Table of Contents
Franklin County
Master Plan
Adopted 2012
Purpose
The purpose of the Franklin County Master Plan is to plan and prepare for the future, building on an awareness of what has happened in the past. Franklin County continues to grow and the demographic makeup and economic characteristics of the county continue to change. As characteristics change, the needs of Franklin County residents also change. This plan builds on Franklin County’s past while also acknowledging the future needs.
Mission
As stated by the Franklin County Commission, the Mission of Master Planning in Franklin County is to provide for the orderly growth and development of Franklin County with special attention to the following functional elements:
Land Use
Agriculture
Housing
Transportation
Stormwater (Streams, Wetlands, and Floodplains)
Utilities
Solid Waste Management
Economic Development
Background
The governing body of Franklin County recognizes the importance of property rights and the role that property rights have played in the cultural and historical development of the United States and the State of Missouri. The County Commission of Franklin County, in conjunction with the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission, have endeavored to develop a Master Plan as directed by Section 64.815 RSMo which recognizes our cultural heritage and which also looks to our future. The Master Plan is cognizant of the rights of citizens while also addressing the statutory mandates of conserving natural resources, insuring efficient expenditure of public funds and the need to promote the health, safety, convenience, prosperity and general welfare of the county inhabitants. The Master Plan takes a common sense approach to addressing the multitude of issues which affect Franklin County today while planning for tomorrow.
The Franklin County 2010 Master Plan was approved by the County Commission in May of 2002. Due to the changes in the county since that time, a revision of this plan is now appropriate.
Planning Process
In November of 2009, the Planning and Zoning Commission and County Commission agreed that a new Master Plan should be developed for Franklin County. A scope and schedule for the plan was created. A Steering Committee was appointed and an Open House Kickoff Event was held on December 17, 2009.
The Steering Committee met during the winter of 2010 to help design the public outreach component of the Master Plan. This included a survey to be distributed by e-mail as well as paper copies to be distributed in libraries and banks throughout the county. In addition, public meetings were planned to present the existing conditions portion of the plan to the public and to receive public input.
The first draft of the “Existing Conditions” section of the plan was completed in April 2010 and the findings from this report were presented in a series of open houses throughout the county. These open houses took place in Union, New Haven, Labadie, Lonedell, and Spring Bluff in May and June of 2010. During these public meetings, information about the county was presented followed by an opportunity for public comment. In total, approximately 140 residents attended these meetings.
The next step was to compile the results of the survey, as well as conduct “stakeholder interviews” with several individuals and organizations throughout the county. Surveys were accepted from March through July of 2010. The information from these public outreach efforts was presented to the Steering Committee in July of 2010. Survey results were also posted on the county’s website.
To determine the opinions of county residents in terms of land use, a Land Use Charrette was held on July 29, 2010. The purpose and intent of the session, which was to create a future land use map for the county. The 36 participants were then divided into six groups of six. Each group used markers to create a future land use map for Franklin County. Each participant then voted on their favorite map. The Steering Committee met after this session to compile the most popular ideas from the Charrette into one future land use map.
In October of 2010, the Steering Committee and the Planning and Zoning Commission began meeting once a month to discuss the Goals, Objectives, and Strategies of the Master Plan. There is significant diversity in opinions in Franklin County partly due to the size of the county. The east side is adjacent to St. Louis County and resembles suburbs in many areas, whereas the west side is very rural. This creates a clash between rural residents who have lived in Franklin County for many years and newer residents who have moved from other parts of the region. There was a significant diversity of opinions among the Steering Committee, Planning and Zoning Commission, and County Commission, and these opinions were often different from the opinions that had been gathered in the surveys and public meetings. This made for a very slow process when it came to agreeing on the goals, objectives, and strategies for the county. These items were discussed throughout most of 2011.
In October of 2011, the Steering Committee and Planning and Zoning Commission decided to seek further direction from the County Commission in the completion of the Master Plan. In June of 2012, after review by the County Commission, the full master plan was sent back to the Steering Committee and the Planning and Zoning Commission for their review and comments.
July 17, 2012 was the first public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission. The meeting was at 7:00 pm and there was a large crowd of citizens who voiced their concerns. After the public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission, the comments from the meeting went to the Planning and Zoning Review Committee, who then made a recommendation to the full Planning and Zoning Commission. Planning and Zoning voted unanimously to recommend adopting the Master Plan with the recommendations of the Review Committee.
On November 13, 2012 at 7:00 pm, the Master Plan went before the County Commission for a public hearing. There were only two members of the public at this hearing who voiced concerns and suggestions for the plan. After the meeting was adjourned, the County Commission met on December 5, 2012 at 11:00 am for a working session to discuss the plan. At the end of this working session, the County Commission asked the County Counselor to draft a Commission Order for December 11, 2012. At the December 11, 2012 County Commission meeting, the Master Plan for Franklin County was adopted.
Organization of Plan
The first section of this plan includes a summary of several topics and the main goals and objectives Franklin County would like to accomplish for each topic. The following section includes the implementation strategy with more detailed information on how to accomplish each objective. The appendix includes an existing conditions report of Franklin County as of 2012 as well as the results from the county wide survey and a plethora of maps.
Part One: Summary, Goals, and Objectives
Land Use
Part One: Summary, Goals, and Objectives
Overview of Existing Conditions
About 92.8% of Franklin County land (552,610 acres) is unincorporated and about 3.8% of the county land (22,604) is incorporated. Of the unincorporated land, 77,550 acres (14%) are considered residential use only. The greatest percentage of occupied parcels in the unincorporated county are less than 1 acre in size, which is the case in 38.5% of occupied residential properties. Almost a quarter of residential properties (27.4%) are between 1 and 3 acres in size. The remaining 34.1% are over 3 acres in size; however, only about 5% are greater than 10 acres.
The number of commercial and industrial properties is fairly small in the unincorporated county when compared to the other types of land use. The following table shows the number and overall size of these uses in the unincorporated areas.
Commercial Parcels (All commercial types)
Number of Parcels = 813
Total Acres = 4795
% of county land = 0.8%
Vacant Commercial Parcels
Number of Parcels = 118
Total Acres = 297
% of county land = 0.1%
Industrial Parcels
Number of Parcels = 56
Total Acres = 315
% of county land = 0.1%
Incorporated Cities
Franklin County has 12 incorporated cities or villages including Washington, Union, Pacific, St. Clair, Sullivan, New Haven, Berger, Gerald, the Village of Leslie, the Village of Oak Grove, the Village of Miramiquoa and the Village of Charmwood. Washington is the largest city in the county. Dubbed as the “Corncob Pipe Capital of the World,” Washington is home to many historic properties as well as a variety of industry. Other cities, including Union, Pacific, St. Clair, and Sullivan also have historic pasts and growing commercial and industrial sectors.
The cities in Franklin County have a variety of land uses including single family residential properties, multi-family properties, commercial properties, and a variety of industrial properties. In the incorporated cities, 80% of the parcels are residential with an average parcel size of just over 1/3 of an acre as compared to the average of just over 3 acres in the unincorporated county. Agricultural land in the cities accounts for less than 2% of parcels, but about 16% of city land. Multi-class residential parcels account for less than 1% of the parcels in cities, but cover about 8% of the city land. As would be expected, commercial properties make up a larger percentage o f city land, comprising over 14% of city land area. About 24% of these commercial properties are currently vacant. Industrial properties also have a larger presence in the cities than in the unincorporated county, making up 6% of city land area.
In addition, there are several unincorporated communities in Franklin County. These types of areas generally consist of historic groupings of residential uses with one or two commercial uses (grocery, feed store) and one or two institutional uses (church, post office, school). The largest of these include Gray Summit, Villa Ridge, Labadie, St. Albans, Catawissa, Robertsville, Lonedell, Beaufort, Stanton, and Krakow.
Land Use Goals and Objectives
Goal 1: Encourage planned, supportable growth in the county.
Encourage orderly, higher density developments in defined corridors and near public infrastructure.
Encourage lower intensity development in areas without infrastructure and that have factors that make development challenging.
Goal 2: Encourage a variety of land uses throughout the county.
Encourage a variety of residential uses.
Encourage the growth of new and existing commercial and industrial uses through zoning.
Goal 3: Ensure contiguous land uses are compatible.
Ensure new developments minimize conflict with existing residential or agricultural uses.
Encourage commercial and industrial developments to be attractive, site-appropriate, and compatible with surrounding uses.
Agriculture
Part One: Summary, Goals, and Objectives
Overview of Existing Conditions
According to the most recent Census of Agriculture (2007), Franklin County had 2,004 farms. This is an increase in the number of farms from the previous Census of 2002 by 171 farms. Franklin County seems to be following the trend that is happening nationwide by seeing farming occupation (as a means of living) on the decline and retirement farming/residential farming (recreational farming) on the rise.
According to the Census, farming in Franklin County peaked in 1920 when 87.1% of all land in the County was classified as agricultural. Since that year the amount of agricultural land has generally been declining. The number of farms has also declined since the early 1900s, especially between 1945 and 1997, but the number of farms has been increasing somewhat during the past decade. Just over half (50.8%) of all land in the County was still classified as agricultural by the Census in 2007.
The average size of farms in the County increased throughout most of the 20th century and peaked in 1978 at 193 acres per farm. Since that year the average size of farms has decreased fairly substantially to 149.6 acres per farm in 2007. The size of farms has been decreasing rapidly since 1997 at the same time that the number of farms has been increasing. This seems to indicate that farmland in the County is being fractured at an increasingly rapid rate.
The top crops in the County, based on total number of acres, were forage (land used for all hay and haylage, grass silage, and greenchop), soybeans (for beans), corn (for grain), corn (for silage), and wheat (for grain). The top agricultural commodities produced by the county, based on value of sales, were grains, oilseeds; cattle and calves; hogs and pigs; and milk and other dairy products (from cows).
Very small farms increased substantially between 2002 and 2007. The number of very small farms (less than 10 acres) increased by almost 50% from 2002 to 2007. The number of farms between 10 and 50 acres in size also increased fairly substantially (27.8% increase). Farms on less than 50 acres of land constituted over a third of all the county’s farms according to the 2007 Census.
