Planning Board Discusses Franklin Place

The Planning Board had a lengthy discussion Monday night over an ordinance to redevelop the former Infiniti car dealership on Franklin Place.

The Franklin Place Ordinance Subcommittee said before it moved forward, it was looking for guidance as to whether or not to develop a straight ordinance or pursue designation as an area in need of rehabilitation.

City Planner Eileen Banyra explained that while seeking designation as an area in need of rehabilitation was more time consuming and expensive for the city, it also offered more control over what would eventually be built on the site.

"There's a lot of things we can do to fix up this area just by going through this process," Banyra said.

However, members of the planning board felt that this site did not warrant this increased level of scrutiny and control given that in these fiscally constrained times it would cost the city more money to take that route.

The Planning Board did unanimously approve an ordinance rezoning this parcel R5 for residential use but the ordinance was narrowly defeated 3-5 by common council.

Guy Haselmann, a resident in the neighborhood, said he felt the planning board got it right the first time when it approved an ordinance rezoning it residential.

"The mistake was ever allowing this vintage, Victorian neighborhood to ever be zoned business," Haselmann said.

Planning Board Chairman Jeffrey Wagenbach said he didn't think recommending R5 again was the way to go. Members debated density ranges if the committee were to recommend multi-family use on the site.

No formal recommendation has been made at this time. The next planning board meeting is March 22 at 8:00 p.m. at city hall.