Does Farmington Need Another Assisted Living Facility?

After a lengthy public hearing at its Monday meeting, the Farmington Town Planning and Zoning Commission tabled its decision on a proposed assisted living facility to Jan. 27.

Columbia Wegman Acquisitions, LLC applied to build an assisted living facility in Farmington. The proposed site is on Route 6 across from Village Gate, an independent senior living community, according to Philip Dunn Jr., the commission chairman. 

The Washington D.C. company is looking to put the facility at 99, 101 and 111 Scott Swamp Road and has applied for a zone change and special permit to do so. The applicant has also submitted a site plan for the project. 

"The zone change requires a finding that there is a need for one of these facilities in Farmington," Dunn said. 

Directors from Village Gate, Middlewoods and the Gables said it is not, address the commission at the meeting about "their own difficulties renting units over the last few years," Dunn said.

Traffic was a major focus of the conversation about the proposal and "whether access onto Route 6 was safe," Dun said. While the commission brought up the idea of an access point on Hyde Road, the applicant and neighbors opposed that option.  

The commission will discuss the application again at its next meeting so that the applicant can research the traffic questions officials posed.

Do you think an assisted facility is needed at the proposed location?