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Planning commission approves conditional use permit for grocery at 705 A Street
Summary
The Farmington City Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit allowing Farmington Food and Spice House to open at 705 A Street, subject to six staff conditions including 25 on‑site parking spaces, bollards, trash‑container screening and photometric lighting controls. The applicant told commissioners he expects to open in winter.
The Farmington City Planning Commission voted on July 14 to approve a conditional use permit for a grocery store at 705 A Street, permitting the applicant to open a business the applicant calls Farmington Food and Spice House on the site of a vacant 5,000‑square‑foot building.
The permit was approved with six conditions recommended by planning staff: obtain all necessary building permits; secure a sign permit for exterior signage; provide a minimum of 25 off‑street parking stalls (the staff calculation is "1 off street parking space for each 200 square feet of floor area"); install four bollards at the front entrance; submit a trash‑container screening plan; and submit a photometric plan if additional exterior lighting is installed.
"We are planning to have... the effective grocery store for Farmington City," applicant Sultan Hawk/Hawke told the commission, saying the shop will serve primarily Farmington residents and include a deli and ethnic food items. He said he expects to open in winter and that the business will start modestly and expand over time. Planning staff noted the property—1.34 acres at the northeast intersection of Larch Street and Trunk Highway 3—was previously approved for a grocery in September 2023 but the earlier approval lapsed when the use was not implemented within one year.
Commissioners pressed the applicant on operations, parking and site improvements. Commissioner Gary Rutherford, who had visited the site, said a long‑vacant building can become blighted and attract crime and argued occupancy would be an improvement: "the longer a building... the more it generally become... an attractant to criminal behavior," he said, adding he observed security cameras and no‑trespassing signage on the property. Commissioner Lisa Ellis asked whether the applicant could fit the two additional parking stalls needed to reach the 25‑space requirement; the applicant said he will resurface the lot and re‑stripe to accommodate the extra spaces. Commissioners also asked about lighting spillover; staff explained photometric plans will show foot‑candle levels at property lines so spill does not unduly impact adjacent residences.
The applicant also said he plans exterior improvements, security cameras and at least two roadside signs plus a building sign. He told commissioners he intends to reuse the existing accessory building—formerly a car wash—by restoring it and operating a full car wash after the grocery opens. Planning staff advised the applicant to consult city staff on sign dimensions and locations before ordering signage.
After public‑hearing questions and a roll‑call vote, the commission approved the permit. Staff indicated the approval carries the six contingencies and the applicant verbally agreed to comply. The commission closed the public hearing before voting. Commissioners then set the commission’s next regular meeting for Aug. 12, 2026, and adjourned.
Votes at a glance: the motion to approve the conditional use permit passed on a roll‑call vote with commissioners present recorded in the affirmative. (Specific recorded yes votes were read into the record by staff during the roll call.)
