In the Race

 On Tuesday night I am introducing a modification to the City's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).  What I am trying to accomplish is to make the Common Council more ACCOUNTABLE in how our City is ultimately going to look.  The change that I am recommending is to the City's site plan approval process.  Currently a developments site plan approval, (architecture, parking, landscaping, etc.), never goes before the Common Council.  It is brought before the Plan Commission and approved or denied.  In my first three months in office there have been a few cases where my hands were tied and I was not allowed to make any changes or improvements.  I have a real problem with this.


In April I went before the voters and asked that they give me the opportunity to make Franklin a better place.  However, our UDO prevents me from determining how our city looks.  Currently I am being held ACCOUNTABLE but City policy does not give me the tools to accomplish my constituent’s desires.  I would like to be held ACCOUNTABLE and I want this responsibility to rest on my shoulders.  Therefore, my proposal still sends the site plan to the Plan Commission and they will make a RECOMMENDATION to the Common Council for final approval.  I still want our fine Plan Commissioners to handle all of the heavy lifting, but I want the Common Council to have ability to fine-tune it.  I am privileged to have been given this opportunity to serve and I would like to be able to make sure that your vision gets adopted.  Ultimately, this is YOUR city and it is Your Voice that should be heard.