Town of Franklin 2025 Master Plan: Community Services and Facilities

Introduction

The Community Facilities and Services Chapter describes the existing services and facilities in town, including public schools, public safety and emergency services, library services, wastewater management, public water supply, stormwater, senior center, and town-owned buildings. The Chapter also discusses trends, opportunities, and challenges identified by community members and town staff.

The following municipal services and facilities are reviewed in this chapter:

● Drinking Water

● Wastewater

● Stormwater

● Solid Waste & Recycling

● Police and Public Safety

● Fire and Emergency Services

● Public Education

● Public Library

● Senior Center

● Other Town Buildings and Facilities (Occupied and Vacant)

Access to adequate services and facilities is necessary for the health, well-being, and safety of the Franklin community. Residents rely every day on the town’s solid waste, drinking water, and wastewater systems. Adequate public safety and emergency services are essential to community well-being and quality of life. The public education system is critical to attract families to Franklin and raise an informed, civically engaged next generation, and town-owned buildings provide an entry point for civic engagement and house day-to-day municipal operations. The enhancement and maintenance of these services and facilities is critically important to support residents and businesses in their everyday needs.

Existing Conditions and Trends

TOWN BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

The town maintains a range of public facilities such as schools, the public library, parks, recreational centers, and administrative buildings to serve the needs of its residents. The buildings owned and managed by the town (not including public schools) are listed in Table 9.1. The condition and functionality of these facilities vary based on factors like maintenance efforts, funding allocations, and community initiatives.

TOWN HALL

Franklin’s main municipal building, the Town Hall, houses the departments of Town administrator, Board of Assessors, Building & Inspections, Comptroller, Conservation, Facilities, Health, Human Resources, Planning & Community Development, Purchasing, Information Technology (IT), Town Clerk, and the Treasurer/Collector. As of 2023, the Town Hall is undergoing a mechanical renovation to improve the building’s sustainability after replacing the building’s windows with ultraviolet protection previously. The Town Hall is planning to go through an entire internal modernization within the next several years.

The concern for the Town Hall currently is a spatial concern. Departments like IT have seen an increase in staffing and space needs and may require additional space beyond what is possible in the current Town Hall structure.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

The Franklin Department of Public Works (DPW) serves as a cornerstone of infrastructure maintenance, community development, and environmental stewardship in Franklin. DPW oversees nine departments, Administration, Engineering, Highway, Grounds, Water, Sewer,

 

Stormwater and Solid Waste & Recycling, which are committed to enhancing the quality of life for residents. All divisions are responsible for a wide range of essential services that keep the town running smoothly.

Road maintenance and repair are at the forefront of the DPW's responsibilities under the Highway Division. The department oversees road resurfacing, pothole repair, signage installation, and other road-related projects to ensure safe and efficient transportation for residents and visitors.

Solid waste management and recycling programs are another vital aspect of the DPW's operations. The department coordinates the collection and disposal of waste and recyclables, promoting responsible waste disposal practices and environmental sustainability within the community.

Additionally, the DPW manages water and sewer infrastructure. This includes maintaining water supply systems, ensuring water quality, and addressing sewer system maintenance and repair needs. These efforts contribute to the overall health and well-being of Franklin's residents. Stormwater management is another critical area of focus for the DPW. The department implements strategies to control stormwater runoff, prevent flooding, and protect local water bodies from pollution, ultimately contributing to a healthier environment.

Beyond these core functions, the DPW is involved in park maintenance, tree management, and landscape beautification projects that enhance the town's aesthetics and recreational spaces. The department's contributions to these areas significantly impact the community's overall quality of life.

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Continue reading this Master Plan section in PDF format

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Complete 2025 Master Plan report

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4018/Final-Report

Town of Franklin Master Plans (prior years)

https://www.franklinma.gov/295/Master-Plan

Town of Franklin 2025 Master Plan: Sewer System Map & New Beaver St Lift Station (video)

The sewer system map is from the 2025 Master Plan. 

