Farmington Citizens

Farmington City Council meet last night (9/18/07). On the agenda was to hear Tim Taylor's report. Tim Taylor was hired by Farmington City to review UDOT's Legacy Connector proposal. The major topics of discussion were the Park Lane interchange, alignment of Legacy Connector, and a new I-15 interchange at Shepards Lane. Here are two of his recommendations (wording taken directly from the formal report):

"Based on the lack of technical information provided in the UDOT Corridor Preservation study, we recommend that the City wait to consider UDOT’s request to amend the Master Transportation Plan to include a preservation corridor until UDOT completes an Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)."

"We recommend that the City consider an amendment to the Master Transportation Plan to remove this alignment option. This recommendation should be considered in conjunction with the recommendations in Appendix F related to a local access interchange at I-15/ Shepard Lane."

After listening to the discussion by City Council members and Planning Commissioners there was a consensus to deny UDOT's request to amend Farmington's transportation master plan for option 3. The sentiment was expressed by the Mayor as well as Planning Commissioners that more information is needed to make a decision. Either a Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) needs to be performed to provided the information Farmington City needs to decide on the alignment of the Legacy connector.

No vote was taken as the Planning Commission still has to make a formal recommendation to the City Council. The Planning Commission will formally make the decision on what to recommend to the City Council at the September 27th meeting. Notices will be sent to west Farmington Residents of the public meeting and public hearing. Since the Planning Commissioners are anticipated to deny the request little public comment should be expected unless someone is in favor of UDOT's proposal.

The City Council is planning on making their decision on UDOT's application at the October 2, 2007 meeting.

Farmington City hired the independent engineer Tim Taylor of WCEC Engineers, Inc. to give an assessment of UDOT's proposal for the North Legacy to Legacy Connector. Tonight (9/18/07) he will be presenting his findings in a joint City Council and Planning Commission meeting. This meeting is a public meeting (not a public hearing) so all should come who are interested.

To see his report as delivered to Farmington City please follow this link (this is a very large file and may take sometime to download). You must be logged into farmingtoncitizens.org to download the file: Final Report 9-17-07.pdf

See the Mayor's time line for the decision on UDOT's proposal for the connector: Mayor's Proposed Timeline for Connector Decision

From the City Council upcoming meeting agenda it looks like the City Council will discuss the connector issue. Tomorrow September 18th the meeting will have 1 hour and 15 minutes dedicated to the report of the independent engineer. From the meeting agenda it reads:

7:45 PM - Joint work session with Planning Commission to hear report of Tim Taylor, independent traffic engineer, hired by City to evaluate UDOT request for amending City’s Transportation Plan to accommodate a Legacy North to Legacy connection.

Also of interest to the Citizens Committee is this agenda item:

9:45 PM - Canvass of Municipal Primary Election Results

Not to distract from this website's current goal of getting city council candidates elected but an important issue has come up that will effect the long term quality of life of Farmington Utah residents. A City Council public hearing will be held September 4, 2007 to address Farmington City's possible bid to become a non-pledging member of UTOPIA. The City Council is not required to hold a public hearing to move forward with this decision but they want to hear the public's input.

This decision is a no brainer in my mind to improve the quality of life of Farmington residents. However this decision will rub two very big outside interests very wrong. The two companies Quest and Comcast will most likely be commenting at this hearing with their opinions of stiff opposition. My hope is that Farmington residents will throw their support behind the move to bring truely modern communications services to the city by pledging to be a member city of UTOPIA. Residents of Farmington often express frusteration at the constant demands of outside interests into the quality of life of Farmington. This will be an oportunity for residents to tell outsiders what is best for Farmington.

So what is UTOPIA and why should Farmington join the project. From UTOPIA's website, "The Utah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Agency (UTOPIA) is a consortium of Utah cities engaged in deploying and operating a fiber optic network to every business and household in its member communities."

For more information about UTOPIA visit:

• http://www.utopianet.org/
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_Telecommunication_Open_Infrastructure_Agency

You can see the City Council meeting agenda here: http://farmington.utah.gov/downloads/administration/ccagenda09042007.pdf

Update (August 23, 2007): The site plan now posted on CenterCal's website no longer includes the logos of prospective tenets. The list of prospective tenets listed below come from a previous version of the site plan.

Update (June 26, 2007): The Davis County Clipper posts a story about Station Park and the new site plan. The City was taken off guard by the new plans.

 

CenterCal Properties has revealed on their website the latest plan for the Station Park commercial development in Farmington Utah. The site plan reveals a new configuration of buildings, stores, and restaurants.

The new site plan seems to cover a smaller footprint than previous plans. Another major change is a "strip mall" look to some of development. Where previously the whole development had a walkable village feel this new site plan has a 50/50 strip mall/village configuration.

Here is a link to the new map. The download may take a while so be patient:

Station Park Site Plan

For a look at what the previous site plan was like here are some links:

Ingress/Egress Map

Graphic from January 2007 Deseret Morning News Article

Some the stores (and one restaurant) indicated in the new site plan are:

• Whole Foods
• Target
• Best Buy
• Bed Bath and Beyond
• Old Navy
• Staples
• Barnes and Noble
• Crate & Barrel
• ULTA
• DSW
• Cost Plus World Market
• Nordstrom Rack
• Claim Jumper

This once again put light on UDOT practices and should reinforce to the Planning Commission and City Council that we don't need to ease the property path for UDOT to snap everything up on the cheap and depress property values in Farmington for a possible Legacy connector!

http://www.standard.net/live/news/111743

The Deseret Morning News published an article highlighting the lack of environmental considerations for UDOT's proposed Legacy connector corridor. You can see the article here. The Sierra Club reminds us that no environmental studies have been performed for the proposed option #3 legacy connector.

