FARMINGTON -- Last week's open house on the projects for which Farmington is holding a bond election was attended mainly by members of the city's historical preservation committee concerned about the impact on the Farmington Historical Museum. According to Max Forbush, Farmington City Manager, the turnout was "typical of other open houses we've held on bond elections."

Although Forbush was present, along with Farmington Mayor Scott Harbertson and members of the city council, to answer questions, the city officials hadn't expected many people to come.

The proposed expansion of city hall provides separate office areas for the city's administration and building/planning de-partments as well as a room for public meetings and an entrance into the Farmington Historical Museum inside the building.

Main entrances into city hall will be handicapped accessible. Since the front entrance to the museum is up a small flight of stairs, the plans will provide accessibility to the museum.

However, the historical pre-servation committee did have some concerns about the proposed expansion. Some dealt with the floor plans, where members of the committee felt angled walls and multiple interior doors might make it more difficult to find the museum entrance.

Other concerns had to do with the proposed exterior. The proposal sets the main entrance on Main Street, and some felt that most visitors would continue to enter from the parking lot.

Proposed rock pillars in front of the Main Street entrance also drew comments. Members of the historical preservation committee felt they looked odd standing without supporting anything and even compared the pillars to Stonehenge.



rwald@davisclipper.com