Franklin Public Schools: Preschool Screenings Available

Are you concerned about your preschooler?

Do family members complain that they cannot understand your child?

Do family members mention that your child cannot understand them??

Does something just not seem right?

The Franklin Public Schools offers developmental screenings for children 2.9 - 5 years old at no charge to families. These screenings are designed to identify children who may qualify for special education services. 

If you are concerned about your child's development, please call ECDC at 508 541-8166. You can discuss your concerns with an early childhood specialist and/or schedule an appointment for a preschool developmental screening.

Additional information can be found on the ECDC website http://franklinecdc.vt-s.net/pages/index  or by contacting Kelty Kelley, ECDC Principal @ 508 541-8166 or kelleyk@franklin.k12.ma.us.

Kelty Kelley, Principal

F. X. O'Regan Early Childhood Development Center

224 Oak Street

Franklin, MA 02038

Phone:  508-541-8166

Fax:      508-541-8254

kelleyk@franklin.k12.ma.us

"There is no hand so small that it cannot leave an imprint on the world!" Klub Kidz

ECDC sign on Oak St

In the News: state police alert on scams, eagle scouts recognized, development along RT 140, MCAS argued for

Massachusetts State Police issued a scam warning on their official Facebook page Thursday. According to the posting, scammers pretending to be members of the state police or affiliated with the police are calling people and soliciting money for drug prevention and intervention programs. 

The scammers may claim to be part of a narcotics unit, police said.

Continue to read the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150917/NEWS/150916356/1994/NEWS

Boy Scouts Patrick Cunniff, Jonathan Tomaso and Joseph Kroon, from Troop 99 of Franklin, were honored at an Eagle Scout Court of Honor on Aug. 1 for achieving the highest rank in Boy Scouts. 

Each scout completed a community service project that benefited the community: Cunniff worked with the Franklin Girls Softball Association to build four dugouts at the Remington-Jefferson fields; Tomaso constructed a walkway between the front and back entrances to the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School benefiting both charter school students and St. Mary Parish CCD students; and Kroon, sponsored by the Town of Franklin, built an arched foot bridge over a stream on the disc golf course at Dacey Fields.

arched foot bridge at Dacey Field disc golf course

Continue to read the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150917/NEWS/150916212/1994/NEWS

"There will be several different buildings," he said. "There's a gas station and, adjacent to that, a lube place and at least one restaurant. There will be several other retail spaces as well." 

According to Taberner, the developer has not labeled all of the proposed buildings, meaning it is uncertain which businesses will occupy them. 

Taberner said the board has requested more information from the developer, and would likely be considering the project for some time. He said he did not know how long the process might take. 

"The matter was continued to the next Planning Board meeting," he said. "It could be two, three, four or five - I have no idea how many meetings it might take."

Continue to read the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150917/NEWS/150916038/1994/NEWS

In a meeting with the Daily News editorial board on Wednesday, Pioneer Institute’s Jamie Gass and Tom Birmingham, former Senate president and co-author of the Education Reform Act of 1993 which created the MCAS, cautioned against switching from the long-standing test. Instead, the pair recommended working within the current system for better results. 

After education reform went into effect, Birmingham said the state set and met new standards that have pushed school performance to the top in the nation. If Massachusetts signs on to the PARCC test, Birmingham said he worries standards will drop to accommodate students in other PARCC states that don't have tests as rigorous as those in Massachusetts. 

“Before you outright jettison what has been coincident, at least, with our historic, unprecedented education success stories … I think you should bear in mind the words from the Hippocratic Oath, which is first, do no harm,” Birmingham said. “I’m fearful that if we do jettison MCAS and replace it with something else that is yet completely untested, we are inviting regression in terms of our education success.”

Continue to read the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150917/NEWS/150915990/1994/NEWS

Info on MCAS can be found here   http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/

In the News: Grant received, Pond St proposals

After applying jointly for Community Development Block Grants from the state Department of Housing and Economic Development, the towns of Bellingham, Franklin and Hopedale were awarded a total of $894,082 for housing rehabilitation and a fuel assistance program. 

The Baker-Polito Administration announced 33 grants totaling $26 million to 65 communities Wednesday. 