In addition to those farms that are small in size, the number of farms with relatively few sales is also increasing. According to the 2007 data, about 30% of farms in the county have less than $1,000 in annual farm-related sales. These farms accounted for about 23% of farms in 2002. Overall, 69% of farms in the county have less than $10,000 in farm-related sales. Also, an increasing number of farms are identified as residential/lifestyle farms, which means that the principal operator reported his/her occupation as other than farming. In 2002, just over 50% of farmers reported farming as their main occupation. In 2007, this number constituted just over 35% of all primary operators, with the remaining 65% farming more as a hobby than a main occupation.
The number of very large farms is also increasing in Franklin County. The number of very large farms – those with 2,000 or more acres – almost tripled, going from 4 in 2002 to 11 in 2007; however the number of farms with acreage between 500 and 2000 acres decreased by nearly a quarter. This reflects a national trend of increasing numbers of very small and very large farms with the numbers of mid-sized farms dwindling.
The Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) created a map that shows areas of prime farmland as well as farmland of statewide importance. Prime farmland is the land that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing quality crops. Farmland of statewide importance is land that does not meet the criteria for prime farmland, but that may produce high yields of crops if managed properly. Overall, 6.7% of the county is considered prime farmland and 47.5% is considered farmland of statewide importance. The prime farmland is concentrated in the far northern part of the county in the Missouri River Bottoms. Other prime farmland is located along some of the county’s other creeks and rivers. Farmland of statewide importance is located throughout the county, but is concentrated in the north central portion, mostly north of Hwy 50.
Agriculture Goals and Objectives
Goal: Encourage agriculture in Franklin County.
Ensure that county regulations support agriculture and do not add unnecessary burdens to farm operators.
Support agriculture with the help of community projects and plans.
Housing
Part One: Summary, Goals, and Objectives
Overview of Existing Conditions
According to the 2010 Census data, the number of housing units in Franklin County is 43,419. Of these units, 39,170 (90.2%) are occupied and 4,249 (9.8%) are vacant. According to the 2010 5-year estimates, the most common type of unit was a single family detached home, accounting for 74.6% of all housing units. Attached single-family homes accounted for 2.1% and multi-family units with two or more units per structure constituted 10.9%. Mobile homes were estimated at about 12.5% of all housing units. As compared to the state, Franklin County has comparatively more detached single family homes and about twice as many mobile homes, but it has about 9% fewer multi-family units. In Franklin County, the percentage of mobile homes and rental units has gone down since 2000 and the percentage of single family detached and attached units has gone up.
According to the 2010 estimate (5-year), just less than half of the housing in Franklin County (49.1%) was built in or after 1980. This is greater than the state’s percentage at 39.4%. Franklin County’s share of older homes is slightly smaller than the state with 34.1% of homes built between 1950 and 1980 and 16.9% of homes built before 1950. In the state of Missouri, about 39.3% of homes were built between 1950 and 1980 and 21.3% of homes were built prior to 1950.
In general, residents in Franklin County have been in their homes longer than the average Missourian. According to the 2010 estimate, 52.9% of Franklin County residents moved into their homes in or after the year 2000. By comparison, 58.1% of Missourians have lived in their homes for 10 or fewer years.
The median value of homes in Franklin County is greater than the Missouri median for home values. The median value for owner-occupied homes in Franklin County is $147,200 as compared to the state median value of $137,700.
Affordability of Housing
Affordable housing is generally defined as housing that costs no more than 30% of a household’s income. In the 2010 Census, about 71.3% of the county’s owner-occupied homes and about 88.5% of rental properties would be considered affordable, according to this definition. Compared with the 2000 Census, housing has become less affordable during the past decade. The percentage of unaffordable rental units increased from 5.7% to 11.6% and the percentage of unaffordable owner-occupied homes increased from 18.2% to 28.8%. These numbers are very similar to the state average for Missouri, indicating that Franklin County is about as affordable as the average county in Missouri.
The housing market overall is still balanced; however it is becoming less so. According to the 2000 data, a family making the median household income would easily be able to afford the median mortgaged home cost, which would be about 23% of their income. According to the 2010 estimate, the percentage of median household income consumed by the median mortgaged home cost has increased to 28.5%. While this is a larger percentage of the household income, it would still be considered affordable.
Housing Condition
According to data from the Franklin County Assessor’s Office, there are 32,376 buildings in Franklin County that are being assessed as residential. 15.2% of all residential structures are mobile homes and 78.7% are single-family, traditional construction homes. For both types of housing, most homes are considered to be in normal condition – 79.7% of mobile homes and 68.7% of traditionally constructed homes. About 8% of traditionally constructed homes are considered to be above normal to excellent as compared to only 0.5% for mobile homes.
Housing and Neighborhoods Goals and Objectives
Goal 1: Encourage a variety of housing developments that meet the needs of all segments of the population.
Promote housing that is affordable to meet residential needs.
Encourage the development of a variety of housing types.
Goal 2: Strive to address problems that reduce quality of life for County residents.
Reduce the number of unsightly properties in the County through enhanced enforcement of existing codes and regulations and additional resources.
Work with the Board of Realtors to help provide information and support to private subdivision trustees to the extent possible.
Strive to address neighborhood safety and public safety concerns.
Transportation
Part One: Summary, Goals, and Objectives
Overview of Existing Conditions
Franklin County has approximately 2561 miles of active roads, highways, and streets. Of these, 547 miles are maintained by the state and 875 are maintained by the county highway department or area road districts. In addition, a significant amount of miles (808) are maintained privately by landowners or homeowners’ associations.
The roads that carry the most traffic tend to be the state-maintained numbered routes, as well as the interstate. Interstate 44 starts in St. Louis and passes through Pacific, St. Clair, and Sullivan, before continuing southwest through Missouri and Oklahoma. Interstate 44 has more traffic than any other road in Franklin County (30,000 to 50,000 vehicles per day). Highway 100 is an east-west route that travels through the northern portion of the county, passing through Washington and New Haven. Highway 50 is an east-west route that travels through the central portion of the county; it passes through Union and Gerald and ultimately travels to Jefferson City. Highway 30 is the major east-west route in the southeastern portion of the county, connecting Jefferson County with I-44 at St. Clair. The major north-south routes in Franklin County include Highway 47 which connects the major population centers of Washington, Union, and St. Clair. Highway 185 is a north-south route that connects the City of Sullivan with Highway 100. Additional state-maintained letter routes and locally maintained county roads provide routes from the major road corridors to local destinations. Ways to improve and maintain a safe and efficient system of roadways in the county can be found in the Franklin County Long Range Transportation Plan.
Of the roads maintained by the county, approximately 684 miles of roads are paved and approximately 140 miles are gravel. The County Highway Department plans to continue paving (asphalt or chip and seal) gravel county roads with funding from a capital sales tax. Approximately 135 miles of county roads have been hard-surfaced since 2007. It is the goal of the county to pave all of the county-maintained roads, except those located in the river bottoms.
Residents of Franklin County are highly dependent on roads for transportation within the county. According to the 2010 American Community Survey, 98.9% of households have at least one car. According to the same survey, 82.8% of residents drove alone to work, 12.4% carpooled, and just 1.4% walked. This is fairly typical for a rural area and indicates the importance of a well-planned and maintained road network.
There are three main railroad tracks that traverse Franklin County. Two lines are active in their entirety and are owned by large freight railroad companies. Union Pacific owns a railroad line at the north end of the county, Burlington Northern Santa Fe owns a railroad line that starts in the north east and travels to the southwest parts of the county, and Missouri Central Railroad Company owns a line that comes from the extreme northeast corner of the county and passes through the central part of the county, but is only active east of Union. Currently there are no plans to open the inactive portion of the line west of Union and while this decreases industrial transportation options in communities such as Beaufort, Leslie, and Gerald, this also creates an opportunity for a potential “rails to trails” path for bikers and walkers as referenced in the Franklin County Bikeable Walkable Plan of May 2011. Amtrak runs the only passenger train that travels through Franklin County. The route, known as the Missouri River Runner, goes from St. Louis to Kansas City with stops in Washington, Hermann, Jefferson City, and other Missouri cities. Each day four trains stop in Washington, two eastbound and two westbound. Amtrak uses the tracks owned by the Union Pacific Railroad.
The Missouri River makes up the northern border of Franklin County, giving the county a large amount of riverfront on a major river; however there are no public ports in Franklin County. Franklin County does not currently have a port authority that would manage and fund any public ports in the county.
According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, two private ports are currently operating on the Missouri
River in Franklin County, one in Washington and one in New Haven. The opportunity exists for greater use of the Missouri River for transportation of goods to and from the county.
Currently there are two organizations that provide limited bus services in Franklin County – OATS and the Franklin County Transportation Council. OATS is a non-profit organization that transports Franklin County citizens pursuant to a contract. They provide transportation to senior centers, hospitals and health clinics, and other locations. There are set times and routes for OATS buses. The
Franklin County Transportation Council is a non-profit organization that provides services for the handicapped and others with special transportation needs. They work with the Missouri Department of Mental Health and other organizations to provide transportation for various day programs and sheltered workshops for the handicapped, among other services. OATS and FCTC mostly travel inside Franklin County except for a few trips to St. Louis for medical needs. These organizations provide a valuable service to a limited number of Franklin County residents, but they are currently not equipped to provide for the general transportation needs of most county residents.
Franklin County has three public airports – Washington Regional, St. Clair Regional, and Sullivan Regional. The Washington Regional Airport is owned by the City of Washington and has one runway which is 5,000 feet in length and has an average of 59 aircraft operations per day. The Sullivan Regional Airport is owned by the City of Sullivan and has one runway which is 4,500 feet in length and has an average of 39 aircraft operations per day. The St. Clair Regional Airport is owned by the City of St. Clair and has one runway which has been reported as being 3,198 feet in length. In 2010, the City of St. Clair announced that it would pursue closing its airport, but this has not yet been finalized.
Transportation Goals and Objectives
Goal 1: Provide for an efficient County road and bridge infrastructure to facilitate the safe and efficient movement of people and goods.
Examine current road conditions as well as current maintenance practices and upgrade or enhance whenever needed as established in RSMo. 61.091.
Continue to create mid-range and long-range plans that will improve safety and connectivity.