The video of the Beaver Street Life Station was recored in May of 2026. It handles 70% of the raw flow to the Charles River Treatment plant in Medway. Initially shared in June 2026 https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/06/come-along-with-us-as-we-go-inside-lift.html

Video link - https://youtu.be/uH48wRHdIFA

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Continue reading this Master Plan section in PDF format 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ojQMYKDNCxojDvgV1p5ymhtt5y0GWlRo/view?usp=drive_link

Complete 2025 Master Plan report 

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4018/Final-Report 

Town of Franklin Master Plans (prior years) 

https://www.franklinma.gov/295/Master-Plan

25' Underground and inside the new BSI Lift Station on Beaver St

 

Town of Franklin 2025 Master Plan: Open Space and Recreation

Introduction

The Town of Franklin embraces a distinctive blend of developed land, open spaces, and recreational opportunities. The town places a high value on outdoor activities and conservation efforts to maintain this delicate balance between development and open space preservation. While suburban sprawl remains an ongoing challenge, Franklin has recently implemented measures to conserve and safeguard its natural landscape. Open Space and Recreation will continue to be a town priority.

Existing Conditions and Trends

Over the past few decades, various initiatives have worked towards preserving Franklin’s open space. The effort began in 1985 when the Franklin Conservation Commission created the first individual open space and recreation plan. Since then, efforts have been progressively concentrated on conserving and safeguarding the town’s natural environment, with the inclusion of additional open space and recreational parcels. Currently, the town has over 5,000 acres of both public and private open space and recreation areas, including:

 

● 1,000+ acres of Town-owned permanently protected conservation land.

● 1,000+ acres of permanently protected recreational land.

● 400+ acres of permanently protected public open space.

● 600+ acres of private recreational land.

LEVEL OF PROTECTION

The Town of Franklin currently has 3,136 acres of land classified as protected open space and recreation.107 Eighty-four percent of that land is protected in perpetuity. The remaining 16 percent of open space parcels have limited, unknown, or no protection. The 134.7 acres (9 parcels) that have limited protection include St. Mary’s Cemetery, Brick School House, Fletcher Field, Davis Thayer School, Old Town Pool Site, Tri-County Vocational High School fields, Horace Mann Middle School fields, Theron Metcalf Field, JFK Elementary School, Parmenter School, and King Street Memorial Park. 

The two parcels (9.2 acres) that have unknown protection comprise the Harborwood Playground, owned by the Harborwood Association. The nine parcels (357.6 acres) that have no protection include Camp Haiastan, the Franklin Rod and Gun Club, Franklin Country Club, and Maplegate Country Club. Parcels that fall into this category are privately owned lands that are 10 acres or more and contain no structures. Table 8.1 lists the protected open space and recreation by level of protection and Map 8.1 illustrates the level of protection throughout the town.

OWNERSHIP

As previously stated, there are several different owners of protected open space and recreation within Franklin. There is a total of 3,136 acres of protected space, and the respective owners with the total number of acres owned are displayed in Table 8.2. Map 8.2 illustrates protected open space and recreation by ownership.

PRIMARY PURPOSE

The majority of open space and recreation land in Franklin has the primary purpose of conservation and recreation, totaling 2,243 acres or 71.5 percent of total open space. Table 8.3 contains a list of protected open space and recreation parcels by primary purpose. Five parcels (125.1 acres) are for agriculture, 18 (122.5 acres) are for flood control, two parcels (22.6 acres) are historical/cultural, and 18 parcels (178.0 acres) are for water supply. An additional 11 parcels (444.8 acres) are categorized as “other” for the primary purpose.

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Complete 2025 Master Plan report

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4018/Final-Report

Town of Franklin Master Plans (prior years)

https://www.franklinma.gov/295/Master-Plan

Town of Franklin 2025 Master Plan: Open Space Owner & Open Space Protections Map

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Continue reading this Master Plan section in PDF format

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Complete 2025 Master Plan report

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4018/Final-Report

Town of Franklin Master Plans (prior years)

https://www.franklinma.gov/295/Master-Plan

From the archives: Talking about the Master Plan Committee with Glenn Jones (Part 1 of 3) - 02/06/23 (audio)

FM #941 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 941 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Town Councilor Glenn Jones. We met in the Franklin TV & Radio Studio to talk about the opportunity to help develop the “Master Plan” for Franklin. 

The Committee was recently established by the Town Council (01/04/23 meeting). Glenn has just been appointed as Chair. Councilor Cobi Frongillo will be Vice-Chair and Councilor Melanie Hamblen will be Clerk of the committee.

Applications for the 6 resident members of the committee are open and due by March 3, 2023.

