📰 BEN's Bulletin: New Format, MBTA Communities

Key meetings, events, and resources!

BEN's Bulletin (07/08/24)   We've launched and now we're shaping up! This is the new format of our newsletter, where we'll be sharing information on key meetings, events, and resources. Please feel free to provide feedback. As always, we meet every THIRD THURSDAY at Franklin TV (unless otherwise noted). Our next meeting is July 18 at 7 PM. All are welcome! Our agenda and previous minutes will be shared in advance of the meeting. Key Agenda Items It'll be a relatively quiet season for meetings, but BEN's keeping an eye on MBTA Communities Act compliance and the Master Plan.  For live links and photos, see the items on our Google Doc. What We're Reading Starter homes begin with starter lots (Commonwealth Beacon) How Creative Design Can Turn Strict Zoning Codes Into Success Stories (Strong Towns) The senior struggle to age in community (Commonwealth Beacon) 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, https://ben4franklin.org/ Send free email today

Davis Thayer Reuse Cmte wants to keep the building, lease the land, and do something for arts & culture (video)

The Davis Thayer Reuse Advisory Subcommittee met as scheduled on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 to complete their charge before their authorization expired on June 30.

The Franklin TV recording is available ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cruuseXmHqc

1. Expressions of Interest Presentations

a. 7:00 to 7:20 - Dean College combined with Camford Property Group  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/rei_davis_thayer_letter_of_interest_proposal_narrative_and_project_description_-_dean_college.pdf

b. 7:20 to 7:40 - Pennrose, LLC  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/pennrose.pdf

c. 7:40 to 8:00 - HFA and TMC Properties   

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/tmc_hfa_davis_thayer_submission_email.pdf

2. Final Recommendation to the Town Council - the draft was revised to remove "if possible", change the date from Dec to June 30, change # of proposals from 4 to 3 and approved as amended. Other typos were to be sent to Town Administrator Jamie Hellen to include in the updated version. The amended version was approved via roll call vote (one member was remote) 9-0.

a. Draft Letter   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/2024-06-26_davis-thayer_reuse_committee_recommendation.pdf

My notes can be found in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-v2wyKzAdoDYv68PiueotKmBFbdIeuLA/view?usp=drive_link

Davis Thayer Building Reuse Advisory Committee scheduled to meet Tuesday, June 25 at 7 PM

Upzone Update offers analysis of MBTA Community compliance efforts

"Upzone Update offers analysis of MBTA-C compliance efforts, produced by zoning expert Amy Dain and the staff of Boston Indicators. This week's article is by Amy Dain.

It has been an intense spring of zoning reform, as housing prices continue to escalate. The Upzone Update has been reporting on wins, opportunities, and also some disappointments.

Stay tuned for more editions of the Upzone Update due out in the fall, when votes on zoning reform will resume, and the SJC will hear the Milton case.

In the meantime, don’t hesitate to be in touch with your own insights and updates. Contact us at upzoneupdate@bostonindicators.org. 

Continue reading the recent update ->    https://mbtacommunities.bostonindicators.org/mbtac-its-all-in-the-details/ 

 

Upzone Update offers analysis of MBTA-C compliance efforts

Did you catch the Boston Globe article on the BEN for Franklin group?

"For Cobi Frongillo, a town councilor in Franklin, every meeting about a new housing development goes about the same way.

First, the pitch from the developer. Then, a barrage of complaints quickly follows. The Franklin residents who show up generally hate the height of the building, how large it is, the number of parking spots — pretty much everything about the proposal.

It can be difficult for Frongillo, 25, to sit through. The only way he can afford to live in Franklin is by renting a backyard cottage from his parents, and he sees how few people his age have any opportunity to stay in the community where they grew up. Allowing more new homes in Franklin could help, he said.

Fed up with the hostile reception to new development in Franklin, Frongillo and a group of other residents formed what was once a rare breed of advocacy organization in Boston-area suburbs: a pro-housing group, whose members go to public meetings to say yes to more housing development, instead of no."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) -> 

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/05/25/business/housing-suburbs-greater-boston-activists/

Visit the Building Equitable Neighborhoods for Franklin webpage to find out more about the group and perhaps even join the mailing list to join in the conversations.  https://ben4franklin.org/

Cobi Frongillo is a 25-year-old town council member in Franklin who lives in a cottage in his parents' backyard — the only way he can afford to live in the suburban town, he says. SUZANNE KREITER/GLOBE STAFF

From trade restrictions to zoning as a means to change our world for more sustainable living (audio)

FM #1206 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1206 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist. We met to record in the Franklin TV & Public Radio studio on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.  

We continued making sense of climate by working our way from the trade restrictions on electronic vehicles (EVs) just announced to transportation issues, walking, biking and then briefly to zoning as a measure to change our world for more sustainable living.

This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

The conversation runs about 39 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted.

