Farmington council issues unanimous negative referrals for two proposed POCD changes amid opposition to truck‑stop plan

The Farmington Town Council unanimously voted June 9 to issue negative referrals to the Town Plan and Zoning Commission for two developers’ proposed changes to the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development, rejecting requests that would have eased restrictions at sites that residents and council members said should be considered only as part of the townwide POCD update.

The two referrals addressed separate proposals. One, from National Land Holdings LLC, would have amended the POCD to reclassify certain study areas to allow greater residential flexibility and relax trail and open-space requirements. The other, submitted by Noble Energy Real Estate Holdings LLC, sought to remove an existing recommendation favoring office/research uses (or affordable housing) for a parcel near Batterson Park and would have expanded commercial and warehouse uses at 8261 Finamoon (Finammon) Road — a change residents warned could enable a truck‑stop and 24‑hour truck traffic.

Why it matters: Council members said the POCD exists as a townwide plan and should not be rewritten on an applicant‑by‑applicant basis. Several members cautioned that changing language for one parcel could alter expectations about traffic, floodplain management and open space across the town. The council also noted a comprehensive POCD update is already underway and that policy and infrastructure impacts should be reviewed holistically.

Public opposition was a central part of the meeting. Dozens of residents — many who live near Batterson Park and the proposed project site — urged the council to block changes that would facilitate heavy commercial or truck‑stop activity near wetlands and recreation areas. “I firmly oppose a diesel truck stop and warehouse being built on the wetlands next to Batterson Park,” said Katie Munice, who identified herself as a nearby resident. Stephanie Roman, who said she intervened in the wetlands proceeding, told the council she had submitted a written comment and that “over 500 people have signed a petition” opposing the project. Angela Pre, speaking remotely, argued the proposal “doesn't meet the wetland codes” and urged consistency in how zoning rules are applied.

Officials also cited procedural concerns. Town Planner Shannon Rutherford and council members said TPZ, not the council, will make the land‑use decisions for permits and wetlands. Council members repeatedly urged that any substantive POCD changes be considered as part of the scheduled, townwide revision rather than via ad hoc edits for individual applicants.

Conservation and wetlands hearing status: The Conservation/Inland Wetlands Commission has kept the public hearing on the Noble Energy application open and continued it to June 17 to allow the applicant to submit revised materials. According to commission staff and presenters at the June 9 meeting, the applicant has reduced the warehouse footprint (from about 28,000 sq ft to about 18,000 sq ft), reduced the refueling area and removed a proposed restaurant; the proposal also includes roughly 75 acres proposed for conservation easement. The hearing remains open and may be closed after the commission receives the outstanding materials.

Council action and next steps: The council issued negative referrals for both POCD amendments by unanimous vote and recorded the referrals in the meeting record. Those negative referrals direct TPZ to proceed with the POCD review without endorsing the applicants’ proposed language changes; TPZ will hold its own public hearings and make land‑use determinations under state statute. TPZ scheduled a public hearing on the National Land Holdings POCD amendment for July 13, 2026.

The council’s rejection of the two proposed POCD edits does not terminate permit processes at TPZ or the wetlands commission, nor does it prevent the applicants from pursuing other regulatory paths; it simply signals that the council opposes changing the town plan for these parcels outside the comprehensive POCD review. The Conservation/Inland Wetlands Commission’s continued hearing on the Noble Energy application remains the venue for environmental and site‑specific evidence.