Ensure that new subdivision roads and pedestrian facilities are designed in such a way to provide long life and maximize safety and connectivity.
Goal 2: Consider and plan for the usage of alternative transportation modes such as bicycles, public transportation, rail and, waterways.
Continue planning for public transportation in Franklin County.
Support alternative modes of commercial transportation, including use of railroads, waterways and air transportation.
Stormwater and Water Resources
Part One: Summary, Goals, and Objectives
Overview of Existing Conditions
Franklin County includes three of Missouri’s major rivers – the Missouri, Meramec, and Bourbeuse Rivers. Each of these three rivers has a watershed within the County.
The Missouri River forms the northern border of Franklin County. Much of the river has been channelized in Iowa and Missouri and it is heavily used for barges and other commercial navigation. The channel is generally nine feet deep and about 1,000 feet wide through the state of Missouri. The portion of the Missouri River that passes through Franklin County has been listed as impaired in 2010 by the EPA due to the presence of bacteria. There are an additional 7.5 miles of tributary streams in this watershed listed as impaired, but none of these lie in Franklin County.
The Bourbeuse River is one of the main tributaries that flow into the Meramec River. The Bourbeuse has a fairly low gradient for an Ozark stream, dropping 2.4 feet for every mile. Streams with low gradients tend to move slowly and be very sinuous, and the Bourbeuse is no exception. The river runs for over 100 miles in Franklin County; however the distance between those points is only 27 miles. The river generally has a good diversity of fish and other aquatic life. The Bourbeuse watershed has historically been considered fairly healthy and clean; however, the Bourbeuse River itself was identified as having unacceptable levels of Mercury in 2002, 2008, and has again been listed as impaired in 2010. An additional water body within this watershed in Franklin County was also listed as being impaired due to mercury in 2010 – Foxboro Lake near Gerald.
The Meramec River is one of the longer rivers in Missouri, flowing for 220 miles through the Ozarks and emptying into the Mississippi River just south of St. Louis. In Franklin Co, the Meramec River runs for over 60 miles; the straight line distance between those points is 27 miles. The Meramec is a popular recreation destination and fish and aquatic diversity has generally been considered good in the Meramec River, but some mussel species are declining, probably due to habitat disturbance. The portion of the Meramec River that flows through Franklin and Jefferson counties was identified as impaired in 2010 due to higher than acceptable levels of mercury. Additional tributaries in the Meramec River watershed were also defined as being impaired in 2010, but none of these lie in Franklin County.
The Big River, itself does not flow into Franklin County, but a small portion of the Big River watershed lies in the County. None of the water bodies in Franklin County’s portion of this watershed are listed as impaired.
Many tributaries feed into the Meramec, Missouri, and Bourbeuse Rivers and add to Franklin County’s water resources. The County has approximately 1550 total miles of streams, including the Bourbeuse and Meramec Rivers. About 450 miles of streams have permanent flow and 1100 miles have intermittent or unknown flow. These water resources are located throughout the county.
Franklin County has a significant number of fairly large lakes. Fifty-one of the County’s lakes are over 10 acres in size. Lake Serene is the largest lake in Franklin County, covering about 58 acres. Lake Serene is in the middle of a large subdivision. The second largest lake in the County, Port Hudson, is located on a Conservation Area and is open to the public. The locations of the other lakes are spread throughout the county with no area having a disproportionate number of large lakes.
Approximately 14% of the County lies within a 100-year floodplain. The floodplain next to the Missouri River is very wide – over 2 miles wide in some areas. Additionally, significant acres of floodplains are located along the Meramec, Bourbeuse and their tributaries, especially Boeuf and St. Johns creeks.
Stormwater Regulations
The majority of the municipalities in Franklin County as well as the County itself have stormwater regulations in place. The City of Washington is currently the only community in the County that must comply with the EPA’s Stormwater Phase II Final Rule. Because of these requirements, Washington has completed a Stormwater Management Master Plan.
Groundwater contamination
Two Superfund sites have been designated in Franklin County due to groundwater contamination. One of these areas lies in and around the City of New Haven and the other lies in Oak Grove Village. The Oak Grove Village well has had high levels of tricholoethylene (TCE) since 1986 from an undefined groundwater plume. TCE has also been detected in other wells within a three mile radius. The New Haven area has a groundwater contaminant plume as well as contaminated soil. The principal contaminant is tetrachloroethylene (PCE), which was used for industrial activities by many entities in New Haven.
An additional pollutant that can be found in the groundwater in certain areas is Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE). This substance was used as an additive to gasoline until about 2005. Private wells in Catawissa, Villa Ridge, and St. Clair have been found to be contaminated with MTBE.
Stormwater and Water Resources Goals and Objectives
Goal: Minimize the negative effects of erosion, flooding, and pollution runoff on county water resources and properties.
Consider stormwater management as a regional issue (countywide) with cooperative involvement of municipalities.
Minimize the impact of new development on streams, wetlands, and floodplains. Franklin County has already passed stormwater management regulations. Please refer to the Franklin County Unified Land Use Regulations
Minimize ground contaminants to protect water resources.
Utilities and Infrastructure
Part One: Summary, Goals, and Objectives
Overview of Existing Conditions
Sewer Systems
The County’s incorporated cities each have sewer systems. This includes St. Clair, Sullivan, Oak Grove (served by Sullivan), Pacific, Berger, New Haven, Union, Washington, Gerald, and Leslie. In addition, there are several rural public sewer districts, as shown in the following table.
Public Water Supply District (PWSD) #1 (supplies sewer and water)
Area Served = Krakow and other areas between Union and Washington
Approximate Capacity = 3,000
Public Water Supply District (PWSD) #3 (supplies sewer and water)
Area Served = Northeastern section of the county (largest of the rural districts)
Approximate Capacity = 7,906
Gray Summit Sewer District
Area Served = Gray Summit
Approximate Capacity = 324
Calvey Creek Sewer District
Area Served = Calvey Creek area (southwest of Pacific, around Catawissa and Robertsville)
Approximate Capacity = 2,590
Brush Creek Sewer District
Area Served = Areas west of Pacific and around Gray Summit
Approximate Capacity = Wastewater treated by Pacific
St. Albans Water and Sewer Authority
Area Served = St. Albans community (northeast)
Approximate Capacity = Wastewater treated by PWSD #3
Labadie Sewer District
Area Served = Labadie community
Approximate Capacity = 740
In addition to the public sewer districts, three independent sewer districts in the County serve about 700 residents in specific subdivisions and are not identified as public districts. Many of the County’s sewer systems that were designed to serve single subdivisions have been turned over to PWSD #1 and #3 for management. In addition, there are 49 sewer systems in Franklin County that serve single subdivisions, mobile home parks, or apartment buildings and are owned either by a private individual or company or by a subdivision association. Because of their size, these systems are not classified as sewer districts.
Altogether, the county’s public sewer systems have the capacity to serve over 125,000 people. Over 86% of this public capacity is from the county’s municipal sewer systems. In addition, the Franklin County Building Department estimates that there are between 14,500 and 15,000 private on-site septic systems in Franklin County.
Drinking Water
Community water systems serve several of the County’s municipalities – Pacific, Sullivan, St. Clair, Union, Washington, Berger, New Haven, Gerald, Oak Grove Village, and Miramiguoa Park. There are four rural community water districts, as shown in the following table.
Public Water Supply District (PWSD) #1 (supplies sewer and water)
Area Served = Krakow and other areas between Union and Washington
Approximate Capacity = 3280
Public Water Supply District (PWSD) #3 (supplies sewer and water)
Area Served = Northeastern section of the county (largest of the rural water/sewer districts, also oversees the St. Albans Water and Sewer Authority)
Approximate Capacity = 7300
Public Water Supply District (PWSD)#4 (supplies water only)
Area Served = Beaufort and Leslie areas in the central-western part of the County
Approximate Capacity = 760
In addition, there are 28 independent community water systems, mostly serving subdivisions and mobile home parks. The largest community system is run by the Franklin County Water Co, Inc. and serves about 300 persons in the Lake St. Clair Subdivision; however most of these water systems serve fewer than 100. The total number of persons served by these community water systems is 2509.
Telephone and Communications
The majority of Franklin County residents receive telephone service from AT&T Southwest. Fidelity Communications, based in Sullivan, provides telephone service to parts of western Franklin County, including the areas of Sullivan, Stanton, Gerald, New Haven, and Berger. In addition, Charter Communications offers telephone services to customers in Union and Washington, as well as some areas in between.
High-speed internet is generally available in the area served by Fidelity Communications, both in the incorporated and unincorporated areas. The area served by AT&T Southwest only has high-speed internet/DSL in certain incorporated cities, including Union, St. Clair, Washington, and Pacific, and areas that are located within three miles of AT&T offices, including Gray Summit and Beaufort. Charter Communications offers high-speed internet service to its customers in Union, Washington, and has been expanding to other areas outside of those cities, including some rural areas. Other rural residents may have access to satellite, wireless, or mobile internet services.
There are currently about 60 communications towers in Franklin County. Because of the topography of the county, many towers are necessary in order to provide adequate cellular phone coverage. Early in 2010, the county approved a plan that would allow seven 500-foot towers throughout the county. These 500-foot towers were recommended by a region-wide land mobile communications plan developed by East-West Gateway. These towers would improve communication among law enforcement and rescue agencies and replace many of the shorter towers in the county, resulting in fewer towers overall. One 500-foot tower has already been erected between Union and Washington, replacing a 360 foot tower.
Other Utilities
The rural areas of Franklin County are served by three different electric companies – Ameren, Crawford Electric, and Three Rivers Electric. Ameren has the largest territory and serves the eastern and central portions of Franklin County, including Union and St. Clair, as well as the southeastern portion of the county, including the Lonedell and Luebbering areas. In addition, they serve part of the northwestern part of the county, including New Haven and Berger. The Crawford Electric Cooperative serves the southern and southwestern portions of the county, including Stanton, as well as portions of the central corridor along Highway 50. The Three Rivers Electric Cooperative serves parts of the rural northwestern portion of the county. Together, these electric providers cover all of Franklin County with the exception of Sullivan, which has its own municipal electric service.
