Franklin schools authorize petition to rezone Earlywood property to institutional use

The Franklin Community School Corp. board on Sept. 9 authorized district staff to file a petition to rezone the Earlywood property from industrial back to institutional zoning, a step administrators said is required before the site can host a preschool or other school facility.

Legal counsel told the board the parcel was previously zoned institutional when the school operated there but was rezoned industrial at some point thereafter. Counsel said Franklin Planning staff supports reverting the parcel to institutional and that the petition must be filed no later than Oct. 10. If the plan commission recommends approval, the matter will move to the Franklin City Council, which is scheduled to take final action in early January 2025, counsel said.

Board members were told the district has not yet received a recorded deed from the seller; staff said a recorded deed is necessary to file a rezoning petition but that they expect the deed to be forthcoming. Counsel also explained that demolition of the existing building would remove the property’s legal nonconforming status, returning the site to whatever the current zoning is unless the district secures a rezoning.

Following the presentation, a motion to authorize filing the rezoning petition was made and approved by voice vote.

Next steps outlined by staff include filing the petition by the Oct. 10 deadline, publishing required legal notices, participating in the Franklin City Plan Commission hearing, and preparing for subsequent City Council readings. District staff noted that representatives — including the superintendent and facilities staff — may need to appear at plan commission and council meetings to answer questions and support the rezoning request.

Provenance: District introduced the item and sought approval to file the petition during the action-items portion of the Sept. 9 meeting; the board then moved and approved the measure by voice vote.