Planning commission approves Mike Frottens site plan after questions on water, easement and "ghost road"

The Fairfield Planning and Zoning Commission voted to approve the site plan submitted by developer Mike Frottens for a four-unit office-warehouse building, after commissioners and staff clarified several utility and property-line issues and asked for minor follow-up steps.

The commission’s approval followed a lengthy public and staff review addressing whether water shares and septic/well locations were recorded, where a 10-foot easement runs along the front of the parcel, and how an historic “ghost road” alignment would affect building setbacks and a proposed house location. The commission recorded the approval after members signaled no objections on the conceptual plan.

Commission and staff discussion focused on proof of water availability and recorded ownership. Town staff told the commission that the water shares for the parcel are already recorded in the town’s name and “it’s been there for a year,” removing a prior uncertainty about whether a new meter hookup would be required before site-plan approval. Commissioners nevertheless asked that the applicant show the well / old septic location on the final site plan so staff can confirm whether an old, unused well exists on the lot.

The applicant, Mike Frottens, described the project as a 40-unit optioned campus of smaller office-warehouse suites (the immediate proposal is the first building composed of four 3,000-square-foot units) with two small offices and a reception area in each unit and yard/parking behind the structure.

Commissioners also flagged a 10-foot public easement between the road and an existing fence that was not shown on the applicant’s drawing. Todd (town planning staff) asked that the plan explicitly note that easement. The commission discussed a historic 60-foot “ghost road” alignment that crosses the parcel and how reducing the required width could allow the proposed house to shift east to preserve mature trees; commissioners asked staff to verify the officially surveyed ghost-road width and, if appropriate, explore reducing the town right-of-way width before construction begins.

On ownership and title matters the applicant said he holds a quitclaim deed for the property but that a small corner parcel had been sold previously at a tax sale; staff and the applicant agreed to provide a warranty-deed or title-company clarification before final platting. Commissioners noted that a septic tank may remain in place from a prior house and asked the applicant to locate any in-service or abandoned well on the site plan.

Town staff also indicated that a Rocky Mountain Power will-serve letter would not be required at the site-plan stage because power was already present on the property; the town will address utility service during the building permit process. The commission advised the applicant to prepare stamped engineering and survey documents for the building-permit submission.

The commission motion to approve the Mike Frottens / Ronnie Wilson site plan passed with an affirmative vote from all members present (Heather Strong, Kyra Fisher, David Reid and Wayne Taylor). The approval included the following follow-up items to be satisfied before final permits: locate any abandoned well/septic on the site plan, show the 10-foot easement and recorded survey lines, provide title documentation to resolve the small tax-sale parcel, and coordinate final road-setback alignment with town staff.

The applicant was told to submit the final engineered site plan, obtain required building permits and to work with staff on the road alignment and easement issues before construction begins.