FARMINGTON — The creation of a farm pond, an eventual family-oriented picnic and fishing site, will come before the Planning Board at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13, at the Municipal Building.

Board Chairman Clayton King is seeking soil erosion and stormwater management approval to begin construction of a 350- by 90-foot pond at 285 Titcomb Hill Road.

The property is on seven acres across from CJ’s Appliance, from which the new project will operate, he said. The business is owned by Clayton and Joyce King.

Construction is expected to begin in February or March. 

The next phase involves creating up to 10 picnic areas where families can spend the day and fish, for a price, from the pond.

Clayton King said he hopes to go before the board this summer to seek a site review for the picnic area. He foresees something similar to the setup at Small Falls between Madrid and Rangeley, he said.

An existing driveway will lead up to the pond area. There will be no lights. He already has a septic system and does plan to create a bathroom, he said.

Because the proposed site for the pond is quite wet, construction this winter will help an EL Vining crew deal with a mud issue, he said. There are currently 4 inches of frost there while other places have 2 feet. A natural spring is expected to fill the pond.

“It’s been a dream for a few years,” King said.

It will be a place for families to enjoy the outdoors for the day. With Flint Woods and Bonney Woods nearby, the additional area provides another natural setting for picnics, weddings and other activities.

At the moment, there are no other pay-to-fish places in Maine, he said. The pond will be stocked, he added.

There will be a cost to enjoy the facility but the price hasn’t been set.  The charge will help cover insurance costs, he said.

abryant@sunjournal.com

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