Planning commission forwards Fairfield Industrial Park development agreement with crane allowance and phased water terms

The Fairfield Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to forward the development agreement for the Fairfield Industrial Park—located approximately at 400 South Allen Ranch Road—to the town council with two additions: allow cranes as a special use and tie additional water requirements to phase‑2 approval.

The change was proposed during a presentation by the project representative, who told the commission that cranes are needed periodically during building construction and that the airport had no objection. “So, on a couple of things, in the discussion of the water … what I'm proposing is to add to the charter uses a crane,” the presenter said, adding that the developer was willing to record a water‑related easement with the plat.

Commission discussion focused on two issues: permitting crane use and protecting the town’s water supply as development proceeds. Commissioners agreed that allowing crane operations as a special use would cover occasional construction needs while keeping a permitting step. The commission also agreed to require 0.9 acre‑feet of water per lot for the first phase as a baseline and to revisit the water requirement for later phases based on actual measured usage in phase 1.

During the presentation, the applicant described a proposed “water easement” to record water commitments with the plat so that, if the town later flags a parcel for overuse, the town could require the property owner to bring additional water or otherwise address the shortage. The presenter said the easement is recorded “with the plat” and would help the town ensure enough available supply as lots change hands.

Commissioners asked whether cranes could conflict with airport operations and whether large cranes for tilt‑up concrete would need different treatment. Commissioners noted the airport staff had been consulted and had not objected; the commission settled on adding crane operations as a special use and asked staff to incorporate language into the development agreement when it goes to council.

The final motion, as read into the record, directed staff to send the development agreement to the town council “with the addition of cranes as being a … special use and making water requirements on phase 2.” The commission voted in favor with the chair calling the result unanimous.

What happens next: the commission forwarded the agreement to the town council for its review and final decision. Council members will see the development agreement with the added special‑use language for cranes and the agreed approach to phase‑by‑phase water commitments; the commission did not adopt a binding numeric change for phases beyond the first, instead asking staff and council to negotiate future phases based on measured usage.

Votes at a glance: The commission voted unanimously to forward the Fairfield Industrial Park development agreement to the town council with the additions described above.