Hopefully each of you were able to attend the UDOT open house last Thursday (Aug 5). If you haven't taken the chance to tell UDOT your thoughts on the alternatives please do so online before August 24th. If you still haven't seen the large maps then you are in luck as UDOT has a booth at the Davis County Fair August 18-21.

Besides getting you to comment on the UDOT alternatives this message has another motive. A Farmington resident has done some fine work on modifying UDOT's C-1 alternative.  Because of his professional experience his maps should be taken very seriously. This resident's work makes the argument that a D&RGW alignment (B-1) and a westerly alignment (A-1) are not needed as a I-15 parallel alignment (C-1) can be accomplished.

When you have a few minutes download the maps of the C-1 Alternative Modified proposal here: PDF file (this is a large 17MB file that will take some time to download). A snapshot of the C-1 Alternative Modified proposal can be found on this page: http://farmingtoncitizens.org/web/c_1-modifications. Take some time to digest it and include your support for the C-1 Alternative Modified in your comments to UDOT.

UDOT is now to the third phase (Alternatives Development & Screening) of the EIS for the West Davis Corridor. This means that there are now lines drawn on a map for where this controversial road will go. This new iteration is something new. So now the public, you, has one month to raise pitch forks and torches and express opinions on where the road should go. Comments should be submitted by August 30 online or email: westdavis@utah.gov.

If you want to see some large versions of the maps and to yell at someone (just kidding, UDOT) you should attend one of the open houses this week. For us Farmington folks be at the fair grounds this Thursday August 5th between 4:30PM and 8:00PM.

If you haven't done so already please go to UDOT's website and comment on the West Davis EIS (Environmental Impact Statement). Here is the link for the comment form:

http://www.udot.utah.gov/westdavis/get_involved#contact

You can email them as well:

westdavis@utah.gov

Please comment as soon as possible as the commenting period ends March 22nd. This means that comments submitted after March 22nd will not be included as part of the scoping phase. Folks, this is a numbers game with UDOT. In a sence you are voting to let these bureaucrats know that a road through the heart of west Farmington is unacceptable. Go comment!

Mark your calendars to attend 6 days from now a UDOT kickoff open house meeting for the West Davis Corridor Environmental Study. One of three public meetings will be held on Wednesday February 24, 2010 at the Legacy Events Center (Fairgrounds at 151 South 1100 West, Farmington) from 4:30PM to 8:00PM. Here is more information about the meeting open house:

http://www.udot.utah.gov/main/f?p=100:pg:3728889201635947:::1:T,V:1702

So why is attending this open house so important? Well in short, knowledge is power. The more Farmington citizens know about what UDOT is up to in our neighborhoods the more power well have to help them get it right.

UDOT will be conducting an EIS (environmental impact study) on building more roads through Farmington and the rest of Davis County. This EIS will be the magic UDOT will use to justify whether or not a freeway gets built right through the heart of west Farmington. Farmington City has told UDOT via its Master Transporation Plan where it wants a road to go (out west along the lake shore). Farmington citizens have been telling UDOT for many years that the Legacy Connector should not bisect west Farmington. Now is another good time to make sure UDOT knows what is best for west Farmington. The EIS requires public input, so give your input. Go to the meeting. Here is more information about the EIS:

http://www.udot.utah.gov/westdavis/

Once you've done your homework then go and let UDOT know what you think is best for Famington by commenting here:

http://www.udot.utah.gov/westdavis/pages/get_involved#contact

Hello Farmington Citizens Community,

Here is your reminder to go vote today for the municipal primary election.

If you don't know where your polling location is then reference this map:
http://farmingtoncitizens.org/web/event-primary-election-2009

For more information on Farmington City Council Candidates:
http://farmingtoncitizens.org/web/newsletter-farmington-city-council-candidates-2009-primary-elections

Happy Voting,
Farmingtoncitizens.org 

Hello Farmingtoncitizens.org Community,

The Farmington City Primary Election is just around the corner (here already if you vote early). Make sure to vote next Tuesday (September 15). To locate you polling location use this online interactive map:
http://farmingtoncitizens.org/web/event-primary-election-2009

In the past Farmingtoncitizens.org has endorsed specific City Council Candidates. Not this year. This year there seems to be little public information available about the candidates. Sure some of the candidates have websites, blogs, and of course you can contact them. However the issues facing Farmington seem quite important so Farmingtoncitizens.org set out to do an apples to apples comparison. An email questionnaire was sent out to most of them (those who had findable email addresses). Their replies have been posted on the www.farmingtoncitizens.org website.

So far not all have replied but those that have give a nice picture of what their views are on important issues. Some issues are commercial/residential growth and development, changes to City government, transportation plans, and the Legacy connector. This is a must read for all Farmington citizens before they go to the polls to vote.

Here are some quick links to those candidates who have replied to the questionnaire (check back before voting to see if more replies come in):

John Bilton
http://farmingtoncitizens.org/web/john-bilton-farmington-city-council-candidate-2009

Preston Child
http://farmingtoncitizens.org/web/preston-child-farmington-city-council-candidate-2009

Carson Howell
http://farmingtoncitizens.org/web/carson-howell-farmington-city-council-candidate-2009

Nelsen Michaelson
http://farmingtoncitizens.org/web/nelsen-michaelson-farmington-city-council-candidate-2009

Kevin Poff
http://farmingtoncitizens.org/web/kevin-poff-farmington-city-council-candidate-2009

Jim Talbot
http://farmingtoncitizens.org/web/jim-talbot-farmington-city-council-candidate-2009

Anita Todd
http://farmingtoncitizens.org/web/anita-todd-farmington-city-council-candidate-2009

For general contact information for each of the candidates:
http://farmingtoncitizens.org/web/2009-farmington-city-council-canditates

Happy Informed Voting,
Farmingtoncitizens.org

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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