The audio recording runs about 38 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Glenn on the Master Plan and all that it will involve. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-941-master-plan-opportunity-with-glenn-jones-02-06-23

Town of Franklin 2025 Master Plan: Scenic Roads & Historic Resource Maps

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Complete 2025 Master Plan report

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4018/Final-Report

Town of Franklin Master Plans (prior years)

https://www.franklinma.gov/295/Master-Plan

Town of Franklin 2025 Master Plan: Natural, Cultural & Historic Resources

Introduction

Franklin is a town that proudly intertwines its natural, historic, and cultural treasures to create a tapestry of unparalleled charm. Steeped in a rich historical background, many of Franklin’s significant buildings and areas have stood the test of time, narrating tales of the past. Franklin offers a rich diversity of landscapes including urban, suburban, small town and rural/agricultural areas. The Town has hills, farmlands, pastures, scenic roadways lined with large trees, stone walls, lakes, rivers, streams, marshes, and swamps - all the unique features for a picturesque landscape that serves a variety of lifestyles and creates a pleasant environment for residents to live and work. As stewards of this New England gem, the community is committed to smart growth, protecting its natural resources, maintaining its historic appeal, and identifying and safeguarding lands and historic characteristics that make Franklin a treasured place to live, work, and play.

Existing Conditions and Trends

GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY, AND SOILS

 

Franklin is characterized by low, rounded hills and open valleys formed by repeated advances of glacial ice. Elevations in the town range from 470 feet above sea level in the southern portion of the town, to less than 150 feet near Populatic Pond in the north. Some portions of northern Franklin also reach elevations over 400 feet above sea level.63 With a majority of the town sitting at 250-350 feet above sea level, Franklin is one of the highest elevated towns in Norfolk County.

Franklin’s bedrock is mainly composed of two types of granite: Dedham and Quincy granite. Dedham Granite runs through the lower half of Franklin, while Quincy Granite runs through the northern half. The Town has a small band of diorite (a dark, granite-textured rock) and diabase (dark, fine igneous rock, often used for crushed stone) dikes and sills along its eastern border with Norfolk and a strip of Wamsutta Formation (red to pink conglomerates of sandstone shale and rholite) along its southern border with Wrentham. The Bellingham-Franklin line is straddled with a strip of the Blackstone Group (quartzite, schist, phyllite, marble and metavolcanic rocks) on its northern half and a strip of Mattapan Volcanic Complex to the south of the Blackstone Group.

As the glacier retreated to the north, glacial till (unsorted glacial sediment) was deposited on hills, while meltwaters covered lower elevations with stratified glacial deposits of sand and gravel. In Map 7.1, tills appear as green, outwash areas of sand and gravel deposits are indicated by orange, bedrock outcrops are denoted by red, and brown indicates areas of artificial fill. Alluvium (mainly organic matter, fine sand, and silt) which underlies the flood plains of most streams and rivers, is represented by yellow areas.67 There are large swamp deposits in the western half of the town, as well as in some wetland pockets in other parts of Franklin. Comparing the surficial geology to flood hazard areas (shown in Map 7.2), clearly shows how the soils left behind by the glaciers are impacting the water flow at the surface today. Areas that would experience flooding during a 100-year flood overlap areas of floodplain alluvium and swamp deposits that are poorly draining and hold significant amounts of water and peat.

Franklin’s surficial geology consists primarily of deep, moderate to excessively drained fine, sandy loams. Knowledge of the soil types located within Franklin is a valuable tool for land use planning. Soil conditions can inform appropriate locations for farming, development and construction uses, flood management and other uses.

AGRICULTURAL LAND

Due to the high quality of its soil, Franklin has a rich agricultural history. Of Franklin’s 17,296 acres, 5,375 acres are classified as prime farmland or farmland of statewide significance.

According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), prime farmland “has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for economically producing sustained high yields of food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops, when treated and managed according to acceptable farming methods”.70 Farmland of statewide significance “is of statewide importance for the production of food, feed, fiber, forage, and oil seed crops, as determined by the appropriate state agency or agencies. Generally, these include lands that are nearly prime farmland and that economically produce high yields of crops when treated and managed according to acceptable farming methods.”

While there were over 200 farms across Franklin in the late 1800s, that number has decreased dramatically today. As of 2023, the town reported only 14 operating farms (see Table 7.1 below).

Recently, the Town Council established the Franklin Agricultural Commission to promote the long-term economic and environmental viability of Franklin agriculture, provide agricultural resources, and preserve farmland in the town.