Natural gas is provided to portions of Franklin County by Missouri Natural Gas, which is owned by Laclede Gas. Gas service is available in the cities of Pacific, Washington, Union, St. Clair, Sullivan, and parts of Labadie and St. Albans. New Haven operates its own natural gas utility, which serves both New Haven and Berger. Natural gas service is not available throughout most of rural Franklin County. Most municipalities are covered with the exception of Gerald and the Village of Leslie.
Utilities and Infrastructure Goals and Objectives
Goal 1: Promote adequate public water and sewer services.
Increase discussion and facilitate coordination among water districts and sewer districts.
Encourage sound development practices as they relate to public water and sanitary sewer services.
Encourage the use of water systems for fire protection.
Promote maintenance of sewer and septic systems.
Goal 2: Plan for adequate electrical service to be provided to all developments now and in the future.
Coordinate with providers to develop plans for energy services and public utility facilities for the long term energy needs of Franklin County.
Ensure that electric utility providers are included in the new subdivision development process and are aware of local regulations.
Promote conservation of energy, especially in facilities with lower overall energy needs.
Goal 3: Encourage internet service throughout the County.
Encourage internet service providers to supply Franklin County with the most appropriate level and highest band width of internet service available that corresponds to the needs of the County.
Solid Waste
Part One: Summary, Goals, and Objectives
Overview of Existing Conditions
Each of the major municipalities in Franklin County either provides or coordinates trash pickup within their cities. Most of the cities also offer curbside recycling programs.
The only solid waste facility in Franklin County is the Struckhoff Sanitary Landfill in Washington. The landfill is permitted by the Department of Natural Resources for 35 acres, but only 25 acres are currently in use.
Residents of the unincorporated county are generally responsible for hiring a trash pickup service for their individual households. In circumstances where there is a large subdivision with an active homeowners’ association, a trash pickup service may be coordinated through the subdivision. There is no coordinated system for removal of trash from Franklin County roads and fields and no regulations regarding how trash pickup should be conducted.
Franklin County has a small number of private recycling collectors, but these appear to only accept metals. These facilities are located in and around the cities of Washington and Union.
Franklin County is part of the East Central Solid Waste District (Region I) along with Lincoln, Montgomery, and Warren Counties. This District provides grants for solid-waste related projects, including recycling services and tire removal and re-use. The District has recently opened a recycling center in Warren County to the south of Warrenton for the use of residents of the district. This facility accepts a wide variety of recyclable materials, including paper, plastics, glass, metals, and electronics. Hazardous waste collection events may also be sponsored through this facility. In addition, there is an opportunity to station recycling trailers at various locations throughout Franklin County.
Solid Waste Goals and Objectives
Goal: Ensure waste is managed in order to keep Franklin County clean.
Coordinate the private service system as much as possible to minimize the wear and tear on the roads.
Increase recycling opportunities and provide information about existing recycling opportunities to County residents.
Economic Development
Part One: Summary, Goals, and Objectives
Overview of Existing Conditions
Located only 40 miles west of downtown St. Louis, Franklin County is a prime place for business development. The County has a 2010 median household income of $49,120 compared to the state which has a median household income of $46,262. Franklin County is a pro-growth county and prime for business development. The county has access to Interstate 44 and major state highways including highways 100, 47, 50, 185 and 30. Other added benefits to Franklin County are the access to rail, air and even water transportation.
There are three main railroad tracks that traverse Franklin County. Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe are active in their entirety and are owned by large freight railroad companies. The third line, Missouri Central Railroad Company, is active from the eastern end of the county through the City of Union. The Missouri Central Railroad is owned by Ameren, which also owns a railroad spur that connects the Labadie Power Plant to both the Missouri Central and Union Pacific tracks. Amtrak runs the only passenger train that travels through Franklin County. The route, known as the Missouri River Runner, goes from St. Louis to Kansas City with stops in Washington, Hermann, Jefferson City, and other Missouri cities. Each day four trains stop in Washington, two eastbound and two westbound. Amtrak uses the tracks owned by the Union Pacific Railroad.
Franklin County has two regional airports – Washington Regional and Sullivan Regional. The Washington Regional Airport is owned by the City of Washington, but located about 2.5 miles north of Washington in Warren County. The airport has one runway which is 5,000 feet in length and has an average of 59 aircraft operations per day. The City of Washington, FAA, and MoDOT have agreed to do a project to reconstruct the airport’s taxilane and apron. The Sullivan Regional Airport is owned by the City of Sullivan and is located on the north side of the city. It has one runway which is 4,500 feet in length and has an average of 39 aircraft operations per day.
Franklin County houses 3 major rivers; the Missouri River, the Meramec River and the Bourbeuse River. The largest of these is the Missouri River which makes up the northern border of Franklin County, giving the county a large amount of riverfront on a major river. As of 2010, there are no public ports in Franklin County. Franklin County does not currently have a port authority that would manage and fund any public ports in the county. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, two private ports are currently operating on the Missouri River in Franklin County, one in Washington and one in New Haven. The opportunity exists for greater use of the Missouri River for transportation of goods to and from the county.
Manufacturing and educational/health care/social assistance are the dominant industries in Franklin County. According to the 2010 census, manufacturing makes up 21.6% of the jobs in Franklin County. Educational and health care and social assistance are not too far behind manufacturing with 19.2% of the jobs in Franklin County. Table 4 illustrates the largest employers in Franklin County in 2010.
Largest Employers in Franklin County per local data
Mercy
Industry = Healthcare
Employment = 1,268
Parker Hannifan – Sporlan Valve Division
Industry = Manufacturing
Employment = 1,087
Washington School District
Industry = Education
Employment = 529
CG Power Systems USA, Inc.
Industry = Manufacturing
Employment = 450
Union School District
Industry = Education
Employment = 384
St. Clair School District
Industry = Education
Employment = 375
Aerofil Technology
Industry = Manufacturing
Employment = 370
Esselte
Industry = Manufacturing
Employment = 361
Wal-Mart
Industry = Retail
Employment = 350
Franklin County
Industry = Government
Employment = 340
Economic Development Goals and Objectives
Goal 1 Strive for a diverse economy, with a focus on sectors that create jobs and boost the economy, including manufacturing, health care, transportation, logistics and retail.
Work to create more job opportunities by targeting growing sectors and supporting new and existing businesses.
Strive to further develop the quality of the Franklin County workforce.
Provide the leadership necessary to advance the economic development of Franklin County and to promote cooperation between cities within Franklin County.
Increase tourism in Franklin County through cooperation with cities, chambers, private and not-for-profit organizations.
Goal 2 Promote multi-modes of transportation for the movement of Franklin County’s workforce and the delivery of goods for all industries.
Highways, Roads and Bridges
Rail
Waterways
Air
Bike and Pedestrian Facilities
Public Transportation
Part Two: Implementation Strategy
Land Use
Part Two: Implementation Strategy
Goal 1: Encourage planned, supportable growth in the county.
Objective 1: Encourage orderly, higher density developments in defined corridors and near public infrastructure.
Strategy 1. Update the zoning map and regulations to allow higher density residential development in areas that are supported by public infrastructure, using the Future Land Use Map as a guide.
Strategy 2. Adopt an overall strategy in which the highest density areas are located near the cities and other developed areas. The density then decreases as you move further away from the developed areas.
Strategy 3. Work with unincorporated communities in Franklin County (i.e. Gray Summit, Labadie) to prepare land use plans that will best support their growth and development.
Objective 2: Encourage lower intensity development in areas without infrastructure and that have factors that make development challenging.
Strategy 1. Ensure that areas with difficult topography and areas of 100 year floodplain are zoned for lower density development whenever practical, while also taking into consideration the Future Land Use Map.
Strategy 2. Provide education about cluster development to potential developers, especially when their property includes floodplain or other factors that could limit development.
Goal 2: Encourage a variety of land uses throughout the county.
Objective 1. Encourage a variety of residential uses.
Strategy 1. Provide residential zoning districts that allow for lower-density and higher-density residential development.
Strategy 2. Establish a separate zoning district for mobile home communities.
Strategy 3. Ensure that multi-family developments are allowed in higher density zoning districts.
Objective 2: Encourage the growth of new and existing commercial and industrial uses through zoning.
Strategy 1. Allow and encourage large shopping centers, big-box stores and other major commercial developments near major intersections, along major transportation corridors and in other areas designated as commercial on the Future Land Use map.
Strategy 2. Allow and encourage smaller retail stores and shopping centers, and other small businesses in appropriate areas that lie near residential areas and are designated as commercial on the Future Land Use map.
Strategy 3. Allow and encourage industrial development in appropriate areas, as designated on the Future Land Use map.
Strategy 4. Allow home occupations for lower impact uses. The property should not generate much traffic and should continue to look residential.
Goal 3: Ensure contiguous land uses are compatible.
Objective 1: Ensure new developments minimize conflict with existing residential or agricultural activities.
Strategy 1. Recommend that subdivision covenants and restrictions state the existing and adjacent zoning districts to notify residents that they are in or near agricultural zoning or other zoning districts.
Strategy 2. Require new industrial, commercial or high density developments to create a buffer between any permitted agricultural use.
Objective 2. Encourage commercial and industrial developments to be attractive, site-appropriate, and compatible with surrounding uses.
Strategy 1. Ensure that any changes in zoning are done for the benefit of the citizens of Franklin County and in accordance with the Master Plan.
Strategy 2. Examine current buffering requirements to ensure that new commercial/industrial developments provide adequate buffers between differing uses.
Strategy 3. Consider reducing Conditional Use Permits in certain zoning districts, especially those with higher density residential uses.
Strategy 4. Promote the reasonable use of landscaping treatments, appropriate signage, and pedestrian facilities in commercial, industrial and retail centers.
Strategy 5. Develop a plan for on-site signage and lighting standards for substantial commercial and industrial properties. Research these types of standards in the incorporated areas within the county, making sure that the county standards do not exceed those of the cities.
Agriculture
Part Two: Implementation Strategy
Goal: Encourage agriculture in Franklin County.
Objective 1. Ensure that county regulations support agriculture and do not add unnecessary burdens to farm operators.
Strategy 1. Enable sales of farmed goods with minimal regulations. Enable and encourage farmers’ markets in appropriate areas (i.e. wave permit fee for markets selling primarily local produce).
