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Board approves zoning items, factory PUD modifications and multiple contracts; executive search authorized
Summary
At its April 8 meeting the Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved several rezoning requests, Factory at Franklin PUD modifications (including a hotel and parking garage), multiple procurement awards and authorization to hire an executive search firm for the assistant city administrator recruitment.
The Franklin City Board of Mayor and Aldermen on April 8 approved a series of ordinances, resolutions and contracts spanning rezonings, PUD revisions for the Factory at Franklin, procurement awards and a contract to assist with the search for an assistant city administrator.
Among the zoning and land‑use votes, the board unanimously approved: Ordinance 2024‑50 to rezone about 1.95 acres at 104 Chestnut Lane to Civic Institutional for Christ Fellowship Church; Ordinance 2024‑51 to rezone 20.15 acres in the Factory district to support a 120‑room hotel with associated parking garage; and various modifications to the Factory at Franklin PUD (Resolution 2024‑113) to permit a parking garage and allow a surety bond in lieu of a letter of credit (the modification passed and the overall motion passed with seven votes and one recusal on the hotel rezoning and PUD revision).
The board also approved Ordinance 2024‑43 and Resolution 2024‑96 for Erickson Senior Living (detailed in a separate article) and approved ordinance and resolution items for Coletta Park PUD and annexation requests. The votes were routinely taken by roll call; most items passed unanimously or with a single recusal as noted on the Factory hotel item.
Procurements and contract awards approved in one motion or separately included: a construction award to Morgan Contracting Inc. of Knoxville for $4,163,750 for Water Reclamation Facility rehabilitation resiliency improvements; a purchase to Calgon Carbon Corporation of $115,000 for granular activated carbon exchange; Amendment 5 to the Ascension Saint Thomas urgent care lease/renewal; a lease agreement with the TMA Group for property at 708 Columbia Avenue; and various other routine professional services or maintenance contracts.
Separately, the board approved a contract to retain an executive search firm for the upcoming assistant city administrator recruitment (contract referenced as Management Impact Solutions LLC / MGT; base fee noted as $25,000 with allowances for advertising and travel). City staff said seven proposals were solicited, four firms interviewed and the selected firm’s base fee was the second‑lowest among proposals received. City Administrator Eric explained the firm will widen the search pool and help identify candidates who may not be actively looking for new positions.
Other business: Alderman Brown asked staff to return with options to use a portion of proposed parkland dedication fees to fund public art in the Factory district and to allow parkland dedication fee offsets for developers installing public art. Parks staff announced the city’s annual Arbor Day celebration at Pinkerton Park the following Saturday.
Votes at a glance (selected items and outcomes): - Ordinance 2024‑50 (104 Chestnut Lane rezoning to Civic Institutional) — approved, unanimous. - Ordinance 2024‑51 (Factory at Franklin rezoning to permit 120‑room hotel) — approved 7–0 with 1 recusal (Alderman Blanton recused); PUD revision (Resolution 2024‑113) and surety modification approved. - Resolution 2024‑96 (Erickson Senior Living development plan with MOS) — approved, unanimous (see separate article). - Contract 2025‑0026 (Erickson parkland impact fee and construction agreement) — approved, unanimous. - Contract 2025‑0048 (Erickson road impact fee offset, not to exceed $5,871,648.61) — approved, unanimous. - Procurement: Morgan Contracting ($4,163,750) — approved, unanimous. - Procurement: Calgon Carbon Corporation ($115,000) — approved, unanimous. - Amendment 5 to City Contract 2020‑0550055 (Ascension Saint Thomas urgent care renewal) — approved, unanimous. - Contract for executive search services (base fee $25,000; firm selection described in record) — approved, unanimous.
Why it matters: The batch of approvals advances multiple development projects that will affect traffic, parking and infrastructure and authorizes several multi‑hundred‑thousand to multi‑million dollar public contracts. The Factory district hotel and garage, the Erickson campus and associated impact‑fee agreements are the highest‑value items approved at the meeting.
What’s next: Several items will proceed to site‑plan, permitting or contract execution stages. Staff was asked to return with options on parkland‑dedication funding for public art prior to votes on related policy changes.
