Developer presents 237‑unit plan for roughly 80‑acre Midpoint parcel in Town of Farmington

Robert Reed, attorney for the applicant, told the Town of Farmington’s special design review committee that the master plan covers roughly 80 acres in the town’s Midpoint district and “it's for a total of 237 housing units.”

The plan, advanced on behalf of Ashley Landholds (an affiliate of Crown Equities), would assemble three parcels along Farmington Avenue back to the river and would include a mix of housing types: Reed said about 79 single‑family homes and roughly 158 multifamily/townhome units. Reed identified project team members on the record, and Tom Gillian of SLR Consulting explained the site‑engineering context and responsiveness to the town’s Midpoint guidance.

Why it matters: the Midpoint district guidance the committee uses emphasizes connectivity, pedestrian access and protection of river corridors. Committee members focused their review on how the plan addresses buffers around the Farmington River and a nearby Connecticut Water wellhead, the proposed road connections, and how façades and materials will shape neighborhood character.

Key project elements and evidence

- Units and layout: The applicant describes three neighborhood areas within the plan (referred to as A, B and C). Reed summarized the unit mix and noted amenities such as a clubhouse, walking trails and internal sidewalks. Tom Gillian said the team tried to avoid large expanses of parking by providing garages for most units.

- Access and circulation: The team said the proposal creates two primary access choices: the existing Bridgewater/Farmington Avenue intersection and a new connection through the parcel behind the LDS temple that would link to Melrose Drive, forming a loop that would also tie into a Central Way connection the town has sought.

- Trails and public connectivity: The civil engineer described a 10‑foot multi‑use path along the roadway and a planned connection to the Heritage Trail, intended to provide continuous pedestrian/bike access around the peninsula and to existing regional trails.

- Environmental setbacks and floodplain: The applicant noted a 14‑acre pond on one parcel and the former sand‑and‑gravel history of the site. The team said it had “maintained a strong buffer to the…the wellhead” and proposed a minimum 100‑foot vegetative buffer to the Farmington River. The presenter added that preliminary federal floodplain remapping is underway and could reduce the mapped floodplain so some units may fall outside the regulatory floodplain; mitigation or elevated finished floors will be used where required.

- Architecture and materials: The team showed building plans for several unit types, including two basic Lot‑A plans (one with a first‑floor master suite), double‑car garages and several exterior palettes (lap siding, brick and a smoother board option). Committee members pushed for more horizontal articulation, differentiated blocks of façade treatments rather than a strict one‑off mix, and clearer transitions between the public front and private rear of homes.

Committee response and next steps

Committee members offered detailed design direction — requesting section drawings that show finished‑floor elevations and transitions between upper road and lower parking areas, clearer lot dimensions for single‑family parcels, and suggested organizing façades by block to create neighborhood identity. The group asked the applicant to deliver more detailed lot‑by‑lot parameters (typical lot footprints, maximum living area and garage limits suggested) and to bundle revised material and site packages electronically before the committee’s next meeting.

No formal vote or motion was taken; the committee treated this as an advisory review. The applicant agreed to return with refined lot plans and packaged materials ahead of the next scheduled meeting (the committee identified the third Thursday — June 18 — for continued review).

Representative quotes

“It's for a total of 237 housing units,” Robert Reed said during the presentation.

“We've maintained a strong buffer to the…the wellhead,” Tom Gillian of SLR Consulting said when describing setback distances.

What’s next

The committee asked the applicant to submit refined lot dimensions, typical building footprints and an organized electronic package so members can review specific lots and building sections at the June meeting. The committee did not take an action on approval — this meeting was advisory and intended to shape the subsequent formal submission and public hearing materials.