The federally-funded grants will help cities and towns provide housing, infrastructure improvements, childcare vouchers and other services, a press release said.

Continue to read the article here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150715/NEWS/150717728/1994/NEWS


The grant was applied for in early 2014 and reported on here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/questions-were-raised-answers-sought.html

and here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/150-emmons-st-sold-pond-st-parcel-re.html

The town is vetting three potential developments proposed for more than 30 acres of land on Pond Street that officials have been trying to sell for at least a decade. 

Two developers proposed solar farms for the property near Interstate 495, and the third submitted a commercial project with 85 condominiums and 14,000 square feet of office and retail space. 

The town’s Department of Planning and Community Development received the proposals July 9.

Continue reading the article here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150716/NEWS/150717691/1994/NEWS

Goodbye Cook's Farm

The process to get the zoning approvals seems like quite awhile ago. Tensions were raised in a June 2013 meeting. Math came to play as recently as a Nov 2014 meeting when the Council would have needed 6 votes and only had a maximum of 5 available. 

All that is in the archives now and today when we go by what was the Cooks Farmstand on Route 140, it is no longer there.

what was Cooks Farm (Franklin Country Club to left in photo)

what was Cooks Farm (Franklin Country Club to left in photo)

what was Cooks Farm (Franklin Country Club to left in photo)

Additional links from the archive on Cooks Farm:

The Planning Board meeting in June 2013 that had a procedural problem with one of their votes
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/10/contrary-to-theory-of-smart-growth.html

The Council finally approved the bylaw changes to allow for Cooks Farm to proceed in Oct 2013
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/10/ichigo-ichie-cooks-farm-and-bunch-of.html

Economic Development Committee - Dec 17, 2014

Economic Development Committee: Andy Bissanti (Chair), Bob Vallee, Matt Kelly, Peter Padula. 


Meeting location was changed to be held in the 3rd floor training room to accommodate the larger group present. Approx 24 folks in room. I was late to the room and if there was a formal acknowledgement of the committee at the meeting opening I missed it.

Open statement by Jeff Nutting providing an overview of the status of the RFP and the one response, not legal as it came in after time and added items not part of the original request.

Discussion effectively around should the RFP be re-issued? and if re-issued should it be re-issued as is, or modified. Modified to include a re-zoning of the property to include residential in a multi-use proposal.

There would be public hearings as part of the process for the zoning change. First before the Town Council as the bylaw change would be recommended to the Planning Board. There would be the Planning Board public hearing and due process. Ultimately assuming referred back to the Town Council, there are two additional readings (and hearings) for public input before final vote.

Discussion around the benefit of the apartments vs. condominiums (from a tax base perspective).
Traffic studies would be part of the approval process of what ever proposal is brought forward by a developer.

The larger concern is revenue for Franklin. How much revenue can the property bring to the community?

Planning Board Chair, Tony Padula said that the developer for the Starbucks hired an independent traffic consultant for a study. The Town also did their own study of traffic input. Both studies agreed the traffic should not be an issue for the area.

The real issue with the site is that the location and land is really located on water and next to the Charles River. That will limit what can be done on the land.

Andy Bissanti - The land is a beautiful piece of land, it is right near i495. It is underutilized. Putting it back out is the best thing to do. The residential component should be able to help 'sell' the property.

Discussion on including or not the residential component. Suggestion on putting it out without restrictions and see what someone may propose, maybe a use we have not considered.

Sandy Verhagen - What is the rush? If the land has been unused for 30+ years, what is wrong with waiting a little longer to get input from the community and do it right.

Joe Halligan - You can't say it is not going to be built, it can be built with mitigation (wider lanes, turn signals, etc.)

Peter Padula - All the hard questions need to asked here so we can do what is in the best interests of Franklin. What will come of it? I don't know but let's get it started.

Nutting - provides an overview of the next steps in the process (as summarized above)
In addition depending upon the nature of the proposal, the Conservation Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals maybe required.

Bissnti - motion to make recommendation to the full council on the proposed zoning change. Motion accepted. (Will check on committee members later - hard to determine who they are in the mix of folks present)

Second item on the agenda

Kelly- recused himself from this discussion but remained sitting in his same position

Nutting - provides a summary of Roger Calarese the developer who made the proposal for the Emmons St property

(photo to be added of rendering of his proposal)

Roger Calarese (right) and Jeff Nutting (left)  at Economic Development Committee meeting

Joe Halligan - I think we have beaten this property to death. This is going on forever. We know his work, His is the only proposal.

