Downtown Farmington will never be a commercial or retail powerhouse. But it can be a pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined gathering place, functioning as the city's heart.
Those are the findings of a firm hired to draw up a master plan for the city's downtown area, unveiled this week at a joint City Council and Planning Commission meeting.The people of Farmington put a high value on the small-town, historic feel that their downtown already has, said planner Mark John-son of Civitas, the firm hired by the city.
That became apparent early on in meetings called to get their input, Johnson said.
The downtown area - roughly defined as the area between Main and 100 North streets, from State to 200 East Street - has "walk-ability," Johnson said, with its small-scale buildings, trees and mix of residential, commercial and government service buildings.
That is its strength and should be enhanced, Johnson said, showing drawings of more trees, pedestrian walkways and benches and streets narrowed by planter boxes.
Johnson made some specific suggestions, based on ideas drawn from an advisory committee of residents and business and community leaders from the area.
They include a new post office on the site of the VIP2 convenience store; an expanded Bowman's grocery store; one or two restaurants; and the renovation of the facades of some of the existing buildings.
A difficult area, the "five-point' intersection where Main Street bends to the southeast at 100 East Street, would be narrowed so pedestrians can cross more quickly, and 100 East Street south of Main would be made a one-way corridor.
People have three main goals for the downtown area, Johnson said: Make it clean and safe; make it accessible with good parking; and make it desirable as an investment.
A final public hearing on the plan will be held at the Dec. 13 council meeting.