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Show l( mart eyes Farmington 'backyard' By JOHN W. CANNON FARMINGTON Despite protests at a packed public hearing, the Farmington City Council has unanimously OK'd a conditional use permit to the developers of a K mart. Opponents of the new store said they were afraid it would adversely affect the upscale, rural lifestyle for which Farmington has become known. But the Council gave its approval, ap-proval, with additional conditions that must be met by the developers of the property, located on U.S. Highway 89 across the street from a new Smiths Food & Drug Center. The Farmington City Planning Commission will hold a site plan review hearing on Thursday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. Residents can make recommendations at the hearing regarding the aesthetic look of the grounds and the project itself. The City Council chambers were packed during its three and one-half hour hearing with concerned citizens, most of whom adamantly rejected the idea of having a K mart in their back yard. Me nil Moore of Farmington pointed out that the area had originally been zoned to attract families and children and that the quality of the area would be adversely affected by the increase of traffic, noise and pollution. Many of the residents stated that the very reason they had moved to Farmington was to escape the type of development being considered. They liked the rural setting and moved to Farmington for the quiet country atmosphere not the bright lights and hullabaloo of a large development. Some questioned the need for a K mart in Farmington, since sister stores are just a 10-minute drive in either direction from the city. w Roy Clark, a former K mart manager and Farmington resident, recalled the disenchantment of his days with that company. "When money got tight, the first thing to go was the maintenance and appearance ap-pearance of the store, he said. Clark said he was appalled that image conscious Farmington would SEEK-MartPG. A-2 l( mart CONTINUED FROM PG. A-l E ' even consider such a development within its boundaries. Others pointed out that such developments de-velopments wreak havoc on the natural environment. They felt that blacktop and buildings do little for the environment except use up resources and increase nearby temperatures from three to 10 degrees. They expressed concern that the loss of grass and other vegetation to blacktop represents a significant loss of organic respiration. "Blacktop cannot convert carbon dioxide to oxygen or filter pollutants from the air like plants can," said one resident Concerns were expressed that developers generally show little regard for the environment and that their idea of landscaping is a tiny clump of grass with a wimpy token tree. . Several residents stated that they would rather pay higher taxes than live with K mart in their backyard. Residents who favor the development de-velopment felt that a number of options op-tions should be implemented to make it more palatable. Resident Earl Camp recommended recom-mended that a 30-foot landscaped buffer zone be built around the store, that no parking be allowed on the south or west of the building to reduce noise, that a hiking and jogging jogg-ing trail be built, that existing trees not be cut down unless absolutely necessary and that lots of good-sized good-sized new trees be planted , In approving the use permit, the council said the tax base and economic benefits to the community communi-ty far outweigh the residential and environmental problems that would be created. ; Developers expressed a desire and willingness to work with the city in making a new K mart a desirable development in the community. |