Lisa Piana - Downtown Partnership Executive Director - objects to the possibility of a food drive through.

Padula - I'd like to make the recommendation to bring this before the council for a full vote.

Jane Curran - objecting also to the possibility to of a food drive through

Padula - with draws his motion as he is confused. He had not realized that the proposal as written would allow for a food drive through. He had assumed it would be a bank drive through.

Bissanti - the EDC meeting had not restricted the RFP that Mr Calarese had responded to

Nutting - that is a policy decision. You can make the change and re-do, or are you going to restrict it as it moves forward?

Bissanti - I wanted it open as there are lots of potential uses and wanted to get the best option we could. I don't think we can dictate what the market says can go there.

Padula - Here is my proposal, I would not be in favor of any drive through with a food establishment on it.

Calarese - the site is too small for a Burger King or McDonald's. It could be a coffee shot but there are issues with the location and how it would fit. It is not a done deal.

Verhagen - I like to go to a downtown where I can spend time and money at a shop downtown. The money doesn't only have to come from the sale of the land it can come from the sales of the goods and services

Joe Halligan - for everyone that is against the project, there are likely going to be more that would be for the project.

Beth Simon - I am here not be to against something. I am here to ensure that the integrity of the town is maintained. I change the color of my signs (Simon's Furniture) and I got calls from folks talking about the 'new' signs. The signs have been there for years. All I did was change the color so I am glad they got noticed.

Brian Kelly - let's be clear about what we are talking about. is it a drive through or sit down place?

Calarese - I don't see that as a detriment that a brand could be located on the corner, someone could in to Town to do something at Dean, see the sign, drive through, and then go to their event. Students could cross from campus almost everyday all year.

Susan Dewsnap - That is going to be an extremely busy intersection. You got a ton of traffic going through there.

Joe Halligan - all the improvements downtown are not going to increase the traffic, it is supposed to help improve the through put? The traffic will still go through the town

Lisa Piana - the streetscape is coming and that will be making changes to the traffic. Let's wait and see what will happen after that project is done.

Bissanti - this has been beat to death. He submitted an RFP with a drive through. I think we need to move this forward. We are going to get another bite at it when it comes to the Council.

Halligan - you have to give something to the developer to get something that will improve the estetics

Recommendation to go forward for discussion at the next Council meeting

move to adjourn, passed

Are you concerned about your preschooler’s development?

The Franklin Public Schools offers developmental screenings at no charge to families. These screenings are designed to identify preschool children who may qualify for special education services. 

If you are concerned about your 3, 4 or 5 year old preschool child’s development, please call the F.X. O’Regan Early Childhood Development Center at 508 541-8166 to schedule an appointment.

the ECDC is located behind the Oak St/Horace Mann schools

You can learn more about the F.X. O’Regan Early Childhood Development Center by visiting their page on the Franklin Schools website
http://franklinecdc.vt-s.net/Pages/index

  

Important Emmons St Meeting WEDNESDAY - 5:30 pm

The Economic Development Committee will be making their recommendations for the RFP on Emmons Street property on Wednesday.

At the last meeting they discussed cutting the greenspace and leaving in the possibility of a drive-thru. They are very interested in citizens input, but people need to attend the meeting.

Emmons Street Property Discussion

Economic Development Committee Meeting

Wednesday, September 3rd

5:30 pm-Town Hall meeting room-3rd floor

Committee will decide on specific recommendations to be included in the RFP

Public encouraged to attend

150 Emmons St

This is a reprint of the Downtown Partnership notice posted earlier

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/08/franklin-downtown-partnership-reminders.html

  

In the News: Starbucks

Starbucks gets a second location in Franklin with the recent approval by the Planning Board. In addition to their first location inside Stop and Shop, they will also be located in a new development along 648-652 Old West Central St.

Four businesses would operate out of a nearly 9,000-square-foot building that includes 50 parking spaces and entrances to the site on Rte. 140 and Old West Central. 

