Council declares cul-de-sac excess, approves private maintenance by nearby businesses

The Franklin City Council voted unanimously to declare a cul-de-sac near Corporate Center Drive excess city property and authorize disposal so adjacent landowners can convert the area to a privately maintained roadway.

City staff told the council the cul-de-sac is required for fire access under current public standards but the landowners want to remove the bulb and reconfigure the end of the road to function more like a T intersection. Paul, a city staff member, said the property owners have agreed to submit a site plan that will meet development requirements and to place public utility and drainage access easements on the parcel as part of the platting process.

Council members asked for clarification about maintenance, access and whether the road could one day be gated. Paul said the businesses will form an association to pave and maintain the roadway similarly to Compass Way and that the easement will preserve public utility access. Council members were told the property owners on the adjacent parcels have signed on to the plan. The council noted the area includes a hotel and nearby corporate businesses and that gating the road would be unlikely given existing uses.

A motion to approve the declaration and disposal was made, seconded and passed 4-0. The motion as recorded on the council floor was stated as “Motion to approve.” The record does not specify which member moved or seconded the motion.

The disposal authorizes the mayor and city administrator to execute documents related to transfer; staff said the consolidation and platting will proceed through the standard site-plan review and platting process before the road is converted to private management.

No further public hearings or additional votes on this specific disposal were recorded during the meeting.