This is a good idea -- as someone who has followed the progress of individual developments, it's abundantly clear to me that creating something worthwhile in Franklin is hamstrung by obstacles that do nothing to improve the quality of our built environment. I've inquired about this very issue in the past and was directed to the inch-thick "Ruekert/Mielke Planning Department Organizational Study" (see above). It's no fun to read.
If a developer wants to build an ambitious, mixed usage, Middleton Hills-type traditional neighborhood development subdivision, for instance, he or she will find ROOM to do so here in Franklin, but will likely look elsewhere after the first few administrative roadblocks and ambiguities appear.
"Speed" is not the specific issue; there are plenty of municipalities that have enviable fast development processes that lead to terrible results.
The main thing is this: As long as a city's development process is clear and fair for all, that city can and should demand high quality results that will reward both the developer and the community. When a city's development process appears fragmented and arbitrary, you cannot blame developers who do no more than the bare minimum to assure their financial success.
See Alderman Taylor's letter outlining his proposal at the Franklin Today blog, along with some conjecture by Greg Kowalski as to who might be on the committee.
Franklin alderman wants to speed development process - JSOnline.
Saying it takes too long to get developments approved in the city, Common Council President Steve Taylor is asking his fellow aldermen to create a committee to review the development process.
Taylor is proposing a Mayoral Ad Hoc Development Process Review Committee to study what procedures work best in other communities to see if they can be implemented in Franklin.
He said some developers tell him that a development proposed in other communities can be approved in 90 days but that it takes nine months in Franklin.
Taylor is proposing that the committee be headed by Mayor Tom Taylor. The mayor would choose an alderman, three people experienced in development, and one member each from the city plan, economic development and environmental commissions to serve on the committee. The members would be approved by the Common Council.
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