In addition to the Starbucks with a drive-thru for up to 11 vehicles, the other tenants would include a walk-in medical clinic, a retail business and a Noodles & Company, a fast-casual restaurant. 

The Planning Board, to make the project more "neighbor friendly," added several conditions to the site plan application, such as restricting the hours for maintenance and deliveries.

Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140825/NEWS/140828113/1994/NEWS

Starbucks

For more info about Starbucks visit their webpage   http://www.starbucks.com/


Where will this new store be located?
There are there small lots next to Arcadia Dental along Old West Central St on the left side heading to the curve where the road becomes Pond St.

Responses for the Emmons St building

Franklin issued an "Request for Expression of Interest" earlier this year with all responses to be received by July 31. The three that were received and reviewed by the Economic Development Committee can be found here.

What's next? As discussed during the Town Council meeting and reported on by the Milford Daily News here, the Dept of Planning and Community Development will begin to draft a Request for Proposal (RFP) to be reviewed by the Town Council at one of their September meetings. The RFP would initiate the selling process.

The RFP would reserve a portion of the land for a monument to recognize Horace Mann. This proposal was effectively brought forth in the Gateway Committee response.

Roger Calarese response (PDF)

Dean College response (PDF)

Gateway Committee response (PDF)

Note: email subscribers will need to click through to the Franklin Matters website to view three individual PDF files shown here

The Emmons St building 

Franklin on TV

WGBH

WGBH Channel 2 Boston highlighted Franklin in a Greater Boston news segment about smart growth in suburban towns. The story aired yesterday and shows the growth and redevelopment of the downtown over the past few years. Developer John Marini, Town Administrator Jeff Nutting and RE/MAX Executive Realty's Eileen Mason are all interviewed in the story, along with a couple in the process of moving into one of the downtown condos. 

This was re-posted from the Downtown Partnership webpage here
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2014/08/greater-boston-video-creating-thriving.html

The original on the WGBH webpage
http://wgbhnews.org/post/creating-thriving-downtown-small-town-massachusetts

What's going in at the rockpile?

The 'rockpile' near the entrance of Chestnut Ridge as you come into Franklin westbound on RT 140 is undergoing some site prep work. I recall some meetings where it was discussed putting a food market there but had lost track of what was approved. It sat unused and untouched until recently when the construction fences were straightened up, some signs appeared and then earth moving equipment appeared.

fencing along RT 140 around site

As I usually go by the site early in the morning on the weekend, no one is working. I reached out to the Planning and Community Development Dept and received the following answer from Beth Dahlstrom, the Town Planner.

"It is a congregate living facility at 485 East Central Street, approved by the Planning Board on April 22, 2013.  The details of the facility are described in the attached public hearing notice."

The following notice will be published in the Milford Daily Newspaper on

Monday, March 11, 2013 and again on Monday, March 18, 2013

_______________________________________________________________________

FRANKLIN PLANNING BOARD

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

In accordance with the Town of Franklin Zoning By-Laws, the Franklin Planning Board will hold a public hearing on Monday, March 25, 2013 at 7:30 PM in the Town Council Chambers of the Franklin Municipal Building, 355 East Central Street, for a Site Plan application titled “Franklin Retirement Residence” dated March 6, 2013, prepared by Midpoint Engineering & Consulting and submitted by Lenity Group, LLC, 3159 Kettle CT, SE, Salem, OR 97301. The site is approximately 9.51 acres and is located at 485 East Central Street in the Commercial II Zoning District (Assessor’s Map 284 Lot 006). The applicant is proposing to build a 136-unit congregate living facility for seniors who are still ambulatory but in need of some support. The proposed building design includes wing ends and a building center that steps down from 3-, to 2- to 1-story; in addition, there are 87 parking spaces proposed, landscaping, drainage and associated infrastructure. 

Please contact the Department of Planning and Community Development at (508) 520-4907 if you require further information or if you need to make arrangements to provide translation services for the hearing impaired, or for persons with language barriers. 

Copies of the plan and supporting documentation may be reviewed in the Department of Planning and Community Development during regular office hours.