The Franklin Farmers’ Market is held on the Franklin Town Common on Fridays from June through October and a Winter Farmers’ Market is held at Fairmount Fruit Farm on selected Saturdays from November through April.

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Continue reading this Master Plan section in PDF format

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CF0i8sjlLT5Duj5Pjnu6itnNQg2mPCYD/view?usp=drive_link

Complete 2025 Master Plan report

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4018/Final-Report

Town of Franklin Master Plans (prior years)

https://www.franklinma.gov/295/Master-Plan

Town of Franklin 2025 Master Plan: Land Use

Introduction

Franklin’s landscape and land use patterns - marked by expansive open space and natural resources, along with an abundance of historic properties and a picturesque historic Town Center – reflect the community’s agricultural history and quintessential New England character. Over the years, increased development has impacted the characteristics of what was once a rural farming community. While many of the picturesque farmlands have been developed into sprawling residential subdivisions, the Town has been able to maintain its small-town charm while growing as a prominent business, commercial and industrial area along the I-495/MetroWest Corridor.

The downtown commercial district and outlying business and industrial districts create pocket urban areas that connect to rural feeling residential neighborhoods, agricultural lands, and forests. The mixed-use commercial area and business districts include retail, single and multi-family residential mixes, schools, parks and Recreation Areas, a college campus and two train stations. The industrial areas in Franklin include industrial, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, research and development facilities and office space. Many of Franklin’s new houses are located within large subdivisions, but there are still many older homes located on rural scenic roadways that have views of pastures and agricultural lands still in production.

The Land Use section of a master plan is intended to delineate the opportunities and challenges that will shape all future development goals. As such, this section will examine both Franklin’s past and potential future: the past, by examining historic development patterns and the current layout that these patterns have created; and the future, by analyzing the Town’s zoning regulations, which govern the type of development that can currently take place.

Existing Conditions and Trends

LAND USE PATTERNS AND TRENDS

Development and land use in Franklin have changed drastically throughout the Town’s 363-year history but have followed clear patterns still visible in its landscape today. The axes along which development has occurred in town are the traditional Town Center, dating back to Franklin’s founding, and the system of highways that crisscross the landscape, opened in the twentieth century.

Originally settled in 1660, Franklin was officially incorporated in 1778 and was primarily an agrarian community. The access to waterpower initially, and to railroads later, led to the development of mills and other industry in town. As industrial development grew in the 18th and 19th century, so did the Town’s population, mostly in the Downtown and Unionville areas and along long-established roadways. Residential growth initially occurred adjacent to the industrial and commercial growth, but now occurs in all parts of Town (see Map 6.1 Age of Housing Stock).

Between 1900 and 1950, the Town’s growth was relatively slow but steady, with no ten-year period having a population increase of over 1,000 residents. During this period, manufacturing continued and began to diversify. After World War II, the development patterns began to change; a greater percentage of residents owned cars, and single-family homes were being constructed 31 percent to 10,530 residents.

With construction of Interstate 495 and its two Franklin exits, development patterns continued to change. Residential growth began to boom in the 1960s and substantial areas of undeveloped land were turned into residential subdivisions. The construction of the subdivisions encroached on many of the scenic areas of Franklin, leaving residents to be fearful of over development. As a result, in 1987, the Town enacted an Open Space Development Bylaw to promote preservation of Open Space in subdivision development.

Interstate 495 positioned Franklin as a major regional distribution center for goods and as a regional employment center. In the 1980’s, the Town rezoned former farmlands lying immediately outside Interstate 495 for industrial uses. Since that time, the Town has rezoned additional residential property to industrial several times. In the late 1980’s, the Town established itself as a regional transportation hub by lobbying successfully for an extension of commuter rail to an Interstate 495 terminus in Franklin, and for major improvements to State Route 140 connecting the Town’s extensive commercial areas. Franklin has had a steady increase in commercial and industrial development since 1980.

The 1997 Master Plan also responded to this rapid growth by establishing three goals relating to industrial and commercial zoning, reducing residential build out, and maintaining Franklin’s New England character. Towards these ends, the plan set a target growth rate of no more than 100 building permits per year.

Additionally, Franklin adopted a Growth Management Bylaw in October 1997 which was designed to guide development to minimize excessive demands on the Town’s infrastructure and services including fire protection, water, sewer, schools, transportation, recreation, and police protection; however, this Bylaw expired in June of 2009. During the past few decades, Franklin has seen a substantial reduction in the number of large subdivisions being constructed due in part to a poor economic climate and fewer large parcels of undeveloped land.

