Farmington Barnes & Noble Leaving Current Site, PZC OK's Signage For New Use

FARMINGTON/NEWINGTON, CT — A Barnes & Noble bookstore in Farmington will soon relocate, with local officials last week approving new signage there for its next use.

Last week, the Farmington Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a request for a new monument sign at the former Barnes & Noble property at 1599 Southeast Road during its Jan. 26 meeting.

Steve Marszalek, owner of Goldfish Swim School and co-owner of the property, presented the application, which was presented by Alex Thomas of TDG Architects.

The site, located in both Farmington and Newington, is being redeveloped as a multi-tenant commercial space.

Marszalek told the commission that building permits have already been submitted and that additional applications will follow as tenants are finalized.

He said those submissions will include a comprehensive plan to redesign the property’s landscaping.

The proposal calls for a 50-square-foot monument sign, which complies with zoning regulations for sign area.

However, the proposed height of 13 feet, 10 inches exceeds the 10-foot maximum allowed under the regulations.

Marszalek requested a height exception under Section 7.L. of the zoning code.

Farmington Town Planner Shannon Rutherford displayed a rendering of the sign and noted that the proposed height would be 3 feet, 10 inches taller than normally permitted.

She said the additional height was requested due to the site’s topography, explaining that the driveway slopes downward into the property.

Commission members asked about the sign’s placement.

Rutherford said the sign would be relocated approximately 20 feet closer to Southeast Road, positioned at the edge of the front setback, as shown on the submitted site plan.

The commission voted unanimously to approve the application for the new monument sign in the B1 zone, as presented and on file with the planning office.

As for Barnes & Noble, an associate answering the phone there on Monday afternoon said the relocation would take place sometime in June.

No new location for Barnes & Noble has been announced, though it is expected to be not far from the current site.

For the minutes of the Jan. 26 Farmington Plan and Zoning Commission meeting, click on this link.