New-age farmer eyes Franklin

Franklin - The city has given informal approval to and is working with an architect-turned new age farmer who wants to build an aquaponic facility on his family's land at 35th Street and Elm Road.

New Berlin resident Scott Biller and business partner Don Steinberg of Cedarburg are planning to use up to 4 of 80 acres of land first purchased by Biller's grandfather in the 1940s. There they will raise fish and plants in an indoor controlled environment within a farming operation that would provide fresh herbs and seafood to area grocers and restaurants.

Aquaponics is a sustainable form of farming that can produce two crops in one system - fish and varying types of plants. Fish and plants benefit from each other in the same environment.

Seen as good fit

The city's Committee of the Whole on Monday night was supportive of the proposal. Two aldermen reportedly questioned the location, because the parcel could be a valuable piece of redevelopment as the city works on projects related to the future of the 27th Street corridor.

The city's support now moves to more formal staff development.

"The residents of Franklin like innovation so they will like to see a development like this," Mayor Tom Taylor said. "We welcome anyone who wants to do business in our city and we are committed to exploring whether it is feasible."

Biller said he is looking forward to working with city staff members in further developing the concept. If all goes as planned, Integrated Aquaponics will be in full operation next spring. That would include a first-phase of 8,400 square feet of greenhouses. The company plans to eventually expand to 50,000 square feet.

He said the city has been helpful, a favorable comparison to his previous work as an architect.

"I've gone before a number of village boards and city councils as an architect," Biller said. "I would say Franklin has been very good to work with. They have made the process very user friendly."

Business friendly

In fact, the city said it has streamlined its business development process. Earlier this year, the Economic Development Commission was converted to a new Forward Franklin panel that is committed to renewing the community's attraction to potential business ventures.

"This is exactly the kind of situation that we can help with," said Alderman Steve Taylor, who helped form Forward Franklin. He noted that a business such as Integrated Aquaponics can be awkward to a municipal staff used to working with more conventional potential businesses.

"We had the opportunity to have Scott come in and talk to us at Forward Franklin and that helped get him in front of the council," Taylor said. "That's one of the reasons Forward Franklin exists."

Prepared to change

If the community's business development needs and opportunities change, Taylor said, the city could work with the Aquaponics business for a relocation.

"These are an erector-set type of buildings," Taylor said. "They could be dismantled and moved and all you would have are the cement slabs. That would only happen if we wanted to make a move for another development opportunity like a big corporation moving in."

Biller noted that his farming season would begin immediately after implementation. He said he hopes to market his produce to high-end stores like Whole Foods and Sendik's.

"There is a lot of interest in buying locally," Biller said. "This is a business that seems to have a lot of potential. That's why we're in it."

There are reportedly three existing local aquaponic businesses, two in Milwaukee and one in Racine.