Anthony Padula, Chairman

fence sign on Chestnut Ridge Dr

working road added to top of 'rockpile'

view within the gates

Franklin is BioReady(R): Franklin now Platinum-rated community for biotech

The Town of Franklin has improved its zoning bylaws, building codes and other business and industry-related criteria to raise its BioReady® ranking from Gold to Platinum, signifying Franklin's readiness to work with biotechnology companies interested in locating there. 

"We are very excited to see Franklin reach the Platinum level of BioReadiness®," said Robert K. Coughlin, President and CEO of MassBio. "Franklin has proved its commitment to facilitating innovation and supporting industry growth in Massachusetts.""The Town of Franklin is honored to be a Platinum level BioReady® Community, and is very appreciative to the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council for the recognition," said Jeffery Nutting, Franklin's Town Administrator. "This award signifies the success of Franklin Town Council's continued efforts to promote a higher level of investment in the Town's industrial areas, increase employment options for the Town's residents, and increase the Town's commercial and industrial tax base." 

MassBio

MassBio and partner organizations across the state began the statewide BioReady® Communities Campaign in 2008 in order to provide background to municipal officials about the biotech industry and offer guidance on how to position municipalities as destinations for biotech laboratory and manufacturing facilities. To date, there are 77 BioReady® rated communities in the state. 

Communities are ranked on a scale of Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum, and the system helps Massachusetts cities and towns market themselves to biotechnology companies looking to expand or relocate. As part of the campaign, the MassBio Economic Development Advisory Group (EDAG) developed criteria to both guide communities in their pursuit of biotech facility opportunities and rate them for BioReadiness® in order to provide each with a tangible marketing tool. 

Other communities that have recently been awarded new or upgraded  BioReady® ratings include Leominster (Platinum), Malden (Gold), Millis (Silver), and Brookline (Bronze). 

To view full ratings criteria, visit MassBio's BioReady® Communities web page at http://www.massbio.org/economic_development/bioready_communities

About MassBio

www.massbio.org

MassBio, a not-for-profit organization that represents and provides services and support for the Massachusetts biotechnology industry, is the nation's oldest biotechnology trade association. Founded in 1985, MassBio is committed to advancing the development of critical new science, technology and medicines that benefit people worldwide. Representing over 620 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, research hospitals, and service organizations involved in life sciences and health care, MassBio works to advance policy and promote education, while providing member programs and events, industry information, and services.

Citizen Committee Annual Report

Steve - attached is the annual report on the Citizens Committee which was delivered to all town council members as well as to Town Administrator - this was done in January - thought you may want to see what the Citizens Committee has been involved with this past year - jppfeffer

Chairman Vallee:

Pursuant to your request for a report from the Citizen's Committee for topics and issues addressed this past year, please be advised:

AGENDA/DISCUSSIONS:

1. Improvement to recycling site on Beaver Street (ongoing).

2. Acquisition of land adjacent to recycling site (ongoing).

3. Improvements at train station (ongoing).

4. Cook's Farm/Country Club/Gateway initiative (ongoing)

5. Davis Thayer/temp classrooms/Gateway initiative (ongoing).

6. RFPs for Pond Street , old town hall, other potential town-owned properties (ongoing)

7. Enhancing the cbd (central business district) aesthetically and commercially.  PRIORITY

8. Seeking a developer to consider a public/private venture for a major cbd redevelopment.  PRIORITY

9. Consideration of an "unkempt property" by-law for both commercial and certain residential properties (bank-owned, foreclosed, abandoned, etc.).

10. Maintaining/Improving/enhancing the town's properties, roadways and facilities; (ongoing and PRIORITY).

11. Review and reconsider adoption of R6 zoning as initially written by the town prior to changes made to restrict/discourage development.

12. Inclusion of Dean College as a potential partner in certain town initiatives.

Those items above identified as "ongoing" indicate Council action, monitoring or participation as necessary, as shall the Committee. 

GENERAL AND RANDOM COMMENTS:

The Committee, with regular attendance and input from the Planning Board and ZBA chairs, is supportive of rezoning on many (if not all) our arterial roadways, and particularly #140 in its entirety.  Rezoning major roadways to accommodate certain commercial and retail development in residential areas, consistent with the Master Plan, and cognizant of the town's history in which neighborhoods frequently had mixed uses, and  "mom and pop" stores to serve their needs,  would reduce extensive travel for small purchases (milk, bread, etc.) and decrease traffic congestion.  This is particularly true for North and South Franklin residents. (note: the issue of rezoning, too often an emotional issue,  impacting property values does not appear, in most cases, to be accurate.  We could not identify any properties devalued as a result of rezoning. In reality, the opposite resulted with properties on #140 that were residential, particularly in the area of 3 Restaurant, greatly increased in value once designated commercial/retail).  

