FRANKLIN
Franklin City Council has approved the rezoning of a one-unit property that has four apartments on it. The building, located on West Second Avenue, has been rezoned from R-2, General Residence, to R-1A, General Residence.

The owner of the property, Lee Barnes of Fuller Properties LLC, requested the rezoning so his company would be able to redo and update the unit to eventually have it back on the market and have residents living in the apartment.

“The structure was built as a four-unit building in the late 1800s, and the footprint has remained unchanged since it was constructed. The change, however, has been to the zoning regulations that govern the property,” said Donald Goodwin, director of community development. “The four-unit residential structure is nonconforming as to use and setbacks under the current R-2 General Residence District.”

The Department of Community Development recommended to council that they approve the rezoning request.

“The building has remained unchanged as regulations have force it into a nonconforming status. It it not eligible to be repaired and repopulated as its nonconforming status expired after being vacant for over two years,” the recommendation said. “It is a negative influence on the surrounding properties because it is deteriorating, and its replacement with a conforming single family residence would likely not have a positive impact on the historic fabric of the neighborhood. The only current conforming use of the property is a single family residence; however, the property’s use as a four-unit residence is in keeping with the neighborhood that has grown up around it for generations.”

Council unanimously voted to approve the rezoning of the property.

Barnes added that his plan is for this to be a fall and winter project, and hopes to have the apartments on the market next summer.