Council wrestles with Franklin Park application timing as planning deadlines loom

Council members pressed staff for a clear timeline after a candidate developer asked how quickly a Franklin Park application could appear before the planning commission and council.

Planning staff said the standing deadline for the upcoming June planning commission packet was 20 days and that an applicant had to submit by May 28 to make the June 16 meeting. “They’re past the deadline for submission for this month,” a staff member said, adding that borough staff may try to add a late submission only if engineering and planning reports can be completed in time. Otherwise, the application would be scheduled for the July cycle.

Council discussed alternatives, including a special council meeting (which requires at least 24 hours’ advertised notice) or expedited staff reviews. Staff warned that special meetings carry advertising cost and that council would need a quorum. Planning commission members said they could make a recommendation subject to minor outstanding edits but would not recommend approval if substantive reviews were incomplete.

The council was also briefed on two upcoming public hearings the borough will host: a conditional-use application to attach solar panels to a residential accessory structure (the applicant previously obtained a variance) and a zoning-ordinance amendment that would revise a data-center overlay. The planning commission will review both and issue comments that the council will consider at public hearings scheduled later this month.

Council did not vote on the Franklin Park submission at this meeting; staff said they would do all reasonable reviews to try to include the applicant in the June agenda if materials arrive immediately, but made no guarantee.