Farmington Makes It Easier for Residents to Expand Houses

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New rules adopted by the Farmington City Council will make it easier for residents to expand their houses to meet the demands of growing families.

“Post-World War II, ‘50s and ‘60s housing stock is not conducive to families of the 21st century,” Mayor Bill Galvin told Hometownlife.com, explaining the new rules may help “stimulate redevelopment of outdated housing” and “turn some rentals into ownership.”

Caitlin Malloy-Marcon, a representative of the LSL Planning Group that consults with the city, told Hometownlife.com the city has taken “a very aggressive approach” in loosening its rules so it can better accommodate existing residents and attract new ones.

The new standards allow residents to build additional stories or expand the square-footage, resulting in smaller lots. The house can now cover 40 percent of the lot, up to three stories are permissible, and houses can be only 15 feet from the street or sidewalk, which will give neighborhoods an “urban feel,” Malloy-Marcon said.

The new standards apply in the Farmington Meadows, Belaire, Floral Park, Warner Farms and other subdivisions outside the downtown zoning district.