Franklin looking to redevelop areas

FRANKLIN — The Franklin Borough Council on Tuesday asked the Planning Board to look into whether two areas in the borough are in need of redevelopment.
As specified in Resolution 2016-87, the Planning Board will investigate two areas on Sterling Street and Rutherford Avenue to determine whether they are in need of redevelopment using the powers of Eminent Domain. The areas under consideration will include the zinc company property on Sterling Street and the vacant lumber yard on Rutherford Avenue.
Eminent Domain is a tool the Borough could use, if necessary, to force property owners to comply with redevelopment efforts in exchange for fair compensation.
Borough Administrator Alison Littell McHose said the properties listed in the resolution were previously singled out by the Borough Planning Board for redevelopment back in 2012 and 2013, but the council at that time did not take any action. Tuesday's vote to have the current Planning Board revisit the issue is a first step to get the ball rolling once again, she said.
McHose said the Planning Board will assess whether the properties are in need of redevelopment and make a recommendation to the Council. If the recommendation is in favor of redevelopment, the Council can then vote to designate those properties as such and that status will be attached to the property deed. Redevelopment status could be a boon for property owners looking to attract developers, McHose said.
The borough also is working with the state Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to get recommendations for redevelopment within the borough, McHose said. According to McHose, the DCA recommendations will include guides for suggested uses of the properties, which would be another draw for developers.
The goal, McHose said, is to bring fresh ideas and new ratables into town.
“The hope is that this would be a positive for (those landowners) who might say 'Oh my gosh, I can maybe now seek out a developer who will come and look at this differently now,'” McHose said.
McHose said the Planning Board review will likely take around two months.

Tax sale results

McHose also provided results from the borough's tax sale earlier this month.
According to McHose, there were nearly 60 properties on the initial tax sale list, but borough officials were able to reduce that number to 28 properties by making calls to delinquent property owners prior to the sale date.
Of the 28 properties ultimately listed in the sale, 25 were sold to outside lien holders and three remained with the Borough, McHose said.
The total tax sale was $56,033.72 with a premiums received total of $223,200, McHose said.

Thin Blue Line

The Borough Council on Tuesday also voted to honor the Borough Police and Fire Departments with colored road striping. The Council approved the installation of a blue center line on Corkhill Road in front of the Police Department building and a red center line in front of the Fire Department building on Buckwheat Road.