulations of open space in 500 home neighborhood and park development - ongoing battle, mission almost accomplished).
• Wife and Mother - 36 years

Fair Representation:

• City Council should have at least one woman on the Council.
• City Council should have representation from the entire city.  (Northend, Southend, Eastend, Westend and Central)  Each geographical area should be represented to have a fair governing body.  Farmington should want that.

With the City motto being "Historic Beginnings", I believe knowing my heritage may be of interest to the residents of Farmington.  I have "Historic Beginnings".

Here are Kevin Poff's responses to questions he was asked by email:

Q: What is your vision for the commercial growth of west Farmington in particular and other areas of Farmington?
A: Since the city has already designated the area between the rail line, the freeway, and Clark Lane as an area for major development, the question at this point is how the development will turn out.  While on the planning commission, I lobbied hard for a few principles that I thought were key to all of the commercial projects that have been proposed in the area.  First, I think it is critical that we try and maximize the use of Frontrunner.  It's one thing for local people to use it to get to and from work in Salt Lake and Ogden.  I think we should also be pushing for the kinds of things that will encourage people to use the train to come to Farmington.  While many of the shoppers will still bring a car, there will be less traffic if people use the train to come see a movie and go out to dinner.  The more walkable we make the project, the fewer cars we will have to deal with.  I agree with the mixed-use approach, which will help to keep the area from becoming a ghost town after 5:00 pm.  While we certainly don't want a swinging night life, we also don't want a vacant breeding ground for mischief.

That leads to my second priority for the commercial development in west Farmington.  That is to ensure that Park Lane and Clark Lane do not bog down, effectively isolating the residents of west Farmington from the rest of town or the freeways.  We already have more stoplights on Park Lane than the nightmare interchange near the Layton Mall that many people cite as the example of what should be avoided.  The biggest problem with the Layton Mall interchange is not so much those who exit and enter the freeway to go to the mall, but rather with those who seek to simply travel from one side of the freeway to the other.  Many people will tell you that traffic flows well in and out of the mall when you measure the number of cars that move.  However, getting people through the area is what takes forever.  From the very beginning, I have fought to minimize the cross traffic and addition of intersections on Park Lane.  There are several options that would still allow traffic to flow through, while providing for the movement in and out of development on both sides of the roadway.

My third priority for the commercial development in west Farmington is to make sure that whatever happens doesn't negatively impact the neighborhoods that are already there.  When Craig Kartchner, John Bilton, and I worked on the study committee to look at revisions for the Transportation Mixed Use(TMU) zone text, one of the first baseline requirements we set was to establish a buffer zone anywhere the mixed use zone bordered a residential zone. We worked hard throughout the process to limit the size, height, and activities of businesses that would be next to homes. I've already mentioned my concerns about traffic.  If it is done properly, the commercial development can be an asset to those who live in west Farmington.  If it is done wrong, it could be a nightmare.

Q: With the changes in the economy what will be your approach to residential development in Farmington?
A: With the current economic situation, the pace of building in Farmington has slowed tremendously.  When I first joined the planning commission, meetings routinely went until 11:00 pm.  I have been told by current commissioners that this year most of the meetings have concluded in less than 45 minutes.  However, as the economy improves, we will again see the pace of construction pick up.  As property owners submit petitions to change zoning on property or submit subdivision plans, we are obligated to hear them.

Because of legal restrictions on property regulation, the city actually has limited power to govern how much residential development can occur.  Unless we can prove that there are legitimate safety concerns, or that the well being of the community is in jeopardy, we cannot simply say no to a development.  That means we have a couple of challenges when faced with proposed development.

The first challenge is to try and insure that new developments do not adversely affect existing ones.  In west Farmington, this usually involves concerns about traffic and the updating of existing roads and connections.  It also involves open space issues.  In the past, the city has tried to encourage open spaces by allowing homes to be placed closer together.  I think that policy has accomplished many of its goals, but I do understand that it is a different approach than many of our older residents had anticipated.

I hear from many people that they wish the city would do more to preserve farmland. I will always defend a person's right to farm their land.  If we move in next to fields or pastures, we cannot expect to complain about machinery noise or animals that smell or get out.  My grandfather ran a dairy farm with 120 acres in crops.  The problem is that the city does not have the authority to tell someone that they must continue to grow corn when they choose to build houses.  The only people who can preserve farmland are the owners.  To my knowledge, none of them have placed development easements on their farms.

We are left with some ability to guide developments in the direction we think benefits the city and residents.  We can require wider streets and designs that promote traffic movement and emergency services.  We can encourage trees and wider sidewalks to facilitate walkable neighborhoods where people are more likely to see their neighbors. We can require that services like water and sewer are available before allowing construction.  There are many times when discussions on the planning commission led to improvements in the design of neighborhoods that were built.  We also encouraged dialogue between builders and local residents during the planning stages.  All of these things, I believe, created stronger neighborhoods for those who eventually lived there.