The 2013 Master Plan introduced six goals to attain fuller, more efficient development while protecting natural resources and the New England, small town character of Franklin. There have been several amendments to the Zoning Ordinance since 2013 that can be traced to these goals outlined in this plan, but many of the recommendations are as valid in 2023 as they were a decade ago.

Recent work by the Town has focused on promoting mixed use development and encouraging expansion, retention, and attraction of business. A Market Study completed by MAPC in 2020 offered recommendations to attract business activity and concentrate development in the existing economic corridors of Franklin Center, The Crossing, and the Mixed Business Innovation District (see the Economic Development section for further discussion). Franklin created a Business Guide based on MAPC’s recommendations.

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Continue reading this Master Plan section in PDF format

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Complete 2025 Master Plan report

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4018/Final-Report

Town of Franklin Master Plans (prior years)

https://www.franklinma.gov/295/Master-Plan

Town of Franklin 2025 Master Plan: Affordable Housing & Aged Housing Maps

Continue reading this Master Plan section in PDF format

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WzJ2V4FqX5K7Pjdi-LfTGaCak2hoKaJ-/view?usp=drive_link

Complete 2025 Master Plan report https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4018/Final-Report

Town of Franklin Master Plans (prior years)

https://www.franklinma.gov/295/Master-Plan

Town of Franklin 2025 Master Plan: Land Use & Zoning District Maps

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Continue reading this Master Plan section in PDF format

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WzJ2V4FqX5K7Pjdi-LfTGaCak2hoKaJ-/view?usp=drive_link

Complete 2025 Master Plan report

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4018/Final-Report

Town of Franklin Master Plans (prior years)

https://www.franklinma.gov/295/Master-Plan

Town of Franklin 2025 Master Plan: Housing

Introduction

Housing serves as an important foundation for a community, not only defining where individuals spend much of their time but also impacting their perspectives on the surrounding area. The Town’s housing regulations, affordability, and quality are all important factors when it comes to making Franklin an appealing place to live.

Affordability and diversity of housing stock in a Town such as Franklin is vital for continuous growth and improvement. Massachusetts encourages municipalities to create a Housing Production Plan (HPP) to guide local policies for creating affordable housing. The HPP serves as a strategic report to help communities meet the 10 percent minimum under Chapter 40B, the state’s affordable housing law.

 

Existing Conditions and Trends

Franklin is one of the most populated towns in Norfolk County with over thirty thousand residents. Most homes in Franklin were built between 1980 and 1999 when the Baby Boomer generation sought homes in the suburbs to raise their families and migrated from cities such as Boston and Providence. This movement was facilitated in part by the extension of I-495. The housing boom during this period led to the construction of over 5,100 homes, including large-scale subdivisions featuring spacious single-family houses.

During the latter half of the 1990s, Massachusetts experienced a notable surge in housing production as part of the recovery from the housing collapse that occurred between 1989 and 1991.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017-2021 American Community Survey, Franklin’s population has continued to grow since the influx of population in the 1980s, supporting 33,057 people today.5 This population growth, coupled with the town’s considerable development capacity, has led to a broader range of housing options. Compared with neighboring towns, Franklin stands out for its ability to offer a more varied selection of housing developments.

POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS

Race and Ethnicity

Franklin’s population consists of 28,921 (88 percent) white, non-Hispanic residents, similar to other towns in Norfolk County.6 The second largest ethnic cohort is of Asian descent, with 1,855 residents (5.6 percent) identifying as such.

Based on the 2021 American Community Survey, Franklin has 14,255 residents who are hometown natives, having resided in the town for the majority, if not the entirety, of their lives.8 Roughly two-thirds of the populace were born in Massachusetts; the remaining third is comprised of individuals who relocated from other states or were born outside of the United States.9 Of the foreign-born population, an estimated 45 percent (about 1,300 residents) emigrated from Asia.

Population Age

As in most communities in Massachusetts, Franklin has an aging population. Unique to Franklin is its large population of older children, who constitute the second largest age group after middle-aged residents. There are 5,855 (17 percent) residents 10-19 years old, while the largest population cohort aged 50-65 comprises 8,125 (25 percent) of the total population. Even with a substantial population of children, school enrollment is in decline, though the overall population has stayed relatively consistent in recent years.