Strategy 2. Meet with farmers and farming organizations to create an open dialogue to discuss the needs of farmers, farming concerns, and if there are any ways the County could provide more support.
Strategy 3. Consider creating a sample list of uses that can be done on a farm without a permit.
Objective 2. Support agriculture through community projects and plans.
Strategy 1. Include agriculture when developing economic development plans for Franklin County.
Strategy 2. Work with federal, state and local agencies to educate residents about farming operations in Franklin County.
Housing
Part Two: Implementation Strategy
Goal 1: Encourage a variety of housing developments that meet the needs of all segments of the population.
Objective 1. Promote housing that is affordable to meet residential needs.
Strategy 1. Encourage the development of housing in all price ranges.
Strategy 2. Ensure that zoning allows for mobile homes, mobile home communities and multi-family developments to be placed in appropriate areas.
Objective 2. Encourage the development of a variety of housing types.
Strategy 1. Ensure that apartments, condominiums, assisted-living and nursing home facilities are allowed in higher-density zoning districts.
Strategy 2. Encourage the use of PUD and Cluster developments to provide housing options for those of all income levels.
Goal 2: Strive to address problems that reduce quality of life for County residents.
Objective 1. Reduce the number of unsightly properties in the County through enhanced enforcement of existing codes and regulations, and additional resources.
Strategy 1. Continue the current policy of issuing criminal charges against code violators who are not responsive to requests to address violations on their properties.
Strategy 2. Review the procedure by which violations are reported. Identify ways this could be improved.
Strategy 3. Work to establish a county court, which would enable the county to assess fines against code violators.
Strategy 4. Enhance Appendix K of the Franklin County Land Use Regulations to provide better definitions and information about county code violations.
Strategy 5. Strive to educate residents about property maintenance requirements and provide resources to help potential violators (i.e. provide information about where to recycle/ dispose of large appliances, electronics, and derelict vehicles).
Strategy 6. Consider hosting one-day events to collect items that are difficult to dispose of, such as tires, appliances and electronics, to provide resources to those with excessive rubbish.
Strategy 7. Review the regulations and consider updating and clarifying the regulations regarding mobile homes (i.e. where they should be allowed, what types should be allowed, how they should be set up and maintained, etc.).
Objective 2. Work with the Board of Realtors to provide information and support to private subdivision trustees to the extent possible.
Strategy 1. Work with the Board of Realtors to help to educate subdivision trustees through workshops and other information.
Strategy 2. Educate subdivision residents, through the Board of Realtors, (as well as law enforcement personnel) about issues that can or can’t be enforced in private subdivisions.
Objective 3. Strive to address neighborhood safety and aesthetic concerns of the County.
Strategy 1. Enforce existing sign regulations.
Strategy 2. Provide education to neighborhoods about funding tools, such as Community Improvement Districts, Neighborhood Improvement Districts, and other similar programs. Provide support when an appropriate district plan is proposed.
Strategy 3. Consider working with cities to develop a countywide parks system when money becomes available.
Transportation
Part Two: Implementation Strategy
Goal 1: Provide for an efficient County road and bridge infrastructure to facilitate the safe and efficient movement of people and goods.
Objective 1: Examine current road conditions as well as current maintenance practices and upgrade or enhance wherever needed as established in RSMo 61.091.
Strategy 1. Study all County roads to identify needed improvements as they relate to existing conditions and projected development activity; develop a priority listing of gravel roads which should be hard-surfaced, consistent with increase usage and projected demand; identify roads which, though already hard-surfaced, require safety improvements.
Strategy 2. Continue to conduct bridge and culvert inventories, with the assistance of MoDOT, to ascertain which structures may need upgrading, maintenance, or replacement.
Strategy 3. Continue maintaining and improving county roads based on maintenance and funding available.
Strategy 4. Design selected arterial roads, as listed on the Franklin County Transportation Map, to include breakdown shoulders, which improve traffic safety flows, reduce maintenance costs and are useful for bicycles.
Strategy 5. Collect and compile data regarding existing county roads. Create a database that can be shared throughout departments.
Objective 2: Continue to create mid-range and long-range plans that will improve safety and connectivity.
Strategy 1. Continue to review the Franklin County Long Range Transportation Plan and amend as conditions warrant.
Strategy 2. Develop a five-year capital improvement plan with cost estimates, which addresses anticipated needs. Create a budget for the five-year plan. Regularly update the five-year plan.
Strategy 3. Work with the Franklin County Highway Department and other applicable agencies on upgrading function classification of county roads, as designated by the Franklin County Transportation Classification map, to assist with future planning and connectivity.
Objective 3: Ensure that new subdivision roads and pedestrian facilities are designed in such a way to provide long life and maximize safety and connectivity.
Strategy 1. Examine the standards for the construction of roads and bridges in new developments and ensure that they meet or exceed acceptable engineering design standards.
Strategy 2. Promote the development of sidewalks in and adjacent to commercial and retail areas.
Strategy 3. Encourage the use of street grids, curing grids and interconnecting street in subdivisions, and discourage the use of cul-de-sacs which do not provide for efficient automobile movement.
Strategy 4. In developments where there are cul-de-sacs, encourage pedestrian movement through cul-de-sacs to adjacent streets.
Goal 2: Consider and plan for the usage of alternative transportation modes such as bicycles, public transportation, rail and waterways.
Objective 1. Continue looking into public transportation for Franklin County
Strategy 1. Continue to review the goals and objectives of the Franklin County Bikeable Walkable Plan and amend as conditions warrant
Strategy 2. Research other rural communities that have established local bus (or taxi) systems and consider whether a similar system would work for the more populated areas in Franklin County.
Strategy 3. Consult with area employers to determine how a bus (or taxi) system would help get people to work.
Strategy 4. Encourage the development of a private industry that would provide transportation for a fee. Consider a collaboration to develop a public-private transportation system.
Strategy 5. Stay informed about regional public transportation planning, especially plans to extend commuter rail or other transportation services to areas in or near Franklin County.
Objective 2: Support alternate modes of commercial transportation, including use of railroads, waterways and air transportation.
Strategy 1. Continue to review the goals and objectives of the Franklin County Bikeable Walkable Plan and amend as conditions warrant
Strategy 2. Update the zoning map to ensure that industrial and commercial development is allowed near rail corridors and the Missouri River, whenever appropriate.
Strategy 3. Encourage the continued operation of existing rail corridors and encourage renewed use of inactive corridors, wherever feasible.
Strategy 4. Investigate the feasibility of establishing a Port Authority in Franklin County.
Stormwater and Water Resources
Part Two: Implementation Strategy
Goal: Minimize the negative effects of erosion, flooding, and pollution runoff on county water resources and properties.
Objective 1: Consider stormwater management as a regional issue (countywide) with cooperative involvement of municipalities.
Strategy 1. Identify watersheds (and/or subwatersheds) in Franklin County with higher levels of development or known stormwater problems. Consider developing committees for the identified watersheds (or subwatersheds) to promote watershed plans.
Strategy 2. Meet with municipalities to promote consistent stormwater regulations countywide.
Strategy 3. Examine known regional flooding problems and work with appropriate agencies to explore possible solutions.
Strategy 4. Investigate sources of funds that can be used for stormwater-related projects.
Objective 2: Minimize the impact of new development on streams, wetlands, and floodplains. Franklin County has already passed stormwater management regulations. Please refer to the Franklin County Unified Land Use Regulations.
Strategy 1. Work with the EPA and MoDNR with regard to development within floodplains and wetlands .
Strategy 2. Encourage higher density developments, commercial developments and industrial developments to incorporate natural features and to use techniques that reduce the total amount of impervious surface.
Strategy 3. Review the current stormwater regulations for new developments. Determine whether the regulations or review process should change.
Strategy 4. Consider low impact development strategies for stormwater management and erosion control. Determine which, if any, of these should be allowed and/or encouraged in Franklin County. Include this in the county’s stormwater management regulations.
Objective 3: Minimize ground contaminants to protect water resources.
Strategy 1. Utilize the Franklin County Health Department and other agencies to continue to identify and monitor active septic systems on a complaint basis.
Strategy 2. Ensure that new individual septic systems for new developments are properly installed and certified.
Strategy 3. Ensure that new private treatment systems, not a part of a public system, for new developments are properly installed and certified.
Utilities and Infrastructure
Part Two: Implementation Strategy
Goal 1: Encourage adequate public water and sewer services.
Objective 1: Increase discussion and facilitate coordination among water districts and sewer districts.
Strategy 1. Form an Infrastructure Committee comprised of sewer and water districts and city and county infrastructure staff to discuss infrastructure activities and increase cooperation among entities.
Strategy 2. Ensure that Franklin County has accurate and current GIS maps regarding sewer and water lines, sewer and water district boundaries, and watersheds.
Strategy 3. Coordinate with East-West Gateway and existing water and sewer districts to update boundaries and responsibilities regarding the Section 208 water management districts.
Strategy 4. Encourage formal intergovernmental agreements between the water districts, sewer districts, and municipalities dealing with water and sewer service issues and maintenance.
Strategy 5. Encourage the formation of more sewer and water districts in Franklin County.
Objective 2: Encourage sound development practices as they relate to public water and sanitary sewer services.
Strategy 1. Continue to review the Franklin County Land Use Regulations regarding sewer and water facilities to ensure regulations are meeting current needs. Discuss with Infrastructure Committee and determine if changes should be made.
Strategy 2. Revise the County’s land use regulations to encourage higher density land use around existing urban service areas, where new development can be served by extensions of existing water and sewer service areas.
Strategy 3. Adopt a formal review process whereby plans for new sewer and water systems must be approved by the County prior to approval of a final plat.
Strategy 4. Require developers to submit plans to the County showing sewage collection and treatment facilities, as well as water supply facilities, for all new developments. Documentation includes engineering reports, design plans, testing information, etc.
Objective 3: Encourage the use of water systems for fire protection.
Strategy 1. Require developers to submit fire flow capacity, as provided by the water district, that addresses fire districts requirements or county regulations as applicable.
Strategy 2. Revise the County’s land use regulations to develop higher density land use around existing urban service areas, where existing infrastructure is more capable of being upgraded to meet fire flow requirements.
