Shoppes at Wyndham Village: Promises, promises

One of the stranger issues on the Plan Commission agenda this past Thursday:

To allow the construction and use of a Single-Family residential dwelling at approximately 7700 to 7800 South Lovers Lane Road within the CC City Civic Center District.

Build a single-family dwelling behind the Target/Sendik's loading dock, with a driveway and unoccupied frontage that removes the possibility of commercial/apartment developments immediately south of Shoppes? Completely inappropriate, of course; a no-brainer. An easy "no" vote for the Commission as they firm up the nascent Franklin City Civic Center District and nurture the conditions necessary to generate commercial growth, ongoing success, and wider tax base.

But wait ...

As noted on Bryan Maersch's Franklinnow.com blog, the proposed new home, sited back on the property behind trees and a pond, replaces a farmhouse on land that has been in the Rausch family since the late 1800's. The Rausches - - who spoke in support of the Shoppes development at one of the first meetings regarding the project - - were suddenly very, very concerned that they might have to vacate the property.

Still a no-brainer?

The Rausch situation is a very, very difficult one. Of course, my first inclination is to support a family with multi-generational ties to a piece of land.

But here is the larger issue: Once again Franklin wanted to "have its cake and eat it, too." They never should have allowed rezoning for an area where they were aware of a family that felt strongly about moving. They should have required Mark Carstensen and Target to satisfy the Rausch family in some manner prior to granting the zone change (which would rightly and greatly enrich the Rausch family). That work was not done, leaving a completely inappropriate situation for the Plan Commission to face. Plain and simple: MEC Holdings (Carstensen) made a series of promises to the Rausch family that they had no authority to make.

The Rausch family was left believing it would be the City of Franklin taking their property - - not MEC Holdings and Target, the actual benefactors of their precarious situation.

From a stone-cold logical viewpoint, the Rausch's land - - again, once sold to Target and/or MEC Holdings (Carstensen) at a price that would greatly and fairly enrich the Rausches - - would be best used for either:

A) Multi-story, multi-family housing and/or apartments as part of the City Civic City multi-use mandate. Franklin needs good affordable housing, and having multiple living units close to (and part of) a commercial area has been shown to greatly increase security and safety (the "eyes on the street" effect). It would/should have been a great amenity for the city.

Or,

B) Multi-story office space with or without apartments to augment the commercial zone.

But, as I discussed with blogger Bryan Maersch, who knows the family, I certainly would not want to be the one to explain to someone "despite all the promises made to you by a developer, now that the die is cast you have to leave your family's land." I empathize with them and share their relief at not having the rug pulled out from beneath them.

The city was manipulated into a corner where the right decision would appear heartless. That's what poor planning looks like. I know Plan Commissioner Kevin Haley had all the sympathy in the world for the Rausch family, but he had to vote with his brain rather than his heart; his was the sole "no" vote.

My sympathies are with the family to the extent that I sincerely doubt I would have had the courage to vote the way Commissioner Haley did - - and he voted correctly. The truth is, empathy aside, there should not be a single family dwelling in the area designated as Franklin's City Civic Center. In a logical world, the rezoning Mark Carstensen requested would have been ABSOLUTELY conditional on the Rausches selling their property, but that slipped by and created the very, very inappropriate situation that the city had to wrestle with Thursday night, and has to live with for the foreseeable future.

Because somebody made the Rausches a promise that they were in no position to keep ...

Comments

[Bryan Maersch]

Just one thing I would add John.

1) Target would never have agreed to a Multi-story, multi-family housing and/or apartments sharing their drive.

2) In talking to one of the Planning Commissioners he stated that a single family residents is allowed in the Civic Center zoning.

3) The Rausch’s most likely could have struck a better deal with MEC if they had sold him the whole property.

[John Michlig]

Well, that was actually THREE things :).

RE #1: You are incorrect. Target has no jurisdiction in the matter, as multi-story, multi-family housing and/or apartments would not share their drive. Another case where SITE PLAN is so very important

RE #2: "Allowed" is not the same as "best use" - - would you agree?

RE #3: I agree with you wholeheartedly!

On the plus side, the Rausches are apparently pleased with the outcome, and there is value in that.

[Greg Kowalski]

If I can add, why are we only solely talking Target? While I understand that Target is the main anchor presently proposed - we shouldn't limit ourselves to solely what Target thinks.

I think this could be another example of letting developers and multi-billion dollar corporations yanking the City around where it needs to.

Obviously the community needs to be the primary concern over what the developers and/or corporations think.

[John Michlig]

Unfortunately, I think we need to accept the fact that this is now mainly a Target development.

Mark Carstensen seemed to repeatedly concede this at the last Plan Commission meeting - - - after previously talking about how Franklin can count on high quality in a "Mark Carstensen development."

Target calls the shots. Target shapes the site plan. Target wields the "we'll pull out" threat. The fact that they see fit to put a Starbucks INSIDE their store shows you how they feel about supporting/augmenting any coffee shop or bakery trying to do business beyond their colossal parking lot.

[Greg Kowalski]

Well that's great to know, John. How is Franklin supposed to get any decent "upscale" shops now at that development when Target is the macho man over there?

I guess I better panic...Costco could be the next one over at Legend Creek...

[Bryan Maersch]

RE #1 - As the site plan stands, Target would not have shared their drive with Multi-family.

RE #2 - The Kingdom of Wyndham would have really had a bird if there were affordable muli-family houses built close to the Kingdom. Maybe some of the people who would have family in the "Penitentiary" would not only shop at Target for the cigs and candy for their loved ones but live behind it to be close by to their loved ones!

Sort of like Billy Lee Morfort who really likes to visit the area!

[Greg Kowalski]

I don't know Bryan - I've got to know plenty in the "Kingdom of Wyndham" and they're really just ordinary residents that are concerned about what's happening across the street from their homes.

Honestly, I think if I paid well over a half a million dollars for a home I'd be a little concerned about what's going up across the street too.

Residents from the "Kingdom of Wyndham" have said time and again they would have liked to see multi-family housing in that parcel, but were willing to accept retail under the concept plan presented by Mark Carstensen on October 31, 2006. That plan, if anyone views it, is a very nice layout and gives off a very cozy, village feel.

Unfortunately none of this is giving off any cozy or village feelings anymore. I mean, if I got the ringer of a development next to my house I'd be pretty upset too.