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Cohen Recycling proposes reopening Pacey Mindlin site on Riley Boulevard; seeks city use agreement
Summary
Cohen Recycling told the Franklin City Council it plans to buy Pacey Mindlin Recycling on Riley Boulevard, reopen it under the Cohen name and seek a City use agreement for a portion of the right-of-way while promising facility upgrades and limited traffic impacts.
Ken Cohen, president of Cohen Recycling, told the Franklin City Council on June 5 that his company is working to purchase Pacey Mindlin Recycling on Riley Boulevard and re-open it as Cohen Recycling. He said the company is a regional, family-owned recycler and “we’ve always enjoyed the relationship we’ve had working with Franklin.”
Cohen introduced vice presidents Adam Dumes and Geoff Rosenberg, who outlined plans for fencing, repainting, landscaping, signage, regular street sweeping and a new electronics drop-off program that would carry a fee. “We are offering a first class facility,” Dumes said, adding the operation would be phased and that the business already accepts similar materials at other locations.
Mayor Denny Centers and several council members said the site’s appearance matters because Riley Boulevard is a primary entrance to the city. “It needs to look really nice,” Mayor Centers said, pressing the company for a strong aesthetic commitment. Council member Michael Aldridge said he wants assurance the site will be attractive given its gateway location.
Law Director Donnette Fisher said the first legal step would be a use agreement to allow continued use of the right-of-way as Pacey had; she told Council it is their decision whether to authorize such an agreement and that a sale of the right-of-way is not the current proposal. Fisher also noted that any expansion onto adjacent parcels would require zoning changes and Planning Commission review.
Company representatives said they do not expect additional traffic from the change in ownership and that they are open to purchasing adjacent property if needed to expand. No formal action was taken at the June 5 meeting; Council thanked the company for presenting and gave no immediate decision on the requested use agreement.
The presentation lasted across several agenda segments; Cohen and his team invited Council members to visit their Middletown facilities to see examples of the proposed improvements.
Ending: Cohen Recycling left the Council with a request for a use agreement and a promise of phased aesthetic and operational upgrades; Council members asked staff to advance whatever next steps are needed for formal consideration.
