By EMILY R. WEST
After more than an hour of hearing from residents last week, the Franklin Municipal Planning Commission decided to move forward with the Ashcroft Valley development.
The development has been controversial for Franklin residents near the site because it is proposed behind three existing subdivisions, and will not have direct access to either Arno Road or Highway 96. Concerns about traffic swirl around the plans for the subdivision with more than 200 homes.
Ashcroft Valley has been through multiple transformations before it reached this stage. The total site of property now expands to 226 acres with 383 proposed dwelling units. Homes will range from estate prices to cottage lots.
With this round of changes, residents’ biggest concerns revolved around inter-connectivity. With the six proposed modifications of standards, developers largely avoided connecting all the existing surrounding neighborhoods to Ashcroft. Originally, developers built those neighborhoods in the Cross Creek community through Williamson County’s standards. But roads don’t meet the now regulated standards for the city of Franklin’s streets.
“In this particular area the city needs to look at the situation where there may be doughnut holes, and this is close to have city property surrounding county property,” FMPC Commissioner and At-Large Alderman Anne Peterson said.
Residents worked with the developer for more than a year, having candid and spirited conversations. Those who had input at the FMPC agreed this latest plan is the best option. With the modification of standards, the developers asked for the removal of inter-connectivity at a handful of points.
“We’ve been working, as you know, many times with city officials and the architect and the Board of Mayor and Alderman,” Cross Creek resident Brooks Hodges said. “And as you know, this is the eighth iteration and accommodates many of the concerns we’ve put forward. We feel this plan is the best we can hope for. We still have areas of contention, but we think this is the best deal we are going to get. And we strongly and respectfully plead to approve the modifications of standards. We have a dangerous, dangerous proposal, but it’s going to be more dangerous if inter-connectivity opens up.”
According to the modification of standards, the developer wouldn’t have to connect to Warren Road. This road has been a point of contention throughout the process, with many residents voicing opposition to its connection. Warren Road is a county road with a total of 18 feet of travel lanes. The terrain between the proposed connection between this development and Warren Road is between 10 percent and 20 percent grades.
The development also didn’t want to connect to Beacon Hill Drive, Cross Creek Drive or Biltmore Court. The intention was to reduce the traffic impact on the Franklin East and Cross Creek subdivisions.
Only two planning commissioners – Marcia Allen and Alma McLemore – voted no to the entire development: the rezoning, planned services, annexation and the modification of standards.
“In my opinion, we as a city better get on the ball,” Allen said. “We must, as a city, must be concerned. We have to start saying what we really mean and not what we think is going to happen.”
The full approval will sit before the Board of Mayor and Alderman later in the fall.
Emily West covers Franklin, schools and high school football for Home Page Media Group. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter via @emwest22.
