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Farmington sidewalk committee plans February public outreach, will seek legal opinion after resident raises open-space easement concerns
Summary
The Town of Farmington ad hoc sidewalk committee agreed to hold a February public informational charrette to collect resident input on sidewalk policy and costs, and will obtain a legal opinion after a resident raised concerns that an open-space deed may bar improvements on purchased farmland.
The Town of Farmington ad hoc sidewalk committee on Nov. 17 agreed to hold a public informational meeting in February to explain the town's current sidewalk ordinance, share rough cost estimates, and gather resident input through small-group table discussions and reporting-back.
Paul Veil, a resident who spoke during public comment, urged sidewalks from the New Britain Avenue bike path toward Judson Lane and a nearby bus stop and asked the town to consider assuming maintenance. Veil also raised easement concerns, saying he had "unofficial discussions with the DEP concerning easements on the on the farm properties that were purchased," and asked the committee when it would decide whether those easements would prevent sidewalks.
Committee members described a two-part outreach approach: a short presentation on existing ordinance and process followed by breakout-table questions modeled on a prior high-school visioning session. The committee plans to advertise the event in the January newsletter and on social media and to use table-based feedback to inform any ordinance recommendations. Members said outreach materials should include cost estimates so residents can weigh whether they want the town to assume maintenance at a given tax or fee level.
The committee reviewed candidate priority sidewalk connections for grant pursuit or budgeting, including Copper Mine Road near the Big Bird Bridge, New Britain Avenue/Route 6 toward the police station, Webster Street and links to Batterson and Patterson parks. Members discussed prioritization criteria such as connectivity to schools, trails and economic-development corridors.
On the easement question, a committee member summarized a recent staff conversation reporting that "DEP has told mister Crowell that any improvement on the property is not allowed by the deed ... for the open space grant," while the resident and others described that as a non-official position. Committee members agreed not to rely on the informal summary: "We will get a legal opinion on that," a member said, directing staff to seek counsel to clarify whether the open-space deed or grant conditions bar sidewalk improvements or whether improvements located in the right-of-way remain permissible.
Procedural items completed during the meeting included approval of the Sept. 24 meeting minutes by voice vote and a motion to adjourn. The committee said it will finalize outreach questions and presentation materials at its next meeting in January and set the public event date then.