It was offered at one of our meetings that Franklin was comprised of 80% residential property and 20% comprising all other classifications.  If so, it is obvious that our financial position is not likely to improve if our revenue stream is driven, primarily, by residential taxation. 

The Committee is supportive of expanding regional services and efforts whenever possible or beneficial.  It also believes the permitting process in Franklin, although somewhat improved, needs further improving if we are to compete with our neighbors.   

Housing, almost always in demand, should seek creative and alternative development as suggested in the Master Plan.  Allowing market forces to determine housing is preferred and there appears to be a large inventory of existing affordable housing in the community (as well proposed); a small percentage of luxury housing; senior housing appears to be a likely issue in the near future and will require consideration.  A review of R6 to allow for certain condominium development, eliminating the restrictions imposed to curtail development, is recommended.   The recent R7 zoning requires "stand alone" units and precludes duplex or quads as constructed in desirable developments as Chestnut Ridge, Spruce Pond, etc.  The fear of multiple condo development proposals, as alluded to in the R7 debate, has not materialized and is unlikely to materialize as history tells us development is market driven. 

Those items above identified as "ongoing" indicate Council action, monitoring or participation as necessary. 

The use of sub-committees, and a more aggressive agenda by the Economic Development Committee, are encouraged and necessary to complete the issues/topics noted above.  Simply, Council participation enhances projects and proposals toward completion.  Topics identified as PRIORITY, most of which are relative to the aesthetics of the community, cannot be too strongly emphasized.  Characterizing Franklin 's cbd as "seedy" (Boston Globe) is a negative difficult to overcome.  Every major developer or investor inspects our downtown before considering Franklin as a potential site; there has been some improvement, and the blending of the downtown reconstruction along with the depot site is encouraging, but more needs to be done and should be a priority of the Council.    

As suggested by the Town Administrator, there needs to be a "Team Franklin" approach to conducting the town's business.  Workshops for all those, elected, appointed and/or volunteering should be ongoing to educate and encourage for a unified response to the town's problems and initiatives.   Historically, Franklin has been most productive and successful when the Council actively participates in moving the agenda and issues forward.  Assuming the town administrator, well qualified and energetic, can accomplish all these objectives alone is unrealistic.  The use of sub- committees is both recommended and essential and, in the past, served the community well in meeting its' needs.  

Lastly, there needs to be an enhancement of the relationship between Dean College , one of the town's largest landowners, and the community at large, particularly in the greater cbd development.  Dean is the elephant in the room; we need to recognize and appreciate the symbiotic potential and aggressively move to enhance it; it is in our mutual interest to do so.  

These are mostly the issues, subjects and topics we discussed in 2013 and shall continue to monitor in 2014, along with new or emerging proposals. 

On behalf of the Committee, Robert Avakian, Andrew Bissanti, Paul Cheli, Matt Kelly, Judith Pfeffer and Robert Ficco, Esq., 

I am, yours truly, 

L.P. Benedetto, 

January 19, 2014.

Franklin Municipal Building

Note: The Citizens Committee did get their own reference page set up on the Franklin website. 
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_BComm/Citizen%20Committee

While there has not been a published meeting schedule, or meeting agendas, or meeting notes, it is anticipated that these deficiencies will be corrected.

new neighbors - Eagle Brook Village

The Town Council is considering zoning bylaw changes to allow a higher density development on the Cook's Farm property. Have you noticed that Wrentham is soon to be hosting a good sized development just down the road on RT 140?

Eagle Brook Village is under construction by DiPlacido Development. It looks to be about 90 homes in five styles according to the lot plan and house models shown on the developer webpage.

http://diplacidodevelopment.com/wp/sales/eagle-brook/

Voices of Franklin: FRANKLIN HEIGHTS: Family Community Dream or Foreclosure Nightmare?

