Farmington’s Wheel Deal: School Bus Facility Rolls into Town, Neighbors Pump the Brakes đ
On May 20, 2024, the Farmington Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing to discuss a special permit and site plan application submitted by Specialty Transportation Inc. for a new school bus parking and maintenance facility at 150 New Britain Avenue. The proposal, presented by attorney Christian Hoheb, includes parking for 44 full-size school buses, 11 mid-size buses, and 20 minivans on the 6.47-acre site zoned as C1.
The site, bounded by the River Crest condominiums to the north, Union Place and Farmington Heights to the east, the rails to trails to the south, and the Barberino apartments to the west, will be shared with an existing tenant, Choice Landscaping LLC, and a large propane tank. According to the applicant, the property has adequately sized parking spaces and turning radii to accommodate the bus fleet.
Michael Turner, Vice President of Specialty Transportation, provided details on the daily operations of the facility. Buses will start up between 6:00 and 6:30 am and return between 9:00 and 9:30 am. The afternoon schedule will see buses leaving the yard between 2:00 and 2:30 pm and returning between 4:30 and 5:30 pm. Full-size buses will be parked on the south side of the property, while employees will park their personal vehicles in the spots designated for minivans and mid-size buses.
To address environmental concerns, Turner noted that the buses are equipped with 10-minute automatic shut-off systems to reduce idling emissions. The facility will have one on-site mechanic for minor repairs, with major maintenance being conducted at off-site locations in Avon, Hartford, or Berlin.
During the public hearing, several nearby residents expressed their apprehensions about the potential impact of the bus facility on their quality of life. Marco Hair, a resident at 161 New Britain Avenue, stated, “I can just tell you, we deal with a lot of traffic and noise coming from what’s there right now, with the landscaping area…So this seems like it’s just going to increase our problems. With traffic coming in and out of that really kind of narrow driveway, which is right across from our entrance in where we enter an exit from our facility.”
Ryan Anderson, living at 169 New Britain Avenue, echoed these concerns, saying, “I mean, you can hear the screech of their brakes too. So you’re adding that noise along with lights along with I mean, just under 80 vehicles to what noise that we already have, like 30 yards outside our door, starting at 6am.”
Nate Bournier, a resident at 167 New Britain Avenue, expressed his worries about the potential impact on property values and mental health, stating, “I think sadly, this change is going to impact you know, the value of the communities along this route in a meaningful way that’s different than the prior occupant…That kind of noise, I mean, on a daily basis in and out at it sounds like not only school hours and around that, but beyond school hours and kind of into the night, depending on sports games, etc. That kind of thing around the place that you live can, you know, as Ryan mentioned, have a meaningful impact impact on someone’s like life, mental health.”
Despite these concerns, the commission ultimately approved the application, citing that the C1 zoning allows for bus parking and that the proposed use is less intense than other permitted uses such as manufacturing or distribution. The approval comes with several conditions, including the submission of a lighting plan prior to installation in the fall, widening the driveway apron, improving sightlines for vehicles exiting onto New Britain Avenue, and working with neighbors to address headlight glare issues.
Attorney Hoheb acknowledged the neighbors’ concerns but maintained that the distances between the site and surrounding properties are significant. He also noted that the applicant is working on a plan to trim trees to improve sightlines for vehicles exiting the facility.
As Farmington’s new school bus contractor, Specialty Transportation Inc. will now move forward with establishing its new facility on New Britain Avenue. While the commission’s decision has addressed the immediate need for a bus parking and maintenance site, it remains to be seen how the company and the town will work together to mitigate the concerns raised by neighboring residents.
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