Another issue that frequently is raised when developments come through is that of design elements.  People are rightfully concerned that new developments will complement existing ones.  I agree, up to a point.  However, I have always felt that the city sometimes oversteps its jurisdiction in trying to dictate design elements in a development.  Matters of personal taste should be left up to the homeowner.  If you want to paint your house blue, or have a certain type of fence, or use stucco instead of brick, you should not have to change your plans just because I might prefer something else.

Q: Please state your position on the Legacy North to Legacy Parkway connector?
A: I remember when I first began serving on the planning commission, and we were told that there were NO concrete plans for connecting the North Legacy with the South.  We immediately began planning for options that would provide some kind of corridor for the road.  Imagine that kind of traffic emptying into neighborhood streets and winding their way to the freeway again.  That was the scenario that was explained to us. From the beginning, we tried to find options that would minimize impact on present and future homes.  Our first attempt was the "flyover" on I-15, near Shepard Lane.  We knew from the start that it was not an ideal option, but it did start the ball rolling, and soon, UDOT was talking about options.

Many of you already know that UDOT's preferred option was not what any of us wanted.  We were alarmed when they first proposed a major road through the center of west Farmington, and amazed when they returned a few months later to propose basically the same thing. Many of you were probably at both of those meetings.

My personal preference for the connection has always been as far west as possible.  I believe that it would be a good option for flood control, as well as provide additional exit options for the residents of west Farmington.  When Station Park comes into being, I think you will need other options for coming and going.  I think the current proposed alignment is probably the best we can get at the present time, and I give credit to the city staff who have worked to find something that UDOT prefers over their previous route.  Unfortunately, the federal studies will place wetlands over people every time.  Finding a route that uses mostly existing rights-of-way is the key to getting the road out west.  Would I personally prefer it still farther west? Yes, I would.  I honestly hope that the 15-20 years it will take to actually build the road will allow state and federal policies to change and let us readjust the road westward in the future.  At present, however, I believe the current alignment is the least disruptive for Farmington as a whole, and for west Farmington particularly.  I understand that it will cause some pain, but from all that I have seen, other options will cause more.

Q: What perspective can you give on the recently passed Farmington City Master Transportation Plan? What impacts do you see on west Farmington from the changes in the Transportation Master Plan?
A: Many of these issues have been discussed in the above sections, but I was involved in the early discussions of the updated Master Plan, and I do believe that we need to identify, well ahead of time, where we think roads should go.  To leave everything to chance would be irresponsible.  I also believe, however, that the Master Plan should not be treated as a final word on future alignments.  If we find something that works better in the future, we should be willing to adjust the Master Plan accordingly.  I view the document as a best guess at future needs, and something that should be consistently reviewed and updated.

If we do things properly, the impacts on west Farmington will be neighborhood and collector streets that move traffic safely and efficiently, so you can all get in and out easily.  If we get it wrong, you will all be cut off from the rest of the world during peak traffic hours, and your streets will be crowded and unsafe.  While on the planning commission, I was constantly talking about protecting traffic options in west Farmington.

We should also recognize that right now, west Farmington is in a between stage.  The old farm roads are not sufficient to move much of the traffic that is already present, but new development has not yet provided all of the roads that will bring the solution.  To be bluntly honest, it will take a few years to get roads in west Farminton where they need to be.

Q: What changes if any do you want enacted in Farmington and Farmington City government?
A: I think we should continue efforts to both educate and inform our citizens about the issues, and increase involvement of citizens in working out solutions.  While on the planning commission, I discovered that many people didn't understand the zoning regulations they live in, let alone the impacts of new proposals.  Also, many people do not understand all of the future trends that are coming into our city.

Another area where I think change could benefit us is in the Arts Council.  While this is not specifically a west Farmington issue, I know that many of our citizens have been involved in past efforts.  While we have some very dedicated people working to keep the programs going, I think they have been hobbled by some of the recent decisions at the city level.  In the past few years, I have seen a drop in the number of people who participate in the Arts programs.  Farmington's traditional strength was that we included vast numbers of people beyond other arts programs around the county and state.  In my opinion, we had the best community arts program around.  I would like to see city policies change to reflect past practices that created a successful program.  Two of the things I would change first would be the fees for participation and the priority for use of the community arts center for arts programs.

Q: What Farmington issues are most important to you?
A: Just what you have asked already.  Growth is the big one (both residential and commercial), and transportation issues (both local and regional) are second.  Those are the things that will come into being during the next few years, and they will shape the nature of our city for decades to come.  We have got to get it right.

Q: What else do you want said about you on farmingtoncitizens.org?
A: I feel that I have a proven record during my time on the planning commission for defending and preserving the things that people in west Farmington value.  I believe that those sames issues are also good for Farmington as whole.  I do my best to hear from all sides before making a decision, and I'm always willing to tell you why I voted the way I did.