Planning commission approves Mike Fratton site plan for industrial/office units

The Fairfield Planning and Zoning Commission voted to approve a site plan for a multi-unit office/warehouse project submitted by developer Mike Fratton.

The commission approved the concept and authorized staff to accept a formal application and proceed with the permitting process. The vote in favor was recorded as Heather (yes), Kyla (yes), David (yes) and Wayne (yes).

Fratton presented a long-term layout showing one initial building — described in the meeting as four tenant units totaling about 3,000 square feet per unit — with room reserved behind it for up to three additional buildings if the project expands. He said the first building would provide office/reception space at the front and warehouse bays in back, intended for small start-up or maintenance businesses that need both storage and modest office space.

Fratton described the construction as “concrete and wood” with finished office space in the front and warehouse space behind. He told the commission the first building would be a “core shell” with two offices and basic facilities finished so tenants could occupy the space immediately; tenant build-outs that change occupancies would require separate permits.

Commissioners and staff discussed utility and site concerns that must be addressed before building permits are issued. Items noted during the review included: locating any unused well or septic infrastructure on the property; noting a 10-foot easement between fence and road; confirming water shares and meter hookups (staff said the town record shows the meter/connection has been recorded in the town’s name); and ensuring any necessary boundary or survey issues are documented. The commission also asked staff to look into the exact width and location of a nearby “ghost road” and to consider narrowing the traveled width where feasible to lessen impacts on adjacent trees and a private irrigation/well setup.

Commissioners and staff reiterated that tenants who change occupancy types or perform tenant improvements must obtain separate building and fire-permit approvals and that parking and fire-code requirements will be enforced at permitting.

The commission’s approval clears the site-plan stage; Fratton and staff said the applicant will complete engineering, submit a formal application and proceed to building permits. Staff noted power service and other utility confirmations will be part of the building-permit review process.

No formal conditions beyond standard checklist items were recorded at the vote; commissioners and staff requested that outstanding clarifications (well/septic location, easement labeling on plans, survey/warranty-deed documentation, and road-width verification) be resolved as part of the permit packet.

Fratton thanked the commission for the review and said he would return with stamped plans and required engineering documents for the building-permit phase.