Strong growth in Farmington

FARMINGTON — Farmington's bedroom community is about to get a lot roomier.

Garbett Homes recently broke ground on a 4,300-square-foot clubhouse that will serve a new 43-acre development here.

"Farmington, as you know, is rated the first- or second-best place to live in Utah, and so that's the reason why we wanted to be there," said Garbett Homes President Bryson Garbett. "We also didn't think there were any homes for first-time home buyers and active adults in the area."

According to Garbett Homes, the development, Farmington Crossing, is the largest master-planned development in the history of Farmington. Eventually it could feature more than 400 homes.

By next summer, 156 of the town-home style units in the area just west of Shepherd Lane in Farmington will be finished.

"We had sold more than 130 before we even had a model ready, and we have never had success like that," Garbett said.

An additional 100 units in the development have been approved by the planning commission and the City Council. Garbett said another 150 to 200 units have been proposed.

"I've been really impressed with Farmington," Garbett said. "They are very thorough and it just makes it a real nice place to be. We're happy to be here."

Renee McDonald is a new home buyer in Farmington Crossing and will serve as the on-site manager. This will be the second Garbett Home that she and her family have purchased. "Actually communities like this help maintain community spirit," McDonald said. "It really helps maintain the beauty and integrity of the area."

McDonald's husband is from Kanab and he wants to live in a place with the same small-town feeling he grew up with.

"We love Farmington and we love the smaller feeling to it," she said.

Farmington residents like Sharon Treu are fighting to keep that smaller-town feel.

Treu has recently opposed a new commercial/mixed-use development, The Village at Old Farm, that is near Farmington Crossing. Some Farmington residents have been up in arms about The Village at Old Farm development and have forced several changes to a proposed zoning ordinance planned for that area.