Franklin Future Plans

Growing pains for one of the fastest growing cities in Tennessee.

Franklin faces a water shortage, traffic problems and how to preserve an historic downtown that dates back to the Civil War.

Mayor John Schroer says, "We were under really heavy restrictions last year and I think that was due to poor planning and not being prepared and not understanding where we would be in the future. And what I’m trying to do is get out from under that now."

Mayor Schroer has spent his first few months in office playing catch-up.

He has a long to-do list.

At the top is solving the city's water shortage problem--trying to bring the city as many as fifteen million gallons a day within the next five to ten years.

Right now, it only has access to four.

"We've got to figure out where the rest of that water's going to come from and it has to be reliable and we have to make sure we can distribute it through our system."

Mayor Schroer is meeting with Harpeth Valley Utility District representatives tonight.

He’s exploring ideas of contracting long-term with them for all the city's water needs.

The city is also considering whether to spend ten million dollars to increase the size of the current water pumping facility.

Mayor Schroer expects that by the end of April, there could be a solution for this summer's water needs.

Another issue Mayor Schroer is catching up on is traffic.

"One project spurs another one and we have traditionally been behind the growth of Franklin."

Adding interchanges to I-65 and widening roads have already begun.

So has a brand new downtown project called "Street Scape".

Historic street lights, curbing and sidewalks will soon be seen on 3rd avenue and 5th avenues.

It's part of a 20 year redevelopment plan Mayor Schroer also has on his agenda.

The project will extend along several streets leading into downtown Franklin.

Residents will see more pathways, green spaces and utility lines will run underground.

"I’m just excited about the future of Franklin and I hope that other people are. I'm looking forward to what it may look like a year or two from now."

Franklin is also in the process of hiring a new city administrator.

With 60,000 people, Franklin is the largest city in Williamson County.
Franklin Future Plans