HOUSEHOLDS

Census data from 2021 shows there are 9,693 owner-occupied housing units and 2,425 renter-occupied housing units to accommodate Franklin’s population.12 In recent years the population of Franklin has been aging, to the extent that almost 25 percent of the population will be 65 years of age or older by the year 2030, leading to a need to create a more welcoming housing market that includes an increase of affordable housing. 

According to the Town’s recently completed Housing Production Plan:

● Franklin has experienced a 48 percent increase in population over the past 25 years.

● By 2030, residents over 65 years of age are expected to make up approximately 23.2

percent of Franklin’s population, compared to 8.2 percent in 2000.

● Franklin is home to 12,511 households, up from 10,995 in 2010 (9 percent increase)

● Franklin’s average household size is 2.7, and its average family size is 3.22.

● Franklin’s median household income has increased 13.2 percent since 2015, and 37.25 percent since the 2010 Census.

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Continue reading this Master Plan section in PDF format

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Complete 2025 Master Plan report

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4018/Final-Report

Town of Franklin Master Plans (prior years)

https://www.franklinma.gov/295/Master-Plan

Town of Franklin 2025 Master Plan: Economic Development

Introduction

Franklin’s past is rich in industrial history. Once a thriving manufacturing community during the industrial revolution, Franklin’s landscape was covered with mill buildings and prospered as a manufacturer of textiles and straw hats, the oldest industrial operation in Franklin. While the mill buildings of Franklin’s history are landmarks of an era past, today, Franklin’s two large industrial parks, Franklin Industrial Park and Forge Park, house millions of square feet of manufacturing, industrial, warehousing and office space combined with several smaller office and industrial parks along the Grove Street Corridor and elsewhere.

Franklin is a growth community with a pro-business environment, a low stable single tax rate, streamlined permitting processes, ample industrial land, modernized infrastructure, excellent municipal services, well-educated workforce, diverse housing opportunities and a great quality of life. Predominately a manufacturing town, Franklin is home to dozens of research and development and manufacturing companies and has attracted innovative technology companies in a wide range of industries: nanotechnology, data storage, specialty materials, life sciences - biotechnology, and medical devices.

Existing Conditions and Trends

POPULATION AND LABOR FORCE

Over the last four decades, Franklin has nearly doubled its population, growing from a community of 17,304 individuals in 1981 to its current 33,057 (91 percent increase). According to the American Community Survey (ACS), in 2021, the population of Franklin was 33,057, with 12,511 households. The average household size in Franklin is 2.6 people, on par with the state and county average of 2.5 people per household. Population growth was especially significant during the 1980s and 1990s: the town’s population increased 31.0 percent between 1981 and 1990, and an additional 31.2 percent between 1990 and 2000. These two decades of growth increased Franklin’s population by 71.9 percent, averaging approximately 3.6 percent per year.2 More recently, population growth has slowed, increasing by only 4.5 percent between 2010 and 2021.

During the last two decades there have also been substantial changes in the number and percent of Franklin’s residents within specific age categories. With a median age of 41, Franklin’s population is marginally older than that of Massachusetts (median age 39.6) or Norfolk County overall (median age 40.7). In general, compared to ten years ago, there are fewer children, somewhat fewer adults under the age of 55, and substantially more residents over the age of 55 living in Franklin today. As a result, Franklin’s labor force is aging (see Figure 4.1); between 2016 and 2021, the proportion of workers aged 55 to 64 increased by 22 percent, while the proportion over 65 increased by 71 percent.

LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION

The labor force of any city or town includes all civilian residents over the age of 16 who are either currently employed or are actively seeking employment. Although Franklin experienced only a 4.5 percent increase in population since the 2013 Master Plan, the Town has experienced a significantly higher increase (32.4 percent) in labor force participation. In 2021, Franklin had a labor force of 19,326 people and a labor force participation rate higher than that of both Norfolk County and Massachusetts (Table 4.1).

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Continue reading this Master Plan section in PDF format

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Complete 2025 Master Plan report

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4018/Final-Report

Town of Franklin Master Plans (prior years)

https://www.franklinma.gov/295/Master-Plan

Town of Franklin 2025 Master Plan: Community Vision and Goals

The Master Plan Mission Statement and Vision include the core values and goals that guide community development and decision-making.