Objective 4: Encourage maintenance of sewer and septic systems.
Strategy 1. Develop a list of homeowner’s associations, developers and others that maintain small sewer/water systems. Determine contact person for sewer/water issues.
Strategy 2. Utilize the Health Department and other local agencies to continue to identify and monitor active septic systems on a complaint basis.
Goal 2: Plan for adequate electrical service to be provided to all developments now and in the future.
Objective 1. Coordinate with providers to develop plans for energy services and public utility facilities for the long term energy needs of Franklin County.
Strategy 1. Create a good GIS map that shows which electrical service provider serves each parcel.
Strategy 2. Work with electric utility providers to ensure that areas targeted for commercial or industrial development have adequate electrical infrastructure.
Strategy 3. Ensure that high intensity electricity users locate in areas where the electrical infrastructure can support them.
Strategy 4. Establish better communication between electricity providers and government entities. This will enable both electrical providers and government to communicate information about upcoming projects and concerns, which will, in turn, promote better planning.
Objective 2. Ensure that electric utility providers are included in the new subdivision development process and are aware of local regulations.
Strategy 1. Seek input from electric companies about proposed new developments.
Strategy 2. Promote the use of underground electric lines whenever practical. Review current regulations and discuss with electric utility providers to devise consistent standards.
Objective 3. Promote conservation of energy, especially in facilities with lower overall energy needs.
Strategy 1. Reduce energy consumption in government facilities. Adopt and implement guidelines for energy conservation in public buildings.
Strategy 2. Encourage the reduction of energy consumption by residential, commercial, and industrial users, whenever possible. Coordinate educational programs with electric utility providers.
Strategy 3. Develop regulations for the use of solar panels and windmills, as well as other alternative energy sources. Regulations should encourage the use of alternative energy, but ensure that it does not create eyesores or safety hazards.
Goal 3: Encourage internet service throughout the county.
Objective 1: Encourage internet service providers to supply Franklin County with the most appropriate level and highest band width of internet service available that corresponds to the needs of the County.
Strategy 1: Coordinate land use planning with internet service providers such that areas that are targeted for business are likely to have broadband internet service that will meet their needs.
Strategy 2: Keep informed about the Missouri Broadband Now project, which is working to expand broadband coverage into rural Missouri areas.
Solid Waste
Part Two: Implementation Strategy
Goal: Ensure waste is managed in order to keep Franklin County clean.
Objective 1: Coordinate the private service system as much as possible to minimize the wear and tear on the roads.
Strategy 1. Encourage private ownership of transfer stations to serve the future needs of the citizens of Franklin County.
Objective 2: Increase recycling opportunities and provide information about existing recycling opportunities to County residents.
Strategy 1. Provide information on where items can be recycled in and near Franklin County. Provide information on the County’s website and with other materials as available.
Strategy 2. Research funding opportunities to expand recycling opportunities in Franklin County (e.g. tire collection, electronics collection, composting, etc.).
Strategy 3. Coordinate with the East Central Solid Waste Management District to place recycling trailers in various locations around Franklin County.
Strategy 4. Coordinate with East Central Solid Waste Management District to sponsor household hazardous waste collection events throughout Franklin County.
Economic Development
Part Two: Implementation Strategy
Goal 1: Strive for a diverse economy, with a focus on sectors that create jobs and boost the economy, including manufacturing, health care, and retail.
Objective 1. Work to create more job opportunities by targeting growing sectors and supporting new and existing businesses.
Strategy 1. Develop an economic development website and marketing plan to make Franklin County appealing to potential businesses and investors. Include cities in all marketing plans and websites.
Strategy 2. Create a countywide inventory of sites available for commercial or industrial development.
Strategy 3. Become more involved with the Missouri Employment Council
Strategy 4. Plan for business growth by ensuring that commercial sites are available with adequate sewer, water, electric, and telecommunications services.
Strategy 5. Continue to market of the Franklin County Revolving Loan Fund and search for ways to improve the program.
Strategy 6. Work with East Central College and Missouri Career Center to provide training for entrepreneurs, as well as other resources to support new and existing business owners.
Strategy 7. Establish a business incubator system with cooperation between higher education institutions and other governmental agencies.
Strategy 8. Explore the possibility of using rail, waterways and existing roadway systems to attract transportation and logistics companies.
Objective 2. Strive to further develop the quality of the Franklin County workforce.
Strategy 1. Promote local partnerships between industry and education to enhance job skills and encourage careers in advanced manufacturing and high-tech skilled trades.
Strategy 2. Utilize East Central College, and other higher education facilities, to ensure programs are available to train workers and technicians for the growing healthcare industry.
Strategy 3. Promote East Central College’s Workforce Development Department which strives to improve employee training throughout Franklin County.
Strategy 4. Consider establishing a countywide program that uses the National Career Readiness Certificate Program (Work Keys Assessment). Collaborate with East Central College and Missouri Career Center to implement the program.
Objective 3. Provide the leadership necessary to advance the economic development of Franklin County and to promote cooperation between cities within Franklin County.
Strategy 1. Create an updated version of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and continue to update as needed.
Strategy 2. Update the Workforce Analysis Report, as needed, by working with other municipalities and the private sector.
Strategy 3. Increase the county’s involvement with RCGA and the RCGA Network.
Strategy 4. Bring together a committee of economic development leaders in the county to further County economic development interests.
Strategy 5. Consider hiring a county economic development professional to oversee economic development in Franklin County. Research funding options, including grant availability, as well as payment from cities in exchange for economic development services.
Strategy 6. Create networking opportunities where local employers, cities, chambers and other organizations can get together to communicate with stakeholders and see what products the County has to offer.
Objective 4. Increase tourism in Franklin County through cooperation with cities, chambers, private and not-for-profit organizations.
Strategy 1. Plan for and market Franklin County tourism on a countywide basis through the Tourism Committee.
Strategy 2. Work to create a countywide tourism website. Ensure that the tourism website is kept up to date.
Goal 2: Promote multi-modes of transportation for the movement of Franklin County’s workforce and the delivery of goods for all industries.
Objective 1. Highways, Roads and Bridges
Strategy 1. Support efforts for the replacement of the Missouri River Bridge on Highway 47 and Bend Road Bridge.
Strategy 2. Support efforts for enhancement of the Highway 47, 50, and 100 corridors.
Strategy 3. Coordinate the Future Land Use Map to where potential prospects may locate along existing corridors.
Objective 2. Rail
Strategy 1. Identify existing rail corridors for expanding rail access so that existing and future industries have options for the movement of goods.
Strategy 2. Support the continued use of Amtrak along the Union Pacific rail line for both tourism and industrial growth.
Objective 3. Waterways
Strategy 1. Assume the leadership role in investigating the development of a Port Authority and Port Districts in areas with access to rail, water, airports and highways.
Strategy 2. Work with existing outfitters and recreation users to identify the most appropriate waterways to be utilized for tourism purposes.
Objective 4. Air
Strategy 1. Promote, encourage and foster existing airport expansions that aid future and existing industries within Franklin County. Identify limitations and potentials of all airports within the region. Survey existing industries on their usage of airports.
Objective 5. Bike and Pedestrian Facilities
Strategy 1. Identify all bike and pedestrian facilities within the county and promote the map for future tourism.
Strategy 2. Promote connectivity of existing bike and pedestrian facilities from communities by identifying future corridors both on and off street facilities.
Strategy 3. Consider design options for future roadways identified within the road and bridge program to accommodate bike and pedestrian access.
Objective 6. Public Transportation
Strategy 1. Consider surveying larger employers within Franklin County for the need to provide public transportation for their workforce.
Appendices
Appendix A: Existing Conditions
History of Franklin County
Franklin County was organized and separated from St. Louis County in 1818. The Village of Newport was designated as the County Seat in 1820. The village was near the Missouri River in St. John's Township just west of the present-day community of Washington. All that remains today of the present-day Newport is the old Newport Hotel constructed in 1826; it is still being used as a private home.
The boundaries of Franklin County in 1818 included the present northern, eastern and southern boundaries. However, the established western boundary of the county in 1818 extended to the Osage River. This area included the present-day counties of Maries, Osage and Gasconade. On November 5, 1820, the territorial legislature revised the western boundary of Franklin County to its present-day location. On January 22, 1825, the legislature issued an act that would officially remove the county seat from Newport to present-day location in Union because it was more centrally located.
The settlement of Franklin County progressed throughout the 19th and 20th centuries due to Franklin County’s location and accessibility. The Missouri, Meramec, and Bourbeuse Rivers as well as other streams provided early access to Franklin County and made it attractive for settlement.
The first railroads in Franklin County were built in 1854. These were the Missouri-Pacific (which passed through Washington and Pacific), and the St. Louis and San Francisco (which passed through St. Clair). In 1887 the St. Louis-Kansas City and Colorado Railroad (later known as Rock Island Railroad) was constructed through Union.
The Missouri and U.S. Highway Systems were created in 1921 and 1925, respectively. Early highways in Franklin County included MO Route 47, which was part of the original 1922 designated state highways, U.S. Route 50, which was designated in 1926, and U.S. Route 66 which was constructed through Franklin County in 1933.
As of the 2010 Census, Franklin County had a population of 101,492. This represents an increase of about 8.2% over the 2000 population (90,807). Table 1 provides a comparison of population for the county and adjacent counties within the region. Table 2 provides an illustration of growth within the county from 1950 to 2010.
Demographics
The majority of the growth in Franklin County through the first half of the 20th century was in the cities; however, beginning in the 1960s, the growth of the unincorporated county began to outpace the growth of the cities. After 1960, the growth of the unincorporated areas increased significantly, hitting its peak in the 1970s at a growth rate of about 4.6% per year. Since 1980, the percentage of residents in the county versus the cities has been fairly constant, with the percentage of county residents generally varying from around 57% to 59%. The 2010 data indicates that the unincorporated county still holds the majority of the population, but this majority has decreased to about 55% of the population. Figure 1 illustrates the comparison of the County’s population verses that of the cities.
A more detailed review of the demographic characteristics from the 2010 Census indicates that the median age of Franklin County residents is 39.4 years of age. Nearly 41% of the population is between the ages of 25-55 years old. This compares similarly to the State of Missouri as a whole where 40% of the population is in this same age range.