The Franklin Heights development is a Townhome/Condo Community located off of Lincoln St. My family purchased our town home in May 2008, at that time there were two townhome buildings with 4 units per building on the property. We were told at the time of sale there were plans for a beautiful family community and 109 townhomes were to be built in two phases. 

Soon after our sale, we noticed that things weren’t happening the way that we were told they would. Since our development was not complete, our association was run by the Trustee, the current builder. He had the control over how our condo fees were distributed and we were unaware of how much money was not being used as we were told until the development went into foreclosure and we were told that our condo reserve was gone. During this time, we had no landscaping or road maintenance. Our yards were literally overgrown, there were big mosquito infested holes from where construction had begun but not finished. From what I understand, the Condo association is required to have a 10% reserve in the budget for units to be sold and re-sold. We have never, in the 5 years that I have lived here, been given a budget or statement of how our fees are distributed. Our fees were quickly raised to make up for this reserve that is needed. We are threatened with liens on our property if we are delinquent on payment. After the foreclosure, we were told (through our own research through the Registry of Deeds and demands for information from realtors on the property) that there was a new property developer taking over our development. The new developer has since only developed the 18 unit complex located on the property that was abandoned for years. It took our own research through the Registry of Deeds to find out that a member of this new company was the new Trustee of our association. He has told us that his hands are tied in relation to the existing townhome units. He will not answer my emails or talk to me about my concerns. He will only send impressions of legal action if I continue to speak out with my opinions. We are told by Continuing Care (Property Management Company that handles our association money) that there is no money in our budget for road/driveway maintenance, recycling, and regular maintenance of our units. This is all outlined as the responsibility of the Trustee/Association in our condo documents. All townhome units pay month HOA fees, some units as high as $310/month. Just recently, homeowners have begun to use their own money to make repairs to prevent damage to our cars and provide safe spaces for our children. 

My mission is to raise awareness about this development in hopes that drawing attention will force the “board” and “association” and “Trustee” to start running this neighborhood as a true association with unit owner involvement and proper maintenance of our units and roads. 

Thank you,
Rachel Brancato

Voices of Franklin guidelines
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html

Master Plan - required summer reading

The public hearing on the Master Plan drew about a dozen people to the Franklin Library on Saturday. The presentation document used for the Town Council meeting on Jul 17th was the same document shared on Saturday. It provided a thorough overview of the process to develop the plan and goals/objectives of each section.

It will be important to read the document carefully. This is what will guide all the development efforts for Franklin. It should be referenced as each new proposal comes before a board/committee for consideration. Does it fit within the plan? Does it further the progress of the plan?

The SNETT trail development?
Yes - this covers recreation, sustainability, transportation (circulation), and health aspects of the plan.

The sculpture park being put together at the former town pool location?
Yes - it covers art, outdoor recreation, sustainability and maybe some others I haven't considered.

The proposal for Cook's Farm?

Maybe, it doesn't really fit the definition of the "in fill development" as explained during the meeting. 

The plan is not a budget document. It is a guideline on how we should grown to continue to be a wonderful community. Knowing what the document says about how we should prepare for the future will be as important as understanding the background, interests and agendas for any of the candidates for our municipal election this November. Those who will sit and act on behalf of our best interests will be using this document to guide their actions. We should know the details.

A copy of the Draft Plan is available online at http://town.franklin.ma.us/pages/FranklinMA_Planning/masterplandoc/doc 
at the Franklin Public Library or 
at the Department of Planning & Community Development in Franklin Municipal Building.

Public input will be utilized to formulate the final document. Comments received will be reviewed by the Master Plan Committee and incorporated into a final Master Plan document to be endorsed by the Planning Board and Town Council at meetings during the week of September 16, 2013.

The Committee has a website on the Franklin Town page at:
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_BComm/Masterplan.

It also has a presence on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/FranklinMasterPlan.


My notes from the Public Hearing can be found here:

• live reporting - Public Hearing - Master Plan (con...
• Live reporting: Public Hearing - Master Plan 2013
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In the News: Cook's Farm

Developer eyeing Cook's Farm property in Franklin

A developer is seeking a permit from the town to build 35 single-family condominiums, one-story contemporary colonials geared toward empty-nesters, on 14 acres of former farmlands near Franklin Country Club.

