Planner: Farmington's affordable-housing share rising; POCD/POC consultant RFP to be issued

Town planner Shannon Rutherford told the commission March 9 that Farmington's latest Department of Housing filing, based on 2020 Census housing stock, shows the town moving toward the 10% affordable-housing benchmark as several approved and under-construction projects reach certificate-of-occupancy milestones.

Rutherford said the town expects units from projects including 1,600 New Britain Avenue and portions of 402 Farmington Avenue and 80/90 South Road to be added to the state inventory when COs are issued; the additions would increase Farmington's reported percentage to slightly above 10% next year. She cautioned the commission that state reporting uses COs (occupied units) as the metric and the Census denominator will be updated after the 2030 Census.

On planning process work, Rutherford said staff will circulate a draft RFP for a Plan of Conservation & Development (POCD) consultant this month with the goal of selecting a consultant in June so the town can begin work July 1. She outlined an 18-month schedule for public engagement, interboard coordination and completion of the plan and said the state's evolving housing-growth requirements will be part of the consultant's scope.

Commissioners discussed naturally occurring affordable housing and incentives for deed-restricting existing affordable units, the mechanics of DOH reporting, and the timing effect of the 2030 Census on the town's denominator. Rutherford said staff will provide the RFP and statute excerpts to commissioners and coordinate commission participation in consultant interviews.

The planner's report also noted routine, staff-level sign permit matters and tenant changes that do not require full commission review.