Opinion: Farmington’s Zoning Board Is Out of Touch with Reality
It appears the Farmington Zoning Board has once again demonstrated its ability to ignore our community’s obvious needs and concerns. In a recent meeting on April 8th, the board approved yet another facility for contractor storage buildings on Scott Swamp Road, blissfully oblivious that our town is already teeming with self-storage units and contractor garages. This decision, approved for 877 Scott Swamp LLC, adds another unnecessary development just a mile from other facilities.
Is there an epidemic of short-term memory loss within the Zoning Board? Or perhaps a more insidious problem of simply not caring? It’s baffling how they can repeatedly green-light projects that add no real value to our community while ignoring residents’ voices who clearly state we don’t need more of these eyesores cluttering our town.
The board’s decision is a classic example of regulatory rubber-stamping. The applicant’s plan to construct four new contractor storage buildings was met with virtually no resistance as if the town desperately needed more storage space for construction equipment and contractor vans. Spoiler alert: we don’t. The board approved the application as though they were handing out candy at Halloween without considering the impact on the community or the redundancy of such facilities.
One has to wonder, what exactly drives these decisions? Is there a secret contest among board members to see who can approve the most redundant and aesthetically displeasing projects? If so, they are certainly in the running for first place.
The Economic Development Commission may have supported this project, but one has to question their judgment as well. Their letter of endorsement waxes poetic about economic opportunities and small business support yet fails to acknowledge the glaring reality that Farmington’s market for self-storage and contractor garages is saturated.
Farmington residents deserve better than a board that repeatedly makes decisions counter to the community’s needs. It’s high time the Zoning Board took a step back and reconsidered its approach. Instead of focusing on how many more storage units they can cram into our town, perhaps they should start thinking about developments that genuinely enhance the quality of life for residents.
Let’s hope the board brings a bit more common sense to the next meeting. Until then, the residents of Farmington will have to brace themselves for yet another redundant development courtesy of an out-of-touch Zoning Board.
-JB-
