Town Planner to Retire After 26 Years of Service

After twenty six years as Town Planner, Jeffrey Ollendorf will retire at the end of the month of June. In his long carreer, Ollendorf has seen the town of Farmington through many developments, but feels its essential character remains intact.

Studying at first to become a landscape architect, Ollendorf shifted gears and earned a Master's degree in urban and regional planning. He was working in Torrington at the time the Farmington job opened, and felt the new town would be a better fit for him, and the length of his tenure proved that feeling correct.

He said the Rails to Trails project was one of the important accomplishments of the town during his time as planner. The expansion of West Farms Mall also stands as a key development for the town under his guidance. Ollendorf pointed to the expansion of affordable housing units in town in the last fifteen to twenty years as a memorable and successful undertaking.

Many infrastructure improvements occurred in his time as town planner including a new police station, senior center, and new firehouse on the west end of town, as well as expansions to the high school and sewer systems.

One of the key shifts in focus over the decades regards preserving open space. Ollendorf noted that the town has 33% of the total land area permanently preserved as open space, and said that was a good thing. He believes the popular opinion has shifted in that direction during his tenure.

"It was not a big focus in the first plan we did in the 1990s, but it was a major focus in the plan we did in 2008. The people indicated they would like to see as much of the town preserved as possible, and they established 40% as a goal," he said.

Ollendorf said his time in the position was relatively controversy free, with some opposition to the West Farms project and the Rails to Trails, but overall nothing too major.

One of the reasons he was attracted to Farmington as a place to work was the Town Manager form of government. He said this allowed him to perform his duties without too much stress from political tensions.

He plans to take life easy for a while and enjoy his retirement, but intends to do volunteer work.

"Possibly something in land preservation, or something involved with a stewardship program to preserve some land and make improvements to properties," he said of the volunteer work.

A reception will be held on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 from noon until 3:00 p.m. at the Town Hall Council Chambers. The public is invited to attend and help bid fond farewell to Ollendorf and thank him for his twenty six years of service.