Developers outline Fairfield Industrial Park development agreement; commission schedules public hearing for Aug. 6

Developer representatives presented an overview of the proposed Fairfield Industrial Park and a draft development agreement to the Planning and Zoning Commission on July 2, describing phasing, private roads managed by an association, lot sizes and utilities. Commissioners set a public hearing for Aug. 6 to review the development agreement, land-use definitions and related code amendments.

The developer said the project covers about 75 acres and is proposed as 47 lots, primarily one-acre parcels that exclude road easements. The plan outlines four build phases and includes a parcel (labeled Parcel A) designed for stormwater retention that the developer said could also be developed with community amenities such as courts or picnic areas in coordination with the town.

A central component of the proposal is a private association to maintain internal roads, trails and park amenities. The developer said the association would collect dues to fund maintenance, snow removal and landscaping; the association bylaws would allow a designated officer to deed roads to the town if the town later agreed to accept them. The developer and staff said development agreements typically run 15–20 years while an association could remain in place beyond that term.

Commissioners and staff raised several topics for the draft development agreement: - Utilities and power: The developer said Rocky Mountain Power has presented challenges for serving the site and that the project team is exploring backup options including on-site power generation, battery storage and solar. The developer said they have started preliminary work with a gas provider and submitted a request for service. Commission members encouraged the team to document agreements with utilities and noted that larger power infrastructure (substations) may be needed for heavy loads. - Noise and operational hours: Commissioners asked whether the agreement would address daytime versus nighttime operations and machinery noise. The developer said the town’s standard is about 65 decibels and that construction noise standards can be higher; participants discussed limiting backup beepers and requiring quieter enclosures for generators where feasible. - Zoning and uses: Staff and the commission noted that a development agreement creates a tailored “mini-zone” for the park that can deviate from the baseline Light Industrial West zone in specific ways. Commissioners asked the developer and staff to identify which uses would be permitted by right and which would require special review.

The commission voted to schedule a public hearing for Aug. 6, 2025, to consider the development agreement and related land-use ordinance definitions. Commissioners and staff said the town attorney and staff will review the draft before it reaches the commission and that the developers expect to deliver a near-final draft to staff shortly.