2008 Woodie Awards
Franklin city works to draft comprehensive plan
Stephanie Miles
Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: Community
While the city of Oxford is in the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan, the city of Franklin in neighboring Warren County is just beginning the first stage of preparation for its new development plan.
According to Franklin Vice Mayor Denny Centers, Franklin has never had an official document governing future developments for the city.
"Franklin didn't plan for development very well in the past, which has brought the light (on the) need for the plan," Centers said.
For this reason, Franklin is taking action to make its future a better one.
Centers said he hopes that Franklin's potential comprehensive plan will designate specific areas where industrial and commercial businesses will be permitted to exist. The plan will also authorize new streets and parks to be built.
Franklin City Councilor Michael Aldridge said that the city has grown recently with industrial and commercial businesses and needs direction.
In order to develop a plan, Franklin hired Woolpert, Inc. to help them create a plan that will span the next 10 years, according to Franklin Economic Director Mike Robinette.
Franklin is currently in the first stage of development, where a nine-month study is being conducted. This study will gather data and information on Franklin's existing conditions of land use.
Robinette said he believes the study will examine all the different elements of Franklin, including housing and commercial and industrial development.
After the nine-month preliminary study is completed, the results will then be evaluated and discussed by Franklin City Council and residents with a final plan to be voted on by the council.
"The study will look at all the different elements where Franklin is positioned and where the best opportunities for the city to develop industries," Robinette said.
Oxford Mayer Prue Dana said she thinks Franklin is moving in the right direction by proposing a comprehensive plan. However, Dana said Oxford's comprehensive plan is different from other cities because it is a college town.
Centers said that other cities, including Oxford, will not influence the development of Franklin's comprehensive plan. For his reason, Centers said Franklin will create its plan on an independent and individual basis.
Dana said she believes it is important for a city to come together and plan for the future, such as Oxford did in creating its own Comprehensive Plan.
Dana said that Oxford's comprehensive plan examines land use and economic development which can increase the quality of life and is the basis for decision-making.
For Oxford, the most visible benefits of the city's Comprehensive Plan have been the remodeling of the uptown and community park, according to Dana.
"A comprehensive plan creates a more clear vision of what residents want and consider important," Dana said.
Currently, Oxford is working on revising and updating the 1998 plan according to Dana. The development plan is designed to be updated every five to 10 years.
According to Franklin Vice Mayor Denny Centers, Franklin has never had an official document governing future developments for the city.
"Franklin didn't plan for development very well in the past, which has brought the light (on the) need for the plan," Centers said.
For this reason, Franklin is taking action to make its future a better one.
Centers said he hopes that Franklin's potential comprehensive plan will designate specific areas where industrial and commercial businesses will be permitted to exist. The plan will also authorize new streets and parks to be built.
Franklin City Councilor Michael Aldridge said that the city has grown recently with industrial and commercial businesses and needs direction.
In order to develop a plan, Franklin hired Woolpert, Inc. to help them create a plan that will span the next 10 years, according to Franklin Economic Director Mike Robinette.
Franklin is currently in the first stage of development, where a nine-month study is being conducted. This study will gather data and information on Franklin's existing conditions of land use.
Robinette said he believes the study will examine all the different elements of Franklin, including housing and commercial and industrial development.
After the nine-month preliminary study is completed, the results will then be evaluated and discussed by Franklin City Council and residents with a final plan to be voted on by the council.
"The study will look at all the different elements where Franklin is positioned and where the best opportunities for the city to develop industries," Robinette said.
Oxford Mayer Prue Dana said she thinks Franklin is moving in the right direction by proposing a comprehensive plan. However, Dana said Oxford's comprehensive plan is different from other cities because it is a college town.
Centers said that other cities, including Oxford, will not influence the development of Franklin's comprehensive plan. For his reason, Centers said Franklin will create its plan on an independent and individual basis.
Dana said she believes it is important for a city to come together and plan for the future, such as Oxford did in creating its own Comprehensive Plan.
Dana said that Oxford's comprehensive plan examines land use and economic development which can increase the quality of life and is the basis for decision-making.
For Oxford, the most visible benefits of the city's Comprehensive Plan have been the remodeling of the uptown and community park, according to Dana.
"A comprehensive plan creates a more clear vision of what residents want and consider important," Dana said.
Currently, Oxford is working on revising and updating the 1998 plan according to Dana. The development plan is designed to be updated every five to 10 years.
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