Planning Board reviews traffic & parking concerns for Depot Plaza (video)

The Planning Board heard from the project team on their traffic and parking plan, the BETA traffice engineer, Town Engineer Mike Maglio and then the board and community comments, questions were heard.

The next meeting for the Depot Plaza project is Nov 2, with traffic continued to the Nov 16 session.

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=913TzGatVi8

Slides captured via screen grabs of the project traffic presentation

https://photos.app.goo.gl/5XoerirwJxAwHfdw8

Project documentation on the Planning Board page

https://www.franklinma.gov/1374/9-13-and-15-Main-Street---Special-Permit

Voices of Franklin: Mike Cirrotti's letter to Design Review & Planning Board

Dear Members of the Planning Board and Design Review Commission,

I support redeveloping Depot Plaza at 9 and 13–15 Main Street as mixed use, and thank the applicant for coming forward. 

• Getting this right would significantly improve an important stretch of downtown. 
• Getting it wrong would set the wrong precedent for future development in downtown commercial, in addition to an inappropriate building we’re stuck with for generations.

I ask the Board to work with the applicant toward three stories, brick or masonry facades with traditional detailing rather than vinyl siding, and at least one qualifying parking space per apartment. 

Addressing one concern should not justify accepting unresolved concerns about the others.

Downtown’s parking requirement is already reduced to 1.0, lowered from 1.5 and 2.0 elsewhere in town.  

Don’t discount this discount further, via waiver. The applicant’s proposed 0.8 ratio should not be entertained; yes some tenants may have zero cars, but this will be offset by others seeking to park 2 vehicles downtown (like a small family in one of the proposed three bedroom units), as well as visitors, building employees, and some commercial/retail customers inevitably using it despite signage.

The attached four-page handout presents the parking argument, including Winchester’s recent denial of a parking waiver that was below an already modest minimum.

It also highlights other residents’ three-story concepts and Franklin Center Commons II—the building containing Birchwood Bakery—as a local benchmark. 

The imagined fourth-floor image illustrates my height concern.

I recognize that these concerns may fall under different boards’ responsibilities, and I thank the Planning Board and Design Review Commission for reviewing and addressing the aspects within their respective authority. 

Please circulate this email and attachment to the full Boards and feel free to include them in the public hearing record and published materials before the next hearing.

Thank you for representing our town’s interests during this opportunity to evaluate and advance the redevelopment of an important main street property.

Thank you,

Mike Cirrotti

Franklin resident

Attached 4 page reference as mentioned

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aiiers1kzpvDap5DCCtk8zyyrdQdqPTK/view?usp=drivesdk

If you have something to say, you can find the guidelines here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html

Planning Board hearing starts the official process for the Depot Plaza proposal

FRANKLIN PLANNING BOARD

Agenda & Meeting Packet

September 28, 2026 at 7:00 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building 

2nd floor, Council Chambers, 355 East Central Street

PUBLIC HEARINGS

1. 9 & 13-15 Main St – Special Permit & Site Plan

• Site Plan and Color Renderings  https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/11094/Site-Plan-and-Renderings-92826
• Peer Reviews   https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/11096/Peer-Review
• Public Comments  https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/11097/Comments-up-to-92826
• Application    https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/11095/2026-07-30-Special-Permit-Application-and-Supporting-Docs-redacted

Agenda doc contains remote participation info

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09282026-2532

Depot Plaza public hearing has been rescheduled (again) to Sept 28

Public Hearing To Be Continued – Proposed Depot Plaza Redevelopment

The developer of the proposed redevelopment at 9, 13 & 15 Main St. (Depot Plaza) has submitted a request for a continuance of the Planning Board public hearing until September 28th.

Additionally, they have requested to withdraw their application before the Design Review Commission in order to better align the schedules of both boards' hearing dates.

Residents can sign up to receive email notifications for upcoming board and committee meetings here: https://www.franklinma.gov/list.aspx

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/1BvjHhQR66/

The audio of the Economic Development Subcmte Meeting Tuesday, Aug 4 is available (audio)

FM #1784 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1784 in the series. 

The Economic Development Subcommittee met on Tuesday, August 4, 2026 as scheduled. Committee Chair LeBlanc, members Morrongiello, Malloy & Griffith were present for this session.

Quick recap:

• Discussion and update on the UMass Boston study of downtown to be conducted over 2 semesters of the college year. Final number of students involved to be determined when classes begin in September. Coordinate to have them meet the Committee (either in person, or virtually) early one (Sept or October).

