News-pourri

Canal Walk’s 18-game winning streak was snapped July 22 in a 3-2 loos to the A Team in the Senior Softball League’s opening championship game. The A Team is the defending champion, having won the ultimate series each of the last three years. The next game in the best two out of three series is set for 9:30 a.m. July …

Project architect Ashraf Ragab describes the apartment building to the Planning Board. A Kendall Park developer who wants to build a three-story mixed-use residential building on Hamilton Street will have to wait until at least November to see if his project will become reality. That’s because the Planning Board told representatives of the developer, Mohamed Nassim, that his application had …

Supporters of the zoning ordinance change – most of whom live in Canal Walk – react when the ordinance is unanimously approved by Township Council members in attendance at the July 19 special meeting. The ink is barely dry on the Township Council’s approval of an ordinance limiting where warehouses can be built in Franklin, but at least one objector’s …

With oppressive heat in the immediate forecast beginning July 20, the Township has established cooling centers in the Municipal Complex off DeMott Lane. A cooling center in the main branch of the Franklin Township Public Library will be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and …

Mark Healey, the township’s Director of Planning, discusses the proposed warehouse ordinance at a recent Planning Board meeting. (File photo). A lawsuit could be in the offing if the Township Council, as expected, adopts on July 19 an ordinance that will limit where future warehouses can be built within Franklin. Michael Mandelbaum, manager of 5 Belmont Associates, objected to the …

Three more cannabis businesses were given resolutions of support by the Township Council at its July 12 meeting. That brings to 17 the number of cannabis businesses that want to locate in the township which have been supported by the Council. The three newest businesses are: FranklinGrow to be located at 6 Shirley AvenueControl Grow to be located at 300 …

Architect W. Michael Campbell displays an artist’s rendering of the proposed new St. Sharbel’s Church, targeted for Easton Avenue and Franklin Boulevard. Update: The Zoning Board of Adjustment approved St. Sharbel’s application at its August 4 meeting. In a brief hearing, the Board was told that any concerns held by the Township’s professional staff had been alleviated. The project’s planner …

Township Manager Robert Vornlocker wrote a letter in February concerning the state Comptroller’s Office report on abuse in municipal sick leave policies. (File photo.) The Township has made no payments under sick leave and vacation accrual policies found by a state agency to be in violation of state law, according to a Township official. In a report issued on July …

Architect Michael Testa describes the proposed three-story apartment building targeted for Hamilton Street. A three-story apartment building targeted for the “gateway” to Hamilton Street from New Brunswick was approved July 7 by the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The 15-unit building will be constructed at the corner of Hamilton Street and Hawthorne Drive. The building will consist of 10 1-bedroom apartments …

Update: The proposed zoning changes included in the ordinance do not conflict with the Township Master Plan, the Planning Board decided at a special July 13 meeting. The Board made the unanimous decision to favorably return the proposed ordinance for Township Council action after a presentation by Township Planner mark Healey. Healey told the Board that all of the proposed …