Franklin bylaw change planned
Matt Tota/Daily News staff
Dec 20, 2012 at 12:01 AM Dec 20, 2012 at 8:05 PM
Officials from the Planning and Community Development Department are drafting a new site plan and design review bylaw that they say will streamline the process and make it fairer for everyone involved. Planning Director Bryan Taberner told the Town Council on Wednesday night that the current bylaw is a "real mess," referring to its vague language and no clear distinction on whether a limited site plan or full one is required.
Officials from the Planning and Community Development Department are drafting a new site plan and design review bylaw that they say will streamline the process and make it fairer for everyone involved.
Planning Director Bryan Taberner told the Town Council on Wednesday night that the current bylaw is a "real mess," referring to its vague language and no clear distinction on whether a limited site plan or full one is required.
"We need to make it (the bylaw) understandable and fair to each developer, each property owner," Taberner said.
Under the current bylaw, business owners have to develop a site plan — a sometimes costly, arduous process — no matter what. There are no clear standards mentioned, and ultimately the Planning Board can decide what exemptions it wants to allow.
An example Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting offered was if a business housed in a shopping plaza shut down and a new one arrived.
The existing bylaw would stipulate that the new business bring a site plan before the Planning Board for something as simple as a change to the plaza's sign.
"So we're trying to say, 'Hey if you are making a small change, why go through this whole process?'" Nutting said.
Right now, Taberner told councilors, the Planning Board could essentially decide who does and does not have to form a site plan.
"The Planning Board can choose to give a friend a favor and not someone they don't like," he said.
Addressing some of the concerns, the replacement bylaw would add an exemption for renovations no greater than 500 square feet. Other standards added to the new bylaw are still being mulled over can could be tweaked after the first read.
Town Councilors requested more time to review the draft. Chairman Robert Vallee asked three councilors — Glenn Jones, Andrew Bissanti and Judith Pfeffer — to work with officials from the Planning Department.
Prior to those discussions, the council honored former state Rep. James Vallee, who attended the meeting with his wife and two young daughters.
"I don't know anyone who loves this community more than Jim," said Vallee's successor, Representative-elect Jeffrey Roy, D-Franklin.
Vallee told councilors he didn't intend to serve as a legislator for as long as he did. But along the way, he said, "I got into the job and felt like I was making a difference."
He thanked his Dad, Chairman Vallee, for being his mentor, then father presented son with a special award.
The few people in the audience, along with all of the council, stood and applauded.
Matt Tota can be reached at 508-634-7521 or mtota@wickedlocal.com.