The Horrocks Engineers' study commissioned by UDOT only considered, "a planning level estimate of costs for construction, right-of-way, and environmental mitigations." In other words only the engineering costs were considered by Horrocks Engineers. No other costs were considered. UDOT is moving forward with the Horrocks' recommended option #3 solely based on this study of costs.

The study blatantly admits that, "a subjective review of the impacts to wetlands, wildlife, residences, businesses and other socioeconomic issues was outside of the scope of this study, and was not performed." These issues that are relatively unimportant to engineers are extremely important to many people including Farmington residents, environmentalists, businesses, health advocates and so on.

Even the mere suggestion of UDOT's connector proposal is having a negative impact on Farmington. Before this proposed road ruins the character of Farmington much more work has to be done. This connector has little benefit to Farmington but UDOT has unfairly put the burden on Farmington City to do the rest of the homework.

Thanks to Nicole Warburton for referencing farmingtoncitizens.org in the article.

Here is Horrocks Engineers corridor preservation study commissioned by UDOT.  Information in this report is not new but gives a comprehensive look at why Horrocks choose option #3.  See the study here (login first):  North Legacy to Legacy Connection Corridor Preservation Study

The City posted to its website the July 2007 newsletter. Most residents will get a copy of this with their City utility bill. This issue is of note as it announces the public hearing on August 9th:

"Acting upon the request of the Utah Department of Transportation, Farmington City has scheduled a public hearing before the Planning Commission to consider amending the City’s Master Transportation Plan to incorporate UDOT’s preferred alignment for the Legacy North to Legacy Highway connection within the west Farmington area. This City held public hearing will be at the Community Arts Center, 120 South Main Street, at 7:00 pm on August 9, 2007. The Mayor and City Council will also be present."

Also of interest is the the newsletter's profile of Stephen Flanders of S&S Shortline Railroad. This profile is timely as it is reminder of the importance of S&S Shortline Railroad to Farmington's character and quality of life. Stephen's property will most likely be obliterated to make way for either option 1 or option 3 of the North Legacy to Legacy Parkway connector.

Stephen Flanders must be doing something right because he not only is getting press from the Farmington Newsletter but the Deseret News has a feature on the train park in today's paper as well: "Riding the rails — Miniature-train hobby now a full-time job for retiree"

Nate Creer has summarized his conversation with Mayor Harbertson in a letter. Here is the letter:

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Dear Mayor Harbertson-

Thank you again for taking the time to talk with me at the Transportation Expo.

It was interesting to find out that we share a common family name.

The citizens of West Farmington have developed a website http://farmingtoncitizens.org/web/ to help us in communicating on issues that effect the west side.

I would like to highlight our discussion in the points listed below and then post my findings in regards to the Legacy Connection Corridor on the website. If you would please correct me if I am wrong on any of my points, before they are posted.

1. The firm was asked to look at every option including a redesign of the Park Lane interchange that would incorporate Option 4.
2. The independent firm will need 3 to 4 months to complete their investigation. (The city are hoping it does not take that long)
3. You will recommend to the planning commission in August that they table the corridor discussion until the independent firm has completed their work.
4. Your hope is that the independent firm will bring a viable option that will incorporate Option 4 and fix the current intersection. The Mayor Hopes that the independent firm will find an option that will not bisect the city yet again.
5. A small committee was formed to establish the criteria that would guide our independent engineer as he begins and works through his study. Roger Eggett is a member of that committee and during our first meeting suggested an option that would move Option 3 further to the East and North and have a smaller impact on the homes. We included that as an option to be reviewed and considered to see if it has legs.
6. The current proposed option 3 is the only option that meets all for legislative criteria because it alleviates the pressures off of Park Lane. However in order to do that it would turn the connection at Park Lane in to much more than just an overpass, it will include a diamond interchange with on and off ramps.
7. It is your belief that if you do not amend the master plan and approve the corridor as a city council now, or come up with a better plan, UDOT will put in the corridor in no matter what and in 15 years when the corridor is truly needed then they will exercise eminent domain and condemn all businesses and homes in their way at a higher expense to the tax payers of Utah.

Mayor, I believe that you are right when you said there have been some great options proposed by the residents themselves and that they should be seriously considered. Please know that I recognize the position you are in, we need you as a negotiator and project planner to work with all parties in facilitating the very best option for Farmington. I recognize the complicated nature of the project, however I believe we can find a viable solution. We need UDOT to recognize the cost opportunity available to them in just fixing the intersection they built incorrectly, which will save money in the long run, and improve the vitality, and potential for Farmington both commercial and residential. I believe we can reach a compromise, it is going to take skill and high level negotiation power and the use of all our resources. I still stand by my initial statement in regards to UDOT, It is incorrect to think that they can do whatever they want.

I again pledge my support in doing whatever I can to facilitate any projects, teams or discussions that may need to happen in finding a better solution rather than accept the obvious problems created by Option 3.

Thanks again for your time and leadership on this issue.


Nate Creer