Franklin zoning board approves church subdivision and site plan for remaining church facilities

The Franklin Township Zoning Board voted on June 18 to approve a minor subdivision that divides the Ukrainian Orthodox Church property at 135 Davidson Avenue and to grant a D2 use variance and site plan allowing the church to retain and reconfigure certain existing church and seminary facilities.

Board members adopted the subdivision (ZBA25008) and the church site plan (ZBA25007) by roll call; applicants must comply with conditions listed in June 11 staff reports before final resolution sign-off. The subdivision was described by applicant counsel as creating roughly 15- and 17-acre lots; the site-plan approval covers parking reconfiguration and stormwater measures but does not propose new buildings on the church parcel.

Applicant representatives said the church is a longstanding pre-existing nonconforming use dating to the 1950s, and that the proposed plan includes added buffering and landscaping negotiated with the historic commission to limit visual impacts. Objector counsel raised procedural and notice issues related to the neighboring lot 2.01 (containing a cemetery) and argued the board should consider whether prior approvals and any cemetery expansion were properly noticed; the board proceeded to vote despite those objections.

Board members voting in favor noted that the subdivision and site-plan changes are consistent with technical ordinance requirements and that outstanding technical items will be addressed in resolution compliance. The approvals do not resolve separate civil-law questions about whether the church properly authorized the underlying contract; board counsel indicated such disputes may be litigated in court if a party pursues that remedy.

Next steps include submission of final engineering and landscaping plans for staff review and resolution compliance. The board then considered and approved a separate D1 use variance and site plan for a large warehouse on the newly configured parcel.