Process and Outreach | ENVISION FRANKLIN 117 KEY PLANNING ISSUES Through the various community engagement opportunities, citizens noted many of the positive attributes of Franklin but also voiced several concerns regarding the current conditions of growth and development. A compilation of the key planning issues identified by the various stakeholders, public, and City staff during the process are as follows: ■ Protection of Franklin’s distinctive identity and character, with central attributes identified as family-friendly, historically distinctive, economically thriving, and education-focused ■ Preservation of historic structures, neighborhoods, and established character ■ Conservation of natural resources, open space, hills, and scenic vistas ■ Management of growth and the need to proactively plan for and direct it, rather than reacting to it ■ Improvement or extension of infrastructure to direct growth to appropriate areas instead of extending services in multiple directions based on development applications ■ Desire for mixed-use, infill, and walkable development, districts, and neighborhoods ■ Diversity in housing stock to provide options for a variety of ages, incomes, family sizes, and preferences ■ Congested major thoroughfares due to over-reliance on arterials from lack of neighborhood connectivity ■ Evolving transportation needs and desires, including frequent and convenient regional and local transit and on-demand travel options ■ Demand for more sidewalks and bicycle facilities ■ Underuse of the Harpeth River as an asset, public amenity, and recreational resource ■ High land costs driving pressure for higher density and intensity in new developments ■ Consistent high demand and low vacancy rates for Class A office space.
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