FRANKLIN
After the required second public hearing, the 2015-2025 Comprehensive Plan was motioned to acceptance during Monday night’s City Council meeting, with the proposed zoning ordinance implemented in the B-2 Central Commercial District adopted as well.

The developmental process for the Comprehensive Plan has included multiple public meetings and citizen forums.

All city council members agreed that the motion to accept the Comprehensive Plan has been a long time coming. The Planning Commission and Community Development staff have been working on this since 2012.

Director of Community Development Donald Goodwin’s letter to City Manager Randy Martin stated, “The Comprehensive Plan is a guide for the physical development of Franklin, and includes information ranging from demographic and economic information to housing and environmental characteristics to utility, transportation and land use considerations.”

Single-family attached dwellings, such as townhouses, have been added to the list of uses permitted in the B-2 district.

All zoning districts that allow residential development are now required to allow temporary family health care structures as defined in the state statutes as well. The structures are now included as a permitted use.

“The changes also include permitting live/work units within residential structures in the area… under the current home occupation rules, a resident may only use 25 percent of the floor area of their residence for their business. The live/work changes permit up to 40 percent of the floor area of an individual residence to be used for business,” Goodwin added.

There is also a minimum lot width, lot frontage and setback requirements for the newly added single-family attached uses included in the proposed B-2 changes.

He also stated, “The term mixed-use is added in the regulations, to encourage the types of infill development and redevelopment that is sought in the downtown area reflective of the development pattern that has happened over the year.”

Dan Howe, the executive director of Downtown Franklin Association, said, “This is all positive for our community. I just want to commend all of them. Mostly property owners are very positive about mixed-use.”