Mission Statement

Franklin is an inclusive community that strives to support its citizens, land, and businesses in a sustainable, fiscally responsible manner. We value high quality education, the arts, cultural, historic, and agricultural resources, and the superb delivery of public services, now and into the future, for residents of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. We are committed to creating a sustainable community by protecting open spaces, recreation, and natural resources while promoting balanced growth that enhances the pluralism of our community. We work to promote various housing opportunities, as well as to attract and retain businesses, both profit and non-profit, that grow our economy, create jobs, and contribute to a vibrant downtown center and community. We continue to work to improve and enhance the safe, healthy, and efficient movement of people and goods within Franklin, and across the regional transportation network, by providing a range of integrated and sustainable transportation options.

Vision

Our vision of Franklin is to be a vibrant, inclusive, pluralistic, innovative, and sustainable community.

Pillar Goals

The six pillar goals, or overarching goals, of the Franklin Master Plan are:

 Housing Diversity

 Complete Neighborhoods

 Neighborhood Connectivity

 Vibrant Downtown

 Natural/Historic Conservation and Accessibility

 Resource Efficiency

 

Master Plan Goals

Master Plan Goals are the objectives that a community aims to achieve through implementation of a master plan. The goals are typically broad and long-term in nature, and they guide the implementation of policies and strategies that will help achieve them.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Work to revitalize Franklin’s Downtown core and adjacent neighborhoods.

2. Support the creation of mixed-use Neighborhood districts throughout Town that integrate small commercial uses near residential areas.

3. Boost tourism by highlighting, enhancing, and expanding amenities, events, and attractions.

4. Build organizational capacity to support and strengthen the Town of Franklin’s business retention and attraction initiatives, activities, and strategies.

5. Encourage the redevelopment of underutilized properties and otherwise explore opportunities to expand Franklin’s commercial and industrial bases.

6. Adopt strategies that will promote workforce development, attract skilled workers to the region and increase employment options for the Town’s current residents.

HOUSING

1. Increase Housing Diversity to encompass a range of housing types, sizes, and price points to accommodate the diverse needs and preferences of residents, including Innovative housing solutions, such as tiny homes, co-housing communities, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and co-living arrangements, to offer housing options suited to specific needs or lifestyles within the community.

2. Expand and Enhance the Downtown and Neighborhoods by prioritizing them for housing development and investments in neighborhood character that include improving infrastructure, amenities, community engagement, and quality of life for residents.

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https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ycviYUK_z0JzjGv1_OL_oC62DhYHut3I/view?usp=drive_link

Complete 2025 Master Plan report

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4018/Final-Report

Town of Franklin Master Plans (prior years)

https://www.franklinma.gov/295/Master-Plan

Town of Franklin 2025 Master Plan: Figure 4.5: Inflow/Outflow Counts of All Jobs for Franklin, MA in 2020

"According to 2020 commuting data, from OnTheMap by the U.S. Census Bureau, Franklin has an inflow of 13,643 workers entering town for jobs, but an outflow of 14,301 residents leaving for jobs outside of Franklin.

Using data from 2020, OnTheMap tracks the number of workers on a daily basis coming into, leaving and staying within Franklin for their places of work. Though this data may be skewed because of its collection during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is the most recent set available and is shown below in Figure 4.5."

Complete 2025 Master Plan report

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4018/Final-Report

Town of Franklin Master Plans (prior years)

https://www.franklinma.gov/295/Master-Plan

Town of Franklin 2025 Master Plan: Chairman’s Remarks

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The City officially known as the “Town of Franklin” has a rich and storied history, having been incorporated on March 2, 1778. We are proud to be the first municipality in the country named after Statesman and Founding Father Benjamin Franklin. Our town is home to significant landmarks, such as the birthplace of Horace Mann, the father of public education, the historic Red Brick School, and the first public library in the United States. Today, Franklin continues to stand out, having been recognized as the second safest place to live in the USA and the safest place in Massachusetts in 2019 by Neighborhood Scout.

In order to maintain Franklin's status as “one of the best places to live and raise a family,” as noted by Family Circle magazine in 2007, and in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 41, § 81D, the Town Council has taken proactive steps to guide our future. In line with this, resolution 23-37 was approved by the Franklin Town Council to establish a thirteen-person Master Plan Update Committee. This committee is made up of representatives from various town boards and commissions as well as citizen members, all working together to ensure our town’s growth is both thoughtful and strategic.