The racial make-up of the community varies somewhat from the State. White persons in the State of Missouri comprise 82.8% of the overall population while Franklin County has 96.8% of the population as white. Franklin County is less racially diverse than the State but we are slowly becoming more diverse as the numbers of American Indians, Asians, and other races or combinations of races are increasing at a faster rate than that of whites.
According to the results of the 2010 Census, there are a total of 43,046 total housing units. Of these total housing units, 89.6% are occupied and 10.4% are vacant. Approximately 78.6% of housing units are owner occupied while 23.2% of housing units are renter occupied as of the 2010 census.
A further evaluation of household information from the 2010 Census indicates that 99% of the population of Franklin County is within households. Roughly 3/4 of these households consist of family households. The average household size is 2.59 persons with an average of 3.07 persons for the family size. Households do not include those persons living in group quarters or institutions.
Growth and Projections
The growth of Franklin County has been significantly greater than the growth of Missouri during the last half of the 20th century. Franklin County’s population has more than doubled since 1950. Since 1980, the growth rate began to slow somewhat to about 1.5% per year. The Missouri State Office of Demography has projected that Franklin County’s growth will continue to slow, with an average growth rate of less than 0.8% per year between 2010 and 2020 and less than 0.6% per year between 2020 and 2030. Table 3 illustrates the projected growth of Franklin County compared to the State of Missouri.
Franklin County is broken in to 10 voter townships and has 8 major cities and 5 villages. Figure 2 illustrates the voter township and city boundaries. The voter townships include Boeuf, Lyon, Boone, St. John’s, Union, Central, Meramec, Boles, Calvey and Prairie. According to the 2010 Census, the most populous townships are Boles, Central and Union followed closely by St. John’s and Calvey. Washington (in St. John’s Township) is the most populous city in Franklin County with a 2010 population of 13,982. Union (in Union Township) is second most populous city with 10,204 followed by the City of Sullivan with a population of 7,081. Pacific is very similar with an overall population of 7,002. New Haven, Gerald, and Berger are towns with long histories, but modest growth; their 2010 Census populations are 2,089, 1,345 and 221 respectively. There are five other incorporated towns and villages in Franklin County, each with populations of less than 1,000; they are Charmwood, Leslie, Parkway, Oak Grove, and Miramagoa. While Miramagoa and Berger have experienced little to no growth in the past ten years, Leslie, Parkway, and Oak Grove have grown substantially. Even with this growth, these five incorporated areas have a combined population of just 1,460.
Townships and Cities
Economic Development
Located only 40 miles west of downtown St. Louis, Franklin County is a prime place for business development. The County has a 2010 median household income of $49,120 compared to the state which has a median household income of $46,262. Franklin County is a pro-growth county and is prime for business development. The county has access to Interstate 44 and major state highways including highways 100, 47, 50, 185 and 30. Other added benefits to Franklin County are the access to rail, air and even water transportation.
There are three main railroad tracks that traverse Franklin County. Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe are active in their entirety and are owned by large freight railroad companies. The third line, Missouri Central Railroad Company, is active from the eastern end of the county through the City of Union. The Missouri Central Railroad is owned by Ameren, which also owns a railroad spur that connects the Labadie Power Plant to both the Missouri Central and Union Pacific tracks. Amtrak runs the only passenger train that travels through Franklin County. The route, known as the Missouri River Runner, goes from St. Louis to Kansas City with stops in Washington, Hermann, Jefferson City, and other Missouri cities. Each day four trains stop in Washington, two eastbound and two westbound. Amtrak uses the tracks owned by the Union Pacific Railroad.
Franklin County has two regional airports – Washington Regional and Sullivan Regional. The Washington Regional Airport is owned by the City of Washington, but located about 2.5 miles north of Washington in Warren County. The airport has one runway which is 5,000 feet in length and has an average of 59 aircraft operations per day. The City of Washington, FAA, and MoDOT have agreed to do a project to reconstruct the airport’s taxi lane and apron. The Sullivan Regional Airport is owned by the City of Sullivan and is located on the north side of the city. It has one runway which is 4,500 feet in length and has an average of 39 aircraft operations per day.
Franklin County houses 3 major rivers; the Missouri River, the Meramec River and the Bourbeuse River. The largest of these is the Missouri River which makes up the northern border of Franklin County, giving the county a large amount of riverfront on a major river. As of 2010, there are no public ports in Franklin County. Franklin County does not currently have a port authority that would manage and fund any public ports in the county. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, two private ports are currently operating on the Missouri River in Franklin County, one in Washington and one in New Haven. The opportunity exists for greater use of the Missouri River for transportation of goods to and from the county.
Manufacturing and educational/health care/social assistance are the dominant industries in Franklin County. According to the 2010 census, manufacturing makes up 21.6% of the jobs in Franklin County. Educational and health care and social assistance are not too far behind manufacturing with 19.2% of the jobs in Franklin County. Table 4 illustrates the largest employers in Franklin County in 2012.
Healthcare
Franklin County is serviced by two hospitals –Mercy in Washington and Missouri Baptist in Sullivan. Mercy was built in 1926 and is one of the largest employers in the City of Washington. It is the only level 3 trauma center in Franklin County and they have physician offices and facilities located throughout the county. Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital, built in 1962, is a part of the BJC healthcare system and employs approximately 400 people. Missouri Baptist serves the needs of Franklin County as well as the surrounding counties of Crawford and Washington. In 2010 Missouri Baptist finished an eight year rebuilding phase with a 25,000 square foot wing which houses an expanded cancer treatment center, a wound care center and new sleep lab among many others.
As of 2009, there were 97 primary care physicians practicing in Franklin County (www.countyhealthrankings.org). At one doctor for approximately every 1,040 people, this appears to be an adequate number of doctors for the County’s residents. Franklin County also has several long-term care facilities for the aged or infirm. These include 8 skilled nursing facilities (2 of these also offer assisted living), 4 assisted living facilities, and 4 residential care facilities.
Education
Public Schools
There are fourteen (14) public school districts in Franklin County. The six school districts in Franklin County that have the highest enrollment are those that serve the six largest municipalities – St. Clair, Sullivan, New Haven, Pacific (Meramec Valley School District), Union, and Washington. These are also the only school districts in Franklin County with high schools. These school districts each include areas in incorporated and unincorporated areas and most have several elementary schools and a middle school, as well. The other four school districts in the county generally serve unincorporated Franklin County residents and each includes only one school location which provides an elementary and middle school education (K-8). These districts are Franklin County (R-2), Spring Bluff (R-15), Lonedell (R-14), and Strain-Japan (R-16).
The largest school district in the county in terms of number of students and area covered is the Washington School District. Meramec Valley, which includes the City of Pacific, is the second largest in terms of number of students, followed closely by Union. Meramec Valley and Union also cover large areas of the county. Somewhat smaller than those school districts are St. Clair and Sullivan both in area and number of students. New Haven appears to be the smallest school district in terms of area covered and it is has the fewest students of all the municipal school districts. The districts with the fewest students are those that do not include a high school or any municipalities. Of these schools, Lonedell is the largest with 312 students and Strain-Japan is the smallest with 72 students. (All school data is based on 2011 information from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education – www.dese.mo.gov)
There are 6 public high schools in Franklin County – Washington High School. New Haven High School, Pacific High School, Sullivan High School Union High School and St. Clair High School. In 2011, New Haven, Pacific, and Washington had the highest graduation rates. These schools have also had some of the highest graduation rates over the past few years. Sullivan High has generally also had some of the highest graduation rates in the county; however their graduation rate for 2011 was one of the lowest (85.4) and was below the Missouri average. Union had fairly low graduation rates in 2008 and 2009, but has shown improvement over the last two years and is now equal with the state average for graduation rate. Over the last few years, the graduation rates for St. Clair had generally been about the same as the Missouri average; however, their graduation rate in 2011 experienced a sharp decrease to 81.5%, which was the lowest in the county for that year.
Private Schools
In addition to the public schools, Franklin County also has several private schools. These include two early childhood schools (PK-K), nine elementary/middle schools (generally PK-8), three schools that have elementary, middle, and high schools programs in one facility, and one private high school. Eight of the elementary schools and the one private high school are Catholic schools. Union, Pacific, Sullivan, St. Clair, and Villa Ridge each contain a Catholic elementary school that goes through eighth grade. Washington has the most Catholic schools with three Catholic elementary schools and the one Catholic high school. Three additional schools in Franklin County, two of which include classes from elementary through high school, are affiliated with other Christian religions. These schools are located in Washington, Villa Ridge, and St. Clair. The two early childhood schools are unaffiliated with any religion and are both located in Washington. One other school is unaffiliated with any religion and educates children from pre-school through 12th grade. This school is located in St. Albans. (Source: www.privateschoolreview.com)
Post Secondary Education
A handful of colleges, extensions, and vocational schools located in Franklin County including East Central College, Missouri Baptist University, Central Methodist and the University of Missouri. East Central College was founded in 1968 and offers associates degrees in a variety of disciplines. In a cooperative venture since 1994, Central Methodist College has offered courses and degree programs, including the Master of Education degree program, on the campus of East Central College in Union, Missouri. The Missouri Baptist University Extension gives citizens the means to complete a graduate or undergraduate degree generally in business or educational fields. The University of Missouri Extension Office does not offer specific degree programs, but provides community-identified education needs and resources for residents, businesses, and farm-owners in Franklin County.
Four Rivers Career Center is a vocational and technical school that offers specialized educational opportunities to both secondary and post-secondary students. The Four Rivers Career Center combines classroom learning with hands-on activities that provide the students with industry ready skills to get a jump start into either post-secondary technical training or successful entrance into the workplace.
Quality of Life
Franklin County is a historic place filled with rolling hills and picturesque landscapes but also lively urban centers. Being situated on the Missouri River, Meramec River and Bourbeuse Rivers, Franklin County offers citizens many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors
There are two state parks that lie in Franklin County – Robertsville State Park and Meramec State Park.
