Council approves fiscal plan for 130-acre Barker Lane annexation package

Franklin City Council on March 2, 2026, adopted the fiscal plan for the proposed 130‑acre Barker Lane annexation package, approving Resolution 20‑26‑02 in a roll-call vote that the clerk recorded as unanimous.

City staff planning lead Joanna Tennell told the council the package includes an annexation, two rezonings and a companion fiscal plan prepared by Peters and Franklin LTD; the plan estimated the city’s annual cost to serve the development at $624,565.75 and projected annual property‑tax revenue at $308,566 under the plan’s valuation assumptions.

The fiscal analysis presented to the council listed additional revenue estimates including an annual-tax-and-fee estimate of approximately $648,033 and anticipated one‑time development revenues (building permits, sewer connection fees and park impact fees) totaling about $1,144,128. The parcel owner was shown in the packet as Palladium Properties LLC.

The fiscal plan is the statutorily required local analysis that determines whether the city can fiscally accommodate an annexation; under state law the council’s action on the fiscal plan is separate from later formal votes on annexation and any rezoning ordinances. Joanna Tennell said the plan followed the nine required sections of the Indiana Code for annexation fiscal plans and included an estimate of costs to the city and projected tax and fee receipts.

Petitioner attorney Eric Prine (Van Veil Law Firm), speaking for the developer, said the revised plan reduced lot count from 216 to 202, lowered density from about 2.81 units per acre to roughly 2.62, and increased the proportion of the Silverthorn product to 60 percent of the proposed lots while retaining written commitments on architectural standards and open‑space features.

After the clerk completed the roll call, the chair stated, "Motion carries to pass the fiscal plan," and later commented to the audience about state legislative activity, referencing House Bill 1001 and the council’s ability to hold local hearings.

Next steps: the fiscal plan approval permits the council to take final action on annexation and the companion rezoning ordinances at the council’s next regular meeting; staff and the developer said those items are scheduled for further consideration on March 16, 2026.