Franklin council directs planning commission to prioritize nuisance and blight ordinance updates

The Village of Franklin council voted to send a prioritized set of nuisance and blight items back to the planning commission for drafting into a consolidated ordinance.

Council members spent an extended portion of the meeting reviewing a chart prepared by the planning commission that listed existing regulations and suggested additions. Infrastructure-committee representatives summarized the recommended additions: inoperable recreational vehicles, inoperable machinery and equipment, storage of building materials, truck debris and load-loss cleanup, dangerous conditions for children, existence of vacant/uninhabitable dwellings, incomplete construction standards, and clearer dumpster and noise rules. "In general, where we already had something on the books addressing one of these issues, there was a majority who felt that it should be there almost every single time," the infrastructure committee chair said in summary. (Infrastructure committee representative.)

Trustees emphasized better definitions to improve enforceability: for example, what constitutes a "commercial vehicle," how to determine "inoperable," and reasonable timeframes for construction permits and temporary storage (pods). The police and code-enforcement staff participated, noting state law covers some matters (e.g., load security on vehicles) but local ordinances could strengthen enforcement and clarify obligations for building permits and cleanup.

After discussion, President Goldberg moved and Trustee Hansen seconded a motion "to direct the planning commission to prioritize and take into consideration our directives on the nuisance and blight ordinances," which the council approved on voice vote. The council asked the planning commission to prepare draft ordinance language, suggested priorities, and examples of enforcement approaches for the council to consider at future meetings.

Council members also flagged follow-ups for staff and committee work: clarifying definitions, prioritizing safety-focused items (dangerous conditions for children, unguarded excavations), and looking at permitting or fee structures to address problems such as persistent false alarms or repeated false-alarm callouts. The council recommended the infrastructure committee and planning commission compile a prioritized list and return with draft language to be vetted by counsel.

The planning commission will draft the consolidated text and return with suggested changes and a proposed priority schedule to council for review.