Current Zoning for Downtown Commercial District does NOT require parking for Commercial in a "mixed use" development

Current Town Code:  § 185-21Parking, loading and driveway requirements.

“Parking schedule. The number of parking spaces required for a particular use shall be as follows:

[Amended 7-13-2011 Bylaw Amendment 18-805; 8-8-2018 by Bylaw Amendment 18-805]

(1)  In the Downtown Commercial Zoning District:

[Amended 8-14-2024 by Bylaw Amendment 24-907R]

(a) Residential dwelling units: one parking space per residential unit in a mixed use development.

(b) Nonresidential uses are exempt from this section (§ 185-21B).

(2) In the Commercial I Zoning District:

(a) Residential dwelling units: 1.5 parking spaces per residential unit.

(b) Nonresidential uses: one space per 500 square feet of gross floor area.”

Background:

Zoning was changed in 2024 for Downtown Commercial for mixed use buildings to remove parking requirements for “commercial use” and retain for “residential use”

Economic Development Cmte meeting - recommends change to Town Council - April 10, 2024

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/04/economic-development-moves-proposal-to_0742567348.html

Town Council

- August 14, 2024 agenda 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/08/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-for.html 

- August 14, 2024 - meeting recap

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/08/august-14-town-council-meeting-audio-in.html 

MBTA Compliance

MBTA zoning status update July, 2024

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/07/mbta-communities-update-71-communities.html

MBTA Zoning Summary - April 1, 2026

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/9325/MBTA-Communities-Council-Presentation---4126?bidId=

Before the MBTA Compliance became "a thing" Franklin was already working with the Metroplitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) on the Franklin For All project. 

You can listen to the podcast series for background on many of the topics still coming around regarding development:

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/02/franklin-for-all-housing-zoning-podcast.html

Additional info can be found on the Town page - https://www.franklinma.gov/292/Franklin-for-All