Robertsville State Park lies along the Meramec River on the eastern side of the county and is approximately 1,225 acres (almost 2 square miles). Robertsville State Park allows opportunities for picnicking, fishing, hiking, and camping. Meramec State Park lies on Franklin County’s southern border and is approximately 6,896 acres (over 10 square miles) and has over 40 caves. The park provides guided tours of Fisher Cave as well as opportunities to enjoy the Meramec River, including hiking, fishing, canoeing, swimming, camping, and lodging.
In addition to these two state parks, the Missouri Department of Conservation owns or maintains 19 Conservation Areas in Franklin County. The majority of these Conservation Areas are fifty acres or less and provide access, including boat ramps, to the Meramec, Bourbeuse, and Missouri Rivers. Additional areas are larger and have opportunities for hiking or fishing, including the River Round Conservation Area, Catawissa Conservation Area, Engelmann Woods Natural Area, Little Indian Creek Conservation Area, Meramec Conservation Area, Long Ridge Conservation Area, and Port Hudson Lake Conservation Area.
Historic Route 66 traveled through Franklin County near the path of the existing Interstate 44, passing through Pacific, Gray Summit, Villa Ridge, St. Clair, Stanton, and Sullivan. There are a number of sites in Franklin County that historically served travelers on Route 66 and are now tourist destinations. These include old hotels and motels, such as the Gardenway Motel in Gray Summit, the Sunset Hotel in Villa Ridge, and the Delta and Stanton Motels in Stanton, among others.
There are several history museums in Franklin County focusing on a variety of interests and areas. Washington has numerous museums, including the Washington Historical Museum, the Missouri Photojournalism Hall of Fame, etc. In addition, Washington is home to the world’s oldest and largest corncob pipe factory, according to the company’s website, and a museum is located in the factory building. St. Clair also has its own historical museum focusing on the history of the city and especially the mining that contributed to the city’s early growth. New Haven has a monument and a small museum dedicated to John Colter, one of the best known members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Colter lived in Franklin County and was buried near New Haven. The New Haven Preservation Society also hosts the Springgate Museum, which focuses on the history of New Haven. Pacific is home to the Meramec Valley History Museum, which showcases the history of Pacific, as well as some of the nearby unincorporated communities, such as Gray Summit, Labadie, and Robertsville. Union currently has a Veterans Memorial and a Veterans Hall of Honor Museum located in the old County Courthouse.
According to the Missouri State Historic Preservation Office, Franklin County has 715 known archaeological sites. These sites are located throughout Franklin County. The most common type of site is a simple lithic scatter, which means waste material created during stone tool manufacture. The lithic scatters are listed simply as “prehistoric,” but other sites are from a variety of different periods including Historic Native American, Antebellum, Civil War, Early Industrial, Urban/Industrial, and many other periods. Besides prehistoric stone tools, some sites may include Native American burial grounds and other items of historic significance.
Franklin County is home to great tourist attractions like Meramec Caverns, Shaw Nature Reserve and Purina Farms. Meramec Caverns is the largest commercial cave in the state of Missouri. Open year round, Meramec Caverns offers guided tours by trained rangers along well-lighted walkways where you can learn how an ancient limestone "Wine Table" and an entire 7-story mansion were built... all underground. Also at Meramec Caverns you can experience the first zip line in the St. Louis metro region. It is a ninety-minute canopy adventure and includes three swinging sky-bridges and four zip rides varying in length from 200 to 1250 feet, reaching speeds of 50 mph. Shaw Nature Reserve is a part of the Missouri Botanical Gardens and is located in Gray Summit. Shaw Nature Reserve stretches across 2,400 acres and the scenery and terrain are so varying and unique, you can have a new experience every time you visit! Explore floodplain forests, upland woods, dolomite glades, tallgrass prairies, oak-hickory woodlands, savannas and wetlands. With the different landscapes come a diverse variety of wildlife, plants, and insects. Purina Farms, located in Gray Summit, features an event center and a visitor's center along with several Outdoor Canine Competition Areas. It is an all-inclusive destination for animal lovers and enthusiasts of all ages. Competitive shows and trials as well as fun and educational family-friendly activities and exhibits reinforce the many ways that animals enrich our lives.
Utilities
Sewer Systems
The County’s incorporated cities each have sewer systems. This includes St. Clair, Sullivan, Pacific, Berger, New Haven, Union, Washington, Gerald, and Leslie. In addition, there are several rural public sewer districts, as follows: Public Water Supply District #1 and #3, Gray Summit Sewer District, Calvey Creek Sewer District, Brush Creek Sewer District, St. Albans Water and Sewer Authority and Labadie Sewer District. Franklin County has three subdivision which have their own independent sewer districts; Crestview Acres, Beauty View Acres and Sylvan Manor-Sunset Acres.
Many of the County’s sewer systems that were designed to serve single subdivisions have been turned over to PWSD #1 and #3 for management. In addition, there are 47 sewer systems in Franklin County that serve single subdivisions, mobile home parks, or apartment buildings and are owned either by a private individual or company or by a subdivision association. Because of their size, these systems are not classified as sewer districts.
Altogether, the county’s public sewer systems have the capacity to serve 123,397 people. Over 84% of this public capacity is from the county’s municipal sewer systems. The private sewer systems can serve an additional 6,264 persons. In addition, the Franklin County Building Department estimates that there are between 14,500 and 15,000 private on-site septic systems in Franklin County.
Drinking Water
Community water systems serve several of the County’s municipalities – Pacific, Sullivan, St. Clair, Union, Washington, Berger, New Haven, Gerald, Oak Grove Village, and Miramiguoa Park. In addition, there are 3 rural community water districts: Public Water Supply District #1, #3 and #4.
In addition, there are 28 community water systems, mostly serving subdivisions and mobile home parks. The largest community system is run by the Franklin County Water Co, Inc. and serves about 300 persons in the Lake St. Clair Subdivision. The second largest system provides water to 240 persons in the Sylvan Manor Subdivision. All the other systems serve fewer than 200 persons, with seven serving between 100 and 200 and the remaining 19 serving fewer than 100 persons. The total number of persons served by these community water systems is 2509. In addition, there are 28 independent community water systems, mostly serving single subdivisions and mobile home parks.
An additional 32 non-community water systems hold permits from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. These systems serve schools, recreation areas, restaurants and other sites that require permits because of the type of establishment or the number of people served by the water system.
All other residences in Franklin County are served by individual wells. These wells are not regulated so no data is available to determine how many individual wells exist in the county.
Electric Service
The rural areas of Franklin County are served by three different electric companies – Ameren, Crawford Electric, and Three Rivers Electric.
Ameren has the largest territory, having portions of two different territories in Franklin County. The Franklin District serves the eastern and central portions of Franklin County as well as the southeastern portion of the county.
The Crawford Electric Cooperative serves the southern and southwestern portions of the county, including Stanton and Sullivan. In addition, Crawford Electric serves portions of the central corridor along Highway 50.
The Three Rivers Electric Cooperative serves the rural northwestern portion of the county. This service area overlaps with portions of Ameren’s Capital District. Those customers in the overlapping areas who live outside of New Haven and Berger may choose either Ameren or the Three Rivers Cooperative for electric service.
These three electric providers cover all of Franklin County with the exception of Sullivan, which has its own municipal electric service.
Natural Gas
Natural gas is provided to portions of Franklin County by Missouri Natural Gas, which is owned by Laclede Gas. Gas service is available in the cities of Pacific, Washington, Union, St. Clair, Sullivan, and parts of Labadie and St. Albans. New Haven operates its own natural gas utility, which serves both New Haven and Berger. Natural gas service is not available throughout most of rural Franklin County. Most municipalities are covered with the exception of Gerald and the Village of Leslie.
Pipelines
There are three major multi-state underground pipelines that run through Franklin County. Enbridge Pipelines owns one of these pipelines, which was formerly owned and operated by Shell Oil. This pipeline comes from northeastern Franklin County and then goes diagonally southwest through the county to exit at the general vicinity of Highway 50. This portion of the pipeline carries crude oil from Cushing, Oklahoma to the refinery in Wood River, Illinois.
The Explorer Pipeline is another multi-state pipeline, which follows nearly the same path as the Enbridge Pipeline. The Explorer Pipeline carries refined petroleum products between Hammond, Indiana and Pasadena, Texas with a pipeline facility in Gerald.
The ConocoPhillips Pipe Line Company owns and operates a third multi-state pipeline. This pipeline runs through Pacific and then goes almost due west through the county. This pipeline generally carries liquid gases and runs between Chicago, Illinois and Borger, Texas.
Laclede Gas and the Missouri Pipeline Co. operate natural gas pipelines in the county. The Laclede pipeline runs through the northeastern portion of the county and then ends near Washington, where it intersects with the Missouri Pipeline Company’s line. The Laclede Gas pipeline also serves the City of Pacific.
Appendix B: Survey Results
How would you rate your overall quality of life as a resident in Franklin County?
What type of residential property would you prefer to live on and/or own?
Please choose one ending for the following sentence: Zoning Regulations and Subdivision Regulations?
How much do you agree with the following statements?
How do you rate Franklin County in regards to the following issues?
How great of a problem are the following issues?
Where do you live?
What are the main reasons you choose to live in Franklin County?
Please indicate your age range?
Credits
FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSION
John Griesheimer, Presiding Commissioner
Terry Wilson, 1st District Commissioner
Ann Schroeder, 2nd District Commissioner
FRANKLIN COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
Jim Grutsch, Boeuf Township (Chair)
Jay Schultehenrich, Central Township (Vice-Chair)
Ray Cunio, Boone Township
John Fischer, St. John’s Township
Kevin Kriete, Boles Township
Howard McKeever, Calvey Township
Tim Reinhold, Meramec Township
Eugene Tyler, Union Township
Donald Voss, Lyon Township
William Evans Jr., Prairie Township
Eva Gadcke, Highway Administrator
MASTER PLAN STREERING COMMITTEE
Scott Byrne
Cameron Lueken
Jim Roman
Matt Herring
Bob Hatchcock
Milt Branum
Tim Wideman
VeeAnn Tilson
PLANNING AND ZONING STAFF
Scottie Eagan, Director of Planning and Zoning
Tori Karim, Zoning Enforcement Officer
Nichole Zielke, Administrative Assistant
Andrea Sukanek, Consultant