Join us for a Jane's Walk in Franklin on Sunday, May 4 at 10 AM

Join Cobi Frongillo & Steve Sherlock NEXT SUNDAY (5/4) for our third annual walk around Downtown Franklin to reflect on placemaking and town planning.

The event is part of an annual international series of walks to honor the social activist Jane Jacobs.

Meet at the Depot St parking lot Sunday morning. We will leave at 10:00 AM and should meander back by 11:30 AM.

Join us for a Jane's Walk in Franklin on Sunday, May 4 at 10 AM

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AHWKwXMp5/

Find out more about Buliding Euitable Neighborhoos For Franklin (BEN 4 Franklin)  https://ben4franklin.org/

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, April 17, 2025 ???

Thursday, April 17

 Library & Senior Center events 

* Franklin Art Association Art Show and Sale Exhibit

* * Creative Corner Silent Auction Fundraiser

8:30am State & Town Officials Office Hour (Franklin Senior Center)

9:00am Fallen Hero: John J. Kell (Veterans Walkway, Franklin Town Common)

5:00pm Board Game Night (Pete's Nerd Emporium)

6:00pm Band School of Franklin Spring Concert (Horace Mann School)

7:00pm 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node Meeting (First Universalist Society Franklin)

7:00pm BEN 4 Franklin Mtg (Franklin TV and Radio Studio)

7:30pm Musical Bingo (Teddy Gallagher's Irish Pub)

For additional details on Library & Senior Center events ->  

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

 

 

** Town Meetings today   **

Town Council Office Hours

Thursday, April 17  Time: 8:30 AM

No agenda expected for this informal business hour 

Franklin Housing Authority Meeting

Thursday, April 17  Time: 4:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04172025-1681 

Franklin Public Schools Community Relations Meeting

Thursday, April 17   Time:  5:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04172025-1683

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, April 17  Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/372?fileID=4420 

Council On Aging (COA) Meeting

Friday, April 18  Time: 1:30 PM

no posted agenda at this time

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What's happening today in Franklin? 

Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendars

BEN's Bulletin: Budget and Stobbart's

Seeking opportunities for smart new growth!

BEN's Bulletin (03/24/25)   Weather and agendas are heating up! With Franklin's budget constraints, it is increasingly important for the community to find smart opportunities for new tax revenue that doesn't place further strain on the Town's expenses.  Interested in what's happening at the state level? Join our partner organization Abundant Housing Massachusetts for their Statewide Policy Webinar next Thursday. As always, please join our monthly meeting (every third Thursday at 7pm) at Franklin TV or virtually at the following link: meet.ben4franklin.org. Key Agenda Items This month, we're sharing expanded thoughts on the proposed housing development at 444 E Central Street ("Stobbart's") as well as providing the regular BEN's Take on upcoming meetings. Click HERE for live links to the agenda items.   Stobbart's Nursery (444 E Central Street) On Thursday, the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) will have a public hearing on a proposed 264-unit "Friendly 40B" affordable housing development, across five buildings and a clubhouse, on the site of Stobbart's Nursery on E Central St. The project was endorsed by the Franklin Town Council and advances Master Plan goals. Here are a few quick reasons why BEN believes the project would make Franklin stronger: Promotes affordability Increases the supply of smaller units, which are in high demand and offer more attainable housing options for young professionals, seniors, and working families. 25% of units are deed-restricted as affordable, ensuring more residents can live and work in Franklin without being priced out. Supports neighborhood vibrancy and community connections Brings new residents to support businesses along East Central Street, strengthening the increasingly mixed-used commercial corridor. Location near other housing developments and the future bus route transforms the stretch into a connected and accessible neighborhood. Strengthens Franklin's financial health Generates significantly more tax revenue than single-family homes without the added infrastructure costs (road maintenance, etc.). Provides much-needed revenue to help Franklin address budget challenges and maintain high-quality public services.  MYTH-BUSTING: Many opposed to new homes cite the costs of education and emergency services. In fact, projects like these generate substantially more revenue than incremental additional service costs. Ensures sustainable growth and preservation Develops housing in an already built-up and serviced area, preventing further sprawl and preserving open spaces. Transit- and commercial- accessible location reduces car traffic and promotes pedestrian activity. What We're Consuming How Mass. can streamline homebuilding (Boston Globe) State commission on housing production targets single-family zoning, other sweeping reforms (Boston Globe) Finding the Fit: How Parking Policies Shape Our Neighborhoods and Determine Housing Outcomes (Metropolitan Area Planning Council) Recovery Playbook: Back to Downtown & Main Street (Jonathan Berk) Reach out with any comments or questions. Thanks! The BEN Brigade Know someone else who may be interested in this content? Please share! Newsletter Sign Up Ben 4 Franklin, 23 Hutchinson St, Franklin, MA Send free email today

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, March 20, 2025 ???

Thursday, March 20

For additional details on Library & Senior Center events ->     
https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

* "Look Up" Gallery (Franklin Public Library during open hours)

8:30am State & Town Officials Office Hour (Franklin Senior Center)

5:00pm Board Game Night (Pete's Nerd Emporium)

7:00pm 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node Meeting (First Universalist Society Franklin)

7:00pm BEN 4 Franklin Mtg (Franklin TV and Radio)

** Town Meetings today   **

Coffee Hour with State & Local Officials

Thursday, March 20th Time: 8:30 AM

No agenda expected, open session (coffee only available today)

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, March 20th Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/321?fileID=4200 

Franklin Cultural District Committee Meeting

Thursday, March 20th  Time: 7:00 PM 

https://franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4767/CDC-Agenda_Meeting_-march-2025docx-1?bidId=

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Why are there multiple calendars?

What's happening today in Franklin? 

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37&showPastEvents=false

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendars

BEN's Bulletin: Senior Village and the Crossing

Moving forward (with a Master Plan in hand!)

BEN's Bulletin (02/24/25)   New year, new Plan! Thanks in part to the consistent support of BEN, the 2025 Master Plan Update unanimously passed the Planning Board & Town Council last month. The Plan lays out a strong vision for a Franklin with complete, inter-connected neighborhoods that balance the Town's environmental, economic, and housing needs. As always, feel free to join our monthly meeting (every third Thursday at 7pm) at Franklin TV or virtually at the following link: meet.ben4franklin.org. Key Agenda Items We return to our regularly-scheduled programming of providing BEN's Take on upcoming meetings of interest. Click HERE for live links to the agenda items. What We're Consuming Can luxury housing do anything for homelessness? (Justine Underhill) Donald Shoup had a major impact on cities (Congress for the New Urbanism) Nook and Cranny Urbanism: How To Maximize Every Inch of Space (Strong Towns) Reach out with any comments or questions. Thanks! The BEN Brigade Know someone else who may be interested in this content? Please share! Newsletter Sign Up Ben 4 Franklin, 23 Hutchinson St, Franklin, MA Send free email today