• update: the Depot Plaza hearing at the Planning Board has changed from 8/10 to 8/24. the application was withdrawn for a technical change and resubmitted, hence the date change

• Next up the 40b policy revision

• likely for Morrongiello and LeBlanc to meet with Jamie and Morena to review the items in more detail to bring back a version for further discussion

• next up, Sustainability Committee

• Jamie and staff can draft a charter for the committee to review before bringing to the Council

• next up, GATRA update

• 
  World Cup was big for them, transported a bunch of folksfunded by State, so we didn't lose anything from other servers to compensate 38,385 riders in Franklin during the past year (demand response) approx 3,000/month

• GATRA had a fixed route once upon a time   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/03/on-this-date-mar-5-2010-franklin-area.html 

• What would a study for the GATRA fixed route cost? What would it cost for GATRA to do so? We can't finance the route on our own. 

• The pipeline to the Planning Board is minimal, they are cancelling meetings as they don't have work to review

The meeting runs about 2 hours & 35 minutes. 

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1792-economic-development-subcmte-mtg-08-04-26/

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The Franklin TV video can be viewed here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ8h5WC8rP0 

The agenda and released docs can be found - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08042026-2434 

My full set of notes captured during the meeting

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cKNSbTXGpP-s3395o_i52zDkPXuPn4tJ/view?usp=drive_link 

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The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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Econommic Development covers a variety of topics in 2.5 hour session (video)

The Economic Development Subcommittee met as scheduled on Wednesday, August 4. All four members of the committee were present in Council Chambers

The Franklin TV video can be viewed here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ8h5WC8rP0

The agenda and released docs can be found - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08042026-2434 

Quick recap:

• Discussion and update on the UMass study of downtown to be conducted over 2 semesters of the college year. Final number of students involved to be determined when classes begin in September. Coordinate to have them meet the Committee (either in person, or virtually) early one (Sept or October).
• update: the Depot Plaza hearing at the Planning Board has changed from 8/10 to 8/24. the application was withdrawn for a technical change and resubmitted, hence the date change
• Next up the 40b policy revision
• revision would effectively removes the prohibition of apartment proposals and provides a set of 9 criteria of which 3 could be chosen to qualify the project for consideration by Town Council.
• consideration for a weight factor for small apartments or owned units to ensure that is the desired proposal to enable but make it harder for larger apartments to make it through the process (check list)
• agreement on a great starting point, maybe something from this section, and something from that section
• likely for Morrongiello and LeBlanc to meet with Jamie and Morena to review theitems in more detail to bring back a version for further discussion
• next up, Sustainability Committee
• need volunteers, have a track record as a green community have not done a great job telling the story of the successes some of these items are not practical (I.e. fire truck as an electric vehicle is not available)national politics haven't helped drive green
• doesn't need to be so pessimistic on the approach, there are things that can be done, via the committee and folks interested in that to do the work 
• you will get passionate folks 2 apply 
• Jamie and staff can draft a charter for the committee to review before bringing to the Council
• next up, GATRA update
• World Cup was big for them, transported a bunch of folksfunded by State, so we didn't lose anything from other servers to compensate 38,385 riders in Franklin during the past year (demand response) approx 3,000/month
• GATRA had a fixed route once upon a time   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/03/on-this-date-mar-5-2010-franklin-area.html
• What would a study for the GATRA fixed route cost? what would it cost for GATRA to do so. we can't finance the route on our own. 
• I recall someone had numbers on the potential route based upon GATRA demand ridership
• the pipeline to the Planning Board is minimal, they are cancelling meetings as they don't have work to review

Mar 5, 2010: The Franklin Area Bus (from the archives, link broken on the GATRA page today)

My full set of notes captured during the meeting

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cKNSbTXGpP-s3395o_i52zDkPXuPn4tJ/view?usp=drive_link

Design Review Commission meeting - July 21, 2026 (video)

The Design Review Commission looks at signs for a new “Fresh Monkee” food oriented business which will apparently bring “Truly Healthy Shakes” according to the sign up for review. More importantly, the Design Review also gives us an initial view of the proposal to replace the Depot Plaza building. The site plan and architectural renderings of the proposal can be found as links in the agenda document.

Agenda: https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07212026-2419

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RepDJD1j44s

Thanks to the Department of Planning and Community Development for sharing the video.

Design Review Commission seeking community input on the design (only) of the proposed Depot Plaza redevelopment

Franklin's Design Review Commission is seeking community input on the design of the proposed Depot Plaza redevelopment at 9, 13 & 15 Main Street.

Design examples:

• Architectural inspiration from Franklin's historic buildings

• Paint colors

• Building façade

• Landscaping

• Lighting

• Other design features  

📄 View the developer's proposal: https://buff.ly/9SqVeOW 

📧Email your ideas to DesignReview@franklinma.gov by Tuesday, August 4, 2026.

Please note: This request is for design-related feedback only. Comments on other aspects of the proposal may be shared at the Planning Board meeting on August 10.