Franklin Today

Common Council refuses to make report accurate

Last night on a 3-2 vote, the Council rejected Alderwoman Wilhelm's motion to correct portions of the Planning Department's Crossroads Area report that was before the Council for review. Wilhelm noted discrepancies in the report and made a strong case as to the importance of accuracy in public documents. "When it comes to Boards and Commissions' actions, you just can't make this stuff up. There should be motions and actions that support your facts before putting them in a document for the public," said Wilhelm.

More public funds for 27th Street?

Tonight's Common Council agenda includes two development topics: the Crossroads intersection (Hwy 100 & Loomis) and the 27th Street Corridor. What stands out is how those two topics part ways in terms of priorities and vision.

Wyndham Village faces possible foreclosure

The news broke last Friday in the Business Journal, and since then no other local news source picked up the story. I view this as very significant, given the history not only of this project, but others as well since 2008.

It can be said that retail issues in Franklin are due to "global economic collapse". Unfortunately, that's the standard being used throughout the country and nothing is being done to buck the trend. Instead of shrugging shoulders and walking away, let's look for a solution and see if there are other factors leading to Franklin's very real retail problem. Some might disagree, but there really is a retail problem in Franklin. A community doesn't have what our leaders coined "The Big Three" in retail projects in 2007/2008 all end up in the pits. Yet somehow, some way, Franklin pulled it off.

Oak Creek steamrolls ahead while Franklin stalls

You'd think an economic recession never existed if you're in Oak Creek. Despite the economy, our neighbor to the east continues to move ahead. Just today, the Journal Sentinel wrote that the city approved $2 million to assist Bucyrus International in their takeover of the former Midwest Airlines HQ buildings, and is now considering a TIF District along the lakefront to spur additional growth there over the next 10-20 years.

Does anyone think 27th Street is on their radar these days?

In the meantime, Franklin continues to stall in efforts to attract businesses to just fill-in our existing vacant properties. You see, while Oak Creek is adding more sites, Franklin can't fill-in its current sites. That speaks volumes. Franklin needs leadership now, not later, to address this situation.

Oak Creek is doing the smart thing by planning now and getting their ducks in a row before the economy begins to grow once more. When it does, they'll be more than ready to take on any major project that comes before them. In Franklin's case, it'll likely become another situation similar to what happened during the last boom in the 2000s, where we kept hearing about how our Planning Department was overworked to the gills. Several of our Planners left during this period as well, leaving for greener pastures and less stress. That's what happens when everything gets dumped on your lap and there truly is no plan that's being followed.

Franklin leaders need to wake up and smell the coffee now. Fun and games are overwith. Our neighbors have been and continue to stake their claim as a regional destination for business in southern Milwaukee County. That should be Franklin's beck and call, considering that our community is more centralized in the region than Oak Creek. What will it take for our leaders to be motivated to take a proactive look at marketing and promoting the City of Franklin? Let the debate begin.

Sustainable projects in Franklin? Why not?

John Michlig put up a video on his blog this morning showcasing Retrofitting Suburbia author Ellen Dunham-Jones talking about recreating suburbia. Franklin has plenty of areas where the ideas and discussions by Dunham-Jones could be put into action, and transform Franklin's vital commercial areas and increase our tax base significantly, lowering taxes on residential properties. See the video below:

Yesterday was the first meeting of the MAHDPRC

I was in attendance last night for the Mayoral Ad-Hoc Development Process Review Committee meeting, which lasted 2 hours on the dot (thank goodness for Plan Commission meetings at 7pm!). The first meeting covered several issues, but was dominated by the concerns of hometown developer Mark Carstensen. Carstensen's frustration about the development process in Franklin led up to a point where he mentioned that our community is referred to, at times, the "People's Republic of Franklin" due to our complications and strictness.

A portion of Hwy 100's reconstruction timeline set

In this week's Common Council packet there's a letter from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WISDOT) in reference to the future reconstruction & widening of Hwy 100. This particular letter relates to the section of Hwy 100 between the Root River and the "Crossroads" intersection of Hwy 100 & Loomis. WISDOT states that the road will be widened from two to four lanes and there will be a median dividing the highway. Furthermore, they intend on implementing improvements at various intersections along this segment. 

As our senior population continues to grow, are we ready for them?

Last night, United Financial Group came before the Environmental Commission to request a special exception to fill in a small portion of wetland for two proposed apartment complexes for senior citizens. Forest Hill Highlands, as the entire project is called, is expanding in Franklin with these two new structures. There are already four structures that are part of this complex, and there could be almost a half-dozen more once the expansions are complete.

FPS thinks out of the box, helps local businesses

In FHS Principal Mike Cady's Podcast I reposted yesterday, he mentioned a new incentive for seniors - if you get good grades, good attendance, and are in good behavior, you have what he coins as a "free period". During this period, which is of the seniors' choosing, they may do whatever they feel like doing, including leaving the FHS campus. The period last 86 minutes, and would only be available every other day for seniors, but that still has an impact here in Franklin.

Common Council President calls for new committee on handling of developments

Tomorrow night's agenda includes the following letter from Common Council President (CCP) Steve Taylor, who represents the 4th Aldermanic District: