A Franklin business wants to expand and will need to swap land with its neighbor in order to do it.
Homeview Health and Rehabilitation Center is planning to build at the site of its existing parking lot behind its operation in Franklin. The organization wants to move its parking lot to State and Palmer streets on land currently owned by the Johnson County Public Library.
The Johnson County Public Library and Homeview Health and Rehabilitation Center plan to swap two neighboring pieces of land between their buildings on State Street.
If the library gives up its corner lot on State and Palmer streets, then Homeview will give it an equal portion of land that connects to its existing Franklin branch. The extra land south of the building could be used in a library expansion in the future, although there are no plans to expand at this time, library officials said.
The library is not planning an expansion for at least another five years, library board president Gretchen Beaman said. Officials want to increase the number of programs they offer, connect with the community more and upgrade existing buildings without expansion, Beaman said.
The details of the land swap still need to be finalized, and both Homeview and the library are having their properties surveyed and appraised, library director Beverly Martin said.