For the complete report on all that happened at the Town Council meeting Wed, Jun 19
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/06/tensions-rise-over-cooks-farm-and.html

"incentives to sweeten the deal"

The Milford Daily News writes about the use of the TIF by local communities to help businesses:

... Tax Increment Financing agreements, commonly called TIFs. 

The deals, agreed upon between a municipality and a business, give companies a break on property taxes on new value they add to a property. 

The tax breaks start off larger at the beginning of a deal, then decrease over the life of the agreement, until the company is paying 100 percent of the taxes on the property. 

The tax breaks do not apply to already existing value — only to whatever value a company may add to a property.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x836133214/Communities-using-tax-deals-to-attract-businesses#ixzz1y8V0IYm0

Franklin has used the TIF to help with local businesses:
Hamilton Storage Technology received a TIF as approved by the Town Council in Sep 2011
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/09/real-time-reporting-legislation-part-1.html

The TIF was discussed during the Economic Development Summit
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2010/10/franklin-ma-is-looking-to-do-business.html

Franklin created the Economic Development Area and the TIF back in 2008
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2008/09/live-reporting-resolutions-approved.html

Master Plan Hearing this Saturday

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Master Plan Hearing this Saturday

via Franklin Downtown Partnership by noreply@blogger.com (Franklin Downtown Partnership) on 5/16/12

FRANKLIN - Franklin's Master Plan Committee will hold its second of two public hearings on Saturday morning to hear from residents about what they want for the future of Franklin. The hearing is scheduled for Saturday, May 19 at 10:00 in the conference room at Franklin Public Library.

"This hearing will afford Franklin residents another opportunity to provide input on the planning process, and get involved early in developing the Franklin's Master Plan," noted Committee Chairman and Town Councilor Jeffrey Roy. "We have been meeting for several months formulating a structure for our work, and we want to hear from the Franklin community about priorities and concerns. We have scheduled the two hearings to afford citizens a good opportunity to participate in the process."

The committee held its first public hearing on Tuesday, May 9, 2012. You can read the Milford Daily News report on that meeting at http://tinyurl.com/7q5pxbc

In December 2011, following the election of a new Town Council, the Master Plan Committee was formed to develop documents, review research and data, and obtain public input to outline and compose a Master Plan for the community. In addition, the Committee will incorporate a strategic plan into this effort that will invite residents to visit the questions of who we are and what we want for our community.

"Attending a public hearing will provide Franklin's residents and organizations a great opportunity to provide the Town's Master Plan Committee with input as the Committee works toward development of a vision for the Town's future," said Bryan Taberner, the Director of Franklin's Planning & Community Development Department. "The public process is an extremely important component of any comprehensive planning process, as the resulting goals and objectives will help to focus the decision making of Town officials well into the future." 

By law, a Master Plan is a statement through text, maps, illustrations or other forms of communication that is designed to provide a basis for decision making regarding the long-term physical development of the municipality. In that context, the committee is looking at the following elements: Land Use, Housing, Economic Development, Circulation, Open Space and Recreation, Natural, Cultural and Historic Resources, Community Services, and Facilities. The Committee will establish recommendations for goals and policies in these areas and develop an implementation plan. The report is expected to be delivered to the Town Council by June 2013.

Beth Dahlstrom, Franklin's Town Planner is hoping to learn how the residents of Franklin view the community in which they live. She is interested in learning about what the residents see as the most important aspects of the community and what can the Town can do to enhance areas within the community to make it a better place to live. "I then hope the Master Plan Committee will be able to then use the information obtained at the Public Hearing to help formulate goals and objectives for use in the Master Plan," noted Dahlstrom..

The Master Plan Committee members are Jeffrey Roy, Chairman, Matt Kelly, Vice Chairman, Andy Bissanti, Secretary, Christi Apicella, Nathan Carlucci, John Carroll, David F. Dobrzynski, Jay Duncan, James Esterbrook , Gene Grella, Jeff Livingstone, Greg Rondeau, Timothy C. Twardowski, and Chris Vericker. 

The Committee has a website on the Franklin Town page athttp://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_BComm/Masterplan. It also has a presence on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/FranklinMasterPlan. In addition to the public hearings, residents can offer input online at either site.

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