FARMINGTON — City leaders have approved a street master plan for expansion of a subdivision on the city’s west side, but did not include the extension of a key neighborhood street.
Following two hours of debate and a public hearing, the city council voted 5-0 on April 17 to approve a plan for the potential layout of streets for phases two and three of the Chestnut Farms Planned Unit Development subdivision, which did not include extending 475 South west through an existing cul-de-sac. The development area is at approximately 300 South and 1350 West.
Neighbors along 475 South expressed numerous concerns about potentially extending the road west. The road would have cut through an existing cul-de-sac, so the new master plan — which is a conceptual layout of possible connection routes east to west and north to south – reflects other possible routes. Symphony Homes is the developer of Chestnut Farms and provided the master plan, which has been tweaked by city staff and by the planning commission.
Extending 475 South westward was only one of three options reviewed in the master plan. The council’s final approval did include a potential connection westward for 375 South and a stub street connection for property at the north end of the development area.
The 475 South proposal would have had the greater impact on Chase and Valerie Bybee, who live on a cul-de-sac along 475 South.
Bybee suggested if the city were to change the road in the future he would expect compensation from the city, as he paid for improvements that would be negatively impacted.
“I’ve heard all the reasons this had to go through. There are alternatives to all of these. Consider the damage the change would bring,” Bybee told council members, regarding the possible extension of the road through his cul-de-sac.
John Wheatley, vice president of development for Symphony Homes, said the developer supported extending 475 South for the overall connectivity of the community.
Community Development Director David Petersen said one of the potential problems of showing a road going west from 375 South is an existing wetland in the area. In presenting a variety of options, the city planner counseled council members they did not need to vote on the master plan.
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