News-pourri

“EXPERT” TESTIMONY – Eduard Lanetskiy testifies about the proximity of cannabis dispensaries to schools and other “sensitive uses” at the October 16 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting. An application to establish a cannabis dispensary at Demott Lane and Amwell Road, which was rejected in August, was approved on October 16 by the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The Board granted the …

The following are the latest updates in the Township’s 2025 street resurfacing program: Sebring Rd Area Resurfacing – COMPLETED Don’t Miss Out! No other media outlet covering Franklin Township brings you the depth of information presented by the Franklin Reporter & Advocate. Period. We are the only truly independent media serving the Eight Villages. But we can only do that …

Groups on opposite ends of the political spectrum will share the same space on October 18, and both are promising the coexistence will be peaceful. Franklin Township Indivisible, Somerset County Indivisible, and other groups are planning to participate in the nationwide No Kings series of rallies by holding one from noon to 2 p.m. at the Franklin Township Cultural Arts …

DETAIL MAN – Engineer Adnan Khan reviews some details of a proposed 3-story, mixed-use building at the October 15 Planning Board meeting. A 3-story, mixed-use building targeted for a Hamilton Street parcel was approved October 15 by the Planning Board. The 4,605-square-foot building will be constructed between North Dover and Baier avenues, across from Sophie’s Bistro restaurant. Don’t Miss Out! …

EXPLAINING THE PLAN – Craig Stires, project engineer, told the Planning Board that the developer tried to save as many trees as possible along Atrium Drive. A modified plan to raze an empty office building on Atrium Drive and construct two small warehouses in its place was approved October 15 by the Planning Board. This was the second appearance for …

PURCHASE EXPLAINED – Township Manager Robert Vornlocker said the money for the surveillance system is coming from a grant. The Township Council voted to spend nearly $340,000 on a multi-faceted surveillance system at its October 14 meeting. The Council will pay the total over four years, with the first year’s payment being $87,225. Money for the system comes from a grant, …

COUNCIL BUYS LAND – The Township Council on October 14 approved nearly $4 million in open space purchases. The Township Council approved the purchase of nearly $4 million for two open space parcels at its October 14 meeting. The Council approved spending $3,067,000 from the Franklin Open Space Trust Fund to buy a roughly 50-acre parcel at 3995 Route 27, also …

SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES – School board candidates who attended the October 8 candidate forum. Clockwise from upper left: Jennifer Welch, Clara Wilson, Martin Czebotar, and Meher Rafiq. Charter schools, the school district’s goals, and the expanding District budget were some of the topics covered October 8 in a Board of Education candidate forum, held at Franklin Middle School – Sampson …

BUDGET EXPLANATION – Sewerage Authority Executive Director Joe Danielsen takes Authority members through the proposed 2025-26 Authority budget at its October 7 meeting. Franklin Township Sewerage Authority customers will pay 2.9 percent more in their annual fees, and sewer connection fees will rise nearly $300 under the $17.5 million Fiscal Year 2025-26 Authority budget introduced at its October 7 meeting. …

PROHIBITED MURAL? – This mural on the side of the Green Knight Dispensary on Hamilton Street needs approval from both the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission and the Zoning Board of Adjustment. A mural on the side of a Hamilton Street cannabis dispensary is not the type of wall art the Hamilton Street Advisory Board wants to see. The issue was …