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Commissioners propose funded overhaul of county comprehensive plan and zoning code cleanup
Summary
Several commissioners urged seeking funding and consultant support to update Franklin County’s 15‑year‑old comprehensive plan and to conduct a systematic zoning‑code cleanup to remove contradictory language, improve clarity and reduce procedural confusion for applicants.
Multiple members of Franklin County’s planning board proposed pursuing funding and technical support to update the county comprehensive plan and perform a comprehensive clean‑up of the zoning code.
Speakers said the existing zoning code contains contradictory provisions — for example, unclear setback and encroachment language and the treatment of small, adjacent parcel splits — that complicate administrative review and produce inconsistent outcomes for applicants. They recommended using grant funding or state technical assistance to hire a consultant who would work with a locally staffed steering committee and stakeholders to produce a clear, community‑driven update.
Some board members and public participants cautioned about community perceptions of outside consultants and stressed the importance of strong local oversight and stakeholder engagement to ensure the plan and code reflect county priorities. Board members asked staff to explore funding options and to return with a proposal for how a code revision process might be structured.