The Master Plan Update Committee has been tasked with reviewing the current Master Plan, analyzing data and community feedback, and identifying key challenges and opportunities Franklin will face over the next decade. By focusing on areas such as housing, transportation, economic development, sustainability, public services, and recreation, our committee is crafting a visionary roadmap that will guide the town’s future growth and development.

To support this effort, we have established five subcommittees that address specific aspects of the Master Plan: Land Use and Zoning; Housing and Economic Development; Community Services, Facilities, and Circulation; Open Space, Recreation, and Natural, Cultural, and Historic Resources; and Sustainability. Each subcommittee has been actively engaging with the community and town stakeholders to gather feedback and revise goals and objectives that align with the town’s long-term vision. I wish to thank all of the members of the Master Plan Committee for the countless hours they devoted to making this process run efficiently and successfully.

At every step of this process, we have prioritized the core values that define Franklin: our commitment to education, preservation of natural resources, and a forward-thinking approach to growth and development. At the same time, we remain mindful of the challenges ahead—balancing growth with the preservation of our town’s unique character, maintaining fiscal responsibility, and ensuring we address the evolving needs of our residents.

Your participation has been essential in shaping this plan. Your ideas, concerns, and vision for Franklin’s future have played a pivotal role in ensuring this Master Plan reflects the collective aspirations of our community.

On behalf of the Master Plan Update Committee, I want to express my sincere gratitude for your engagement and continued support. Together, we are shaping the future of our town, and I am confident that Franklin will continue to grow in ways that reflect our shared values, priorities, and hopes for the future.

Respectfully submitted,

Councilor Glenn F. Jones 

Master Plan Committee Chair

This Master Plan section in PDF format

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nuEJN917cZlaT9XeunbO2BKjqIu9sLo7/view?usp=drive_link

Complete 2025 Master Plan report

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4018/Final-Report

Town of Franklin Master Plans (prior years)

https://www.franklinma.gov/295/Master-Plan

Town of Franklin 2025 Master Plan: Community Engagement

Throughout the course of this over 18-month project, the Town of Franklin engaged with the public in a variety of ways. The Master Plan outreach efforts included public meetings, website updates, emails, interviews, tabling events, a bike tour, public survey, and an open house event at Dean College. The engagement was led by the Master Plan Committee and supported by the Town of Franklin Planning and Development Department along with consulting services provided by Barrett Planning Group LLC and BETA Group.

Master Plan Committee

The Franklin Master Plan Committee consisted of thirteen volunteer members, including a chair and vice chair. The committee members also took on roles as part of subcommittees that focused on five major topics:

• housing and economic development

• circulation and facilities

• open space, recreation, and natural resources

• land use

• sustainability

The MPC held over 27 public meetings as a group with an additional 60 public meeting working sessions within the subcommittees.

Informational Interviews

The consultant team of Barrett Planning Group LLC and BETA Group conducted eleven interviews with town staff to learn about the town and gain insight into issues and opportunities.

Bicycle Tour

On November 5th, 2023, the Community Facilities & Services and Circulation subcommittee conducted a public bike tour of key Franklin facilities. Subcommittee members, joined by Franklin residents, biked between five stops, where they were given facility tours and department-wide service updates from department leadership. The stops included the Oak Street / Horace Mann school complex, the Franklin Police Station, the Fisher Street Water Treatment Plant, Franklin Fire Station 1, and the Franklin Public Library. On January 25th, 2024, the subcommittee members also attended a Greater Attleboro & Taunton Regional Transit Authority public hearing at the Franklin Senior Center, before receiving a tour of the Center from department leadership. All six complexes and their corresponding discussions were recorded for continued publication by Franklin TV.

SNETT Trail Walk

The Master Plan Committee held a walking tour of the Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT) on February 24, 2024, to engage with residents and provide information on the Master Plan update.

Library Open House

The Master Plan Committee provided information on the Master Plan update to the public at the Franklin Library on February 3, 2024.

Public Survey

A 23-question survey was developed and made available for six weeks from late November 2023 to early January 2024. The was completed by over 700 respondents and included questions to gain insight to opportunities and challenges within each major topic area of the Master Plan. See Appendix A for a summary of survey responses.

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Continue reading this Master Plan section in PDF

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VRtf-5MyXx3-WUO4L1t05B31OueeKotf/view?usp=drive_link

Complete 2025 Master Plan report

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4018/Final-Report

Town of Franklin Master Plans (prior years)

https://www.franklinma.gov/295/Master-Plan