Help Preserve South Middlebush Scenic Corridor
QUESTIONS TO ASK FRANKLIN TOWN COUNCIL AT THEIR NEXT REGULAR VIRTUAL MEETING on Tuesday April 13, 2021:
1) Why wasn't the Open Space Trust Fund used to purchase land on South Middlebush Rd so it could be preserved as Open Space? Is money being disbursed from the Open Space fund to pay for other expenses that have nothing to do with preserving open space?
2) On June 25, 2015, the Houses of Worship purchased the land on 583 and 630 S. Middlebush Rd, which were single family homes on several acres of land in an agricultural zone, and then on July 4, 2015 they held a ground breaking ceremony to publicly announce the land purchase and their intention to build two houses of worship with parking lots for hundreds of cars, which was attended by some members of Franklin Town Council giving welcoming speeches. Both properties were purchased for about $800,000 each. Did the Franklin Town Council have prior knowledge of the land purchases, and indeed, did they actively encourage it? We don't know the answers to these questions, we are simply asking, because so far no one has come forward to explain what happened behind the scenes.
3) If the above is not an allowed use of land in an agricultural zone, why is the Zoning Board being allowed to proceed with it?
4) Zoning Board told us that septic tanks will be placed in the ground near the houses of worship, and there will be TWO houses of worship across the street from each other on S. Middlebush Rd. Keep in mind again this will all be done in an AGRICULTURAL ZONE!
5) The state/county has not given permission to widen S. Middlebush Rd which will create a traffic nightmare and dangerous driving conditions.
6) The construction of the complex will result in the decimation of a forested ecosystem comprised of mature shade trees which house a multitude of indigenous wildlife species including endangered birds.
7) Tell the Town Council 2,092 people have signed our petition, "Help Preserve South Middlebush Scenic Corridor."
Please voice your concerns by attending the Franklin Town Council Virtual Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 13, 2021 starting at 7:00 pm. You can look at the agenda for this meeting at this link.
https://bit.ly/2OyU6JC
Register for event and Direct Webex link:
https://bit.ly/31TQkgS
Call in +1-408-418-9388
Access Code: 179 068 5853
Please share the petition
Thank you! change.org/PreserveSMiddlebush