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Farmington planning commission approves conditional use permit for grocery at 705 A Street
Summary
The Farmington Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve a conditional use permit allowing a grocery store, Farmington Food and Spice House, at 705 A Street, subject to six staff conditions including 25 on-site parking stalls, bollards, trash screening and photometric review for exterior lighting.
The Farmington Planning Commission voted unanimously on July 14 to approve a conditional use permit for a grocery store at 705 A Street, clearing the way for a business the applicant said will be called Farmington Food and Spice House.
Planning staff presented the proposal and told the commission the 1.34-acre site includes a roughly 5,000-square-foot main building and a 1,000-square-foot accessory structure. Staff noted a prior conditional use permit for a grocery at the same location was approved on Sept. 12, 2023, but lapsed after the use was not implemented within one year. Tony, the planning staff presenter, said the application meets the six conditional-use criteria and recommended approval "contingent upon" six conditions: obtaining required building permits, a sign permit, providing a minimum of 25 off-street parking stalls with a parking lot and striping plan, installing bollards at the front entrance, submitting a trash-container screening plan, and providing a photometric plan if additional exterior lighting is installed.
Applicant Sultan Hawk, identified in the record as the applicant and representing Training Properties LLC, described the business as "Farmington Food and Spice House" and said it would focus on serving Farmington residents and local ethnic communities with items including meat, frozen fish, dairy, fresh produce, spices and a delicatessen. Hawk said he aims for a winter opening if financing and renovations proceed on schedule and told the commission he plans to resurface and restripe the lot to accommodate the two additional required parking spaces.
Commissioners pressed on public-safety and neighborhood impacts raised in a letter added to the record from Miss Beth Benson. Commissioner Gary Rutherford said his site visit showed some disrepair but also security cameras and signage, and he argued re-occupying the building would reduce blight. "Getting that building occupied with something like a grocery store is going to help those concerns," Rutherford said. Planning staff and commissioners emphasized measures intended to limit impacts on adjacent residences, including the required photometric plan to keep light spill within the limits staff described (0.5 foot-candle adjacent to residential property lines and 1 foot-candle on other property lines).
The commission also discussed hours (the applicant proposed roughly 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in summer and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in winter), signage and plans for the accessory building; the applicant said he plans to convert the accessory structure into a car wash operated by the business after the grocery opens. Commissioners asked about a damaged fence along the residential boundary and the applicant confirmed the fence will be repaired before opening.
After questions and discussion, the commission closed the public hearing, a motion to approve the conditional use permit with the six staff-recommended conditions was made and seconded, and the commission voted to approve the CUP. The applicant agreed on the record to the listed conditions. The commission was reminded the next regular meeting is Wednesday, Aug. 12, due to primary elections.
The commission recorded the CUP approval; staff will track required permits, the parking plan, screening and photometric documentation before business operations begin.
