At tonight's meeting, the Forward Franklin Economic Development Committee will be taking up the discussion on revisions to the city's Unified Development Ordinance "as it relates to environmental regulations which may hamper development." The primary environmental ordinance the city raises up on various occasions with developers is the Natural Resource Protection Plan (NRPP). The NRPP has drawn praise from residents wishing to keep Franklin more consicous of conservation and utilizing land better, but upsets developers time-to-time who want to develop more land at the potential expense of losing of the natural resources on their developing properties.
This discussion occurs at a time when the city is constructing the Ryan Creek Interceptor Sewer, which is geared to bring sewer to the southwestern portion of Franklin and easternmost Muskego. This sewer is being built despite strong objections from landowners and farmers in SW Franklin, which haven't faded into the sunset just yet. But again, developers are on the flip-side of this coin, and favor the newfound access of sewer. Developers and the majority of leadership on the Common Council view the sewer as essential to grow and develop the City of Franklin to its maximum ability.
It comes at no surprise then to see environmental regulations such as the NRPP being brought forward for the city's newly-formed economic development entity to review and potentially recommend changes that likely will ease restrictions for developers on environmentally-sensitive areas of the city. What this also has a side-effect on, though, is Common Council President Steve Taylor.
CCP Taylor serves as the aldermanic representative of the Forward Franklin EDC, and was the alderman who helped push for the termination of the former Economic Development Commission and creation of this new body. At the present time, CCP Taylor is also looking to takeover the reins of the 9th Supervisory District of the Milwaukee County Board, which is being vacated by Paul Cesarz after many years of being criticized by residents, businesses, elected officials and the media for being rather absent in his representation of the district. Cesarz's desire not to run opened up the seat for several to throw their hats into the ring, which also include the Hales Corners Chamber of Commerce President (Donald Schwartz), an Oak Creek alderman (Ken Gehl). Due to the county's new district layouts, the 9th District has been bumped out of a vast majority of Franklin homes that might have supported projects like the Ryan Creek Interceptor Sewer, while kept in the entire southwestern portion full of residents in solid opposition.
So now CCP Taylor has to put on his thinking cap for the discussion tonight in terms of what does he do. Does he support the ideals of businesses and developers, who want a ease in environmental regulations, or does he side with residents. I guess we'll stay tuned.
