Reader says Chain neighbors oppose parking lot
As reported in the Oct. 8 issue of this paper, a large group of town of Farmington taxpayers is in a legal dispute with the county Planning and Zoning Office.
Ryan Brown, the planning and zoning director, has given his permission for a 40-car commercial parking lot on a residential parcel located at E1120 Pleasant Park Lane.
Jeff Maiman is the new owner of that property, and the proposed parking lot is for employees of his Wheelhouse Restaurant, approximately one-third of a mile away.
Mr. Brown’s decision to allow this parking lot has been appealed to the county Board of Adjustment (as yet unscheduled).
I am the owner of one of two properties adjoining the proposed parking lot.
My family has lived, vacationed and paid taxes on this quiet, dead-end road for almost 90 years.
Without exception, everyone here is strongly opposed to this active commercial parking lot in our residential neighborhood.
And who out there wouldn’t be if it was next door to you?
The legal issue seems simple and clear.
A residential classification precludes ongoing commercial activity.
Mr. Maiman has chosen to purchase a residential property to convert to commercial use, while continuing to pay residential property taxes.
This is de facto rezoning, aided and abetted by the very county office legally tasked with protecting all of us from such abuse.
What’s wrong with this picture? Everything!
Apart from the legal issue, this is a quality of life matter.
It would also be refreshing to inject a bit of common sense.
It is an unreasonable and undue hardship to require property owners to spend thousands of dollars on attorneys trying to get the most basic zoning provisions enforced.
Residential is residential and commercial is commercial.
John Abb
Farmington