Franklin Matters: Design Review

Showing posts with label Design Review. Show all posts

Thursday, July 30, 2026

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.

Thursday, July 23, 2026

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.

Monday, May 25, 2026

Design Review Commission looking for new members

Interested in helping shape Franklin’s commercial areas?

The Town is seeking residents interested in serving on the Design Review Commission (DRC), which reviews signage, landscaping, lighting, and exterior building design for commercial projects throughout town.

 Learn more and apply: https://buff.ly/AY6OuOG

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ESVYqp1QY/

From the Town of Franklin 2025

ANNUAL REPORT OF DESIGN REVIEW COMMISSION

The Design Review Commission (DRC) was established in 1998 when the Town Council adopted a new Zoning Bylaw that established a sitting Design Review Commission. The 1997 Master Plan recommended that Franklin should adopt design standards to re-establish a sense of traditional New England villages. The design standards would assist in shaping the community as a whole, as well as establish a commercial appeal of individual establishments and businesses. The Commission is responsible to interpret the Design Guidelines to establish a sense of character in commercial and industrial areas and in sign installations so as to enhance the appearance of the Town.

The DRC consists of 5 regular members and 2 associate members. All members are residents and volunteers with varying backgrounds who are appointed by the Town Administrator and ratified by the Town Council. The Commission is currently composed of Samuel L. Williams, Chairman; Andrew Pratt, Vice Chairman; and members: Derek Russell Darvish and Kyle Galvin. James Bartro is an Associate member.

The DRC has approval authority on signage and offers recommendation input to the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals on Site Plans. The Commission strives to preserve and enhance the visual and physical attributes of signage and site plans so that the features within the Town represent features included in the Guidelines.

During FY 2025, the commission reviewed a total of 52 DRC Applications. There were 47 Sign approval applications and 5 Site Plan recommendations. Members review the applications according to the Sign Guidelines and issue approval of retail and industrial signage projects, as well as make recommendations on site plans that includes design and facades, materials, colors, lighting plans, and landscaping plans. The landscaping plan should include, among other things, plantings from the Best Development Practices Guidebook. The Best Development Practices Guidebook, the Design Review Guidelines and the Sign Guidelines can be found on the Design Review Commission’s webpage at https://www.franklinma.gov/design-review-commission.

Design Review meetings are being conducted remotely via the Zoom platform. In an effort to allow and encourage citizen engagement and to comply with the open meeting law regulations, citizens are able to dial into the meeting using the provided phone number (Cell phone or landline required) or participate via a Zoom link embedded in the meeting agendas. Meetings are held at 7:00 pm via Zoom on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month except December where only one meeting is held. Dates, times, meeting agendas and meeting minutes are posted on the Town’s Design Review webpage.

Respectfully submitted,

Samuel L. Williams, Chairman

The PDF of this section can be found

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UGcMrRut5jQzHPNjV3PmaMuFQosBoebU/view?usp=drive_link

The full annual report can be found

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ky7LAY2nwDzGb-8dDP2ONwzNbhxZYKKe/view?usp=sharing

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Design Review Committee Meeting 3/31/26 (video)

Town of Franklin (MA): Design Review Mtg held on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 was recorded by Franklin Planning & Community Development via Zoom using the OWL camera. The video was edited by Steve Sherlock, Franklin Matters/Franklin Public Radio and is now available for viewing on YouTube.

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0lz4T1babY

Agenda for this session

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03312026-2217

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 ???

Tuesday, February 17

No scheduled delay for trash/recycle curbside pickup due to the holiday all week

12:00pm Community Closet (Franklin United Methodist Church)

Library & Senior Center events

For additional details on Library events ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events

For additional details on Senior Center events ->

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

Note: Senior Center checking on why their events are suddenly being shown as "All Day". You can use the monthly newsletter for specific program/event times

*** Town Meetings today ***

Charles River Pollution Control Meeting

Tuesday, February 17 Time: 4:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02172026-2134

Design Review Meeting

Tuesday, February 17 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02172026-2139

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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