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1206-making-sense-of-climate-44-05-14-24

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Trade restrictions on EV  https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/may/14/joe-biden-tariff-chinese-made-electric-vehicles 

White House fact sheet https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/05/14/fact-sheet-president-biden-takes-action-to-protect-american-workers-and-businesses-from-chinas-unfair-trade-practices/ 

Smoot Hawley Act   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoot%E2%80%93Hawley_Tariff_Act

CHIPS Act   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CHIPS_and_Science_Act 

International Monetary Fund on Border Carbon Adjustments

https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WP/Issues/2021/09/24/Border-Carbon-Adjustments-Rationale-Design-and-Impact-466176 

Building Equitable Neighborhoods for Franklin (www.BEN4Franklin.org/ )

Audio mentioned during #44 https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/05/building-equitable-neighborhoods-for_01632997446.html 

** See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

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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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

From trade restrictions to zoning as a means to change our world for more sustainable living (audio)

Conversation with Ted Cormier-Leger on the current Franklin topics (audio)

FM #1201 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1201 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with Town Councilor Ted Cormier-Leger. We had our discussion in person at the Franklin TV & Radio studios on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. 

Ted Cormier-Leger

 

We talk about 

• The schools’ redistricting proposal

• Davis Thayer and ‘Expression of Interest’ proposals due at end of May

• Social media not the proper place for accurate info or civil discourse

• Unfortunate timing of multiple events coming together

• Budget & the override scheduled for June 11

• Affordable housing and the real estate market

The recording runs about 48 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1201-ted-cormier-leger-05-08-24

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Contact info for Ted Cormier-Leger -> tcormierleger@franklinma.gov 

Town Council page => https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council 

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

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!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Building Equitable Neighborhoods for Franklin (BEN 4 Franklin) schedules launch events - May 10 & 11

BEN 4 Franklin is pleased to invite anyone who lives or works in Franklin to our two public launch events: 

launch party - May 10

On Friday, May 10, 2024, Ben 4 Franklin will host a launch party at 7:00 PM at the Franklin TV Studio, 23 Hutchinson Street. In addition to a short speaking program with featured speaker Jesse Kanson-Benanav, Executive Director of Abundant Housing Massachusetts, this interactive event will be a place where attendees can share memories of Franklin from the past and envision Franklin in the future through discussion, storytelling and artistic expression. Light refreshments will be provided.  

Jane Jacobs Walk - May 11

On Saturday, May 11, 2024, there will be a second BEN 4 Franklin launch event: Cobi Frongillo and Franklin Matters’ Steve Sherlock will be leading a 90-minute Jane Jacobs Walk (rain or shine!) at 10:30 AM starting from the Franklin TV Studio, to explore the history, physical structure and architecture of Franklin’s built downtown environment. The community walk-and-talk will be one of thousands of Jane Jacobs Walks that take place every May in honor of the late social activist and placemaker. The walk will be accessible to wheels and paws, and participants are invited to gather afterwards at La Cantina Winery to share thoughts and observations. 

For more information and to RSVP for either or both of the two launch events, or to sign up for BEN 4 Franklin’s mailing list, please visit: tinyurl.com/ben4franklin

Visit the web page for more information -> https://ben4franklin.org/

Franklin Ridge Booster Pump Station - Invitation for Bid

IFB - Franklin Ridge Booster Pump Station

In accordance with MGL c. 30 section 39m, it is the intention of the Town of Franklin to retain the services of a company for the Franklin Ridge Booster Pump Station Project in the Town of Franklin.

Additional Information:  Franklin Ridge Booster Pump Station Project

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/purchasing/bids/ifb-franklin-ridge-booster-pump-station

Franklin Ridge Booster Pump Station - Invitation for Bid

Will the Town Council whiff again? or vote to encourage 40b development?

The Town Council gets a chance to lend their approval of a "friendly 40b" on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. They whiffed on their chance last year rejecting the 121 Grove St proposal by a 4-5 vote. (vote & meeting info below)

The chance this time is for the proposal to develop the Stobbart's property bringing 264 rental units, 66 of them would be "Affordable."

The proposal documentation is found here:

a. Franklin Town Council Support for Proposed GL Chapter 40B Affordable Housing Project at 444 East Central Street Pursuant to DHCD’s Local Initiative Program (LIP): Friendly 40B

i. Town Administrator Memo, 40B Process Outline  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/8a_1_-_presentation_friendly_40b_stobbarts.pdf

ii. Project Presentation  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/8a._2_central_st_residences_tc_presentation_041024_v17_pdf_final.pdf

iii. Current Project Plans  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/8a._3_csr_preliminary_plans_update_tc_040324.pdf

iv. Town Board/Committee and staff comment letters  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/8a._4_letters.pdf

v. Related articles on the need for housing  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/8a._articles.pdf

The full Council agenda (including remote participation info) 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/april_10_2024_town_council_meeting_agenda.pdf

Meeting notes for March 15, 2023 covers the 121 Grove St "friendly 40b" proposal that was rejected by the Council -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/03/town-council-ratifies-master-plan.html  (includes links to the video, audio and my notes)

Will the Town Council whiff again? or vote to encourage 40b development?