Franklin Matters: economic development

Showing posts with label economic development. Show all posts

Thursday, August 6, 2026

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

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

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

Quick recap:

Discussion and update on the UMass Boston study of downtown to be conducted over 2 semesters of the college year. Final number of students involved to be determined when classes begin in September. Coordinate to have them meet the Committee (either in person, or virtually) early one (Sept or October).
update: the Depot Plaza hearing at the Planning Board has changed from 8/10 to 8/24. the application was withdrawn for a technical change and resubmitted, hence the date change
Next up the 40b policy revision

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

next up, Sustainability Committee

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

next up, GATRA update

World Cup was big for them, transported a bunch of folksfunded by State, so we didn't lose anything from other servers to compensate 38,385 riders in Franklin during the past year (demand response) approx 3,000/month
GATRA had a fixed route once upon a time https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/03/on-this-date-mar-5-2010-franklin-area.html
What would a study for the GATRA fixed route cost? What would it cost for GATRA to do so? We can't finance the route on our own.

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

The meeting runs about 2 hours & 35 minutes.

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

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

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

My full set of notes captured during the meeting

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

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Wednesday, August 5, 2026

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

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

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

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

Quick recap:

Discussion and update on the UMass study of downtown to be conducted over 2 semesters of the college year. Final number of students involved to be determined when classes begin in September. Coordinate to have them meet the Committee (either in person, or virtually) early one (Sept or October).
update: the Depot Plaza hearing at the Planning Board has changed from 8/10 to 8/24. the application was withdrawn for a technical change and resubmitted, hence the date change
Next up the 40b policy revision

revision would effectively removes the prohibition of apartment proposals and provides a set of 9 criteria of which 3 could be chosen to qualify the project for consideration by Town Council.
consideration for a weight factor for small apartments or owned units to ensure that is the desired proposal to enable but make it harder for larger apartments to make it through the process (check list)
agreement on a great starting point, maybe something from this section, and something from that section
likely for Morrongiello and LeBlanc to meet with Jamie and Morena to review theitems in more detail to bring back a version for further discussion

next up, Sustainability Committee

need volunteers, have a track record as a green community have not done a great job telling the story of the successes some of these items are not practical (I.e. fire truck as an electric vehicle is not available)national politics haven't helped drive green
doesn't need to be so pessimistic on the approach, there are things that can be done, via the committee and folks interested in that to do the work
you will get passionate folks 2 apply
Jamie and staff can draft a charter for the committee to review before bringing to the Council

next up, GATRA update

World Cup was big for them, transported a bunch of folksfunded by State, so we didn't lose anything from other servers to compensate 38,385 riders in Franklin during the past year (demand response) approx 3,000/month
GATRA had a fixed route once upon a time https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/03/on-this-date-mar-5-2010-franklin-area.html
What would a study for the GATRA fixed route cost? what would it cost for GATRA to do so. we can't finance the route on our own.
I recall someone had numbers on the potential route based upon GATRA demand ridership

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

On this date: Mar 5, 2010: The Franklin Area Bus

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

My full set of notes captured during the meeting

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

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Tuesday, August 4, 2026 ???

Tuesday, August 4

Franklin Lions Clothing Drive active through Aug 22 https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/07/the-franklin-lions-conducting-clothing.htmlcloth

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

5:00pm Tuesday Night Cruise (Kings Brick Oven Pizza & Pub)

For additional details on Library events -> https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events

For additional details on Senior Center events ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/9890

*** Town Meetings today ***

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, August 4 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08042026-2434

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Find the full Community event calendar https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication: https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx

The School district calendar is found https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting – Tuesday, August 4 at 6 PM

The Economic Development Subcommittee will meet on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers at the Franklin Municipal Building.

Residents are welcome to attend in person or participate remotely via Zoom.

📄 View the meeting agenda (below) and access the Zoom info at the link https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08042026-2434

📺 The meeting will be streamed live on Franklin Town Hall TV for Comcast (Channel 9) & Verizon (Channel 29) subscribers as well as YouTube https://bit.ly/FTV-TownHall

Agenda:

1. Call to Order

2. Discussion/Action: Umass Boston Downtown Planning Studio

a. Draft proposal https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10539/2a-UMass-Boston-proposal-for-8-4-26-EDC-Mtg

3. Discussion/Action: Friendly 40B Policy

a. Draft policy from Councilor Morrongiello https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10540/3a-Friendly-40B-Policy-draft-for-8-4-26-EDC-Mtg

4. Discussion/Action: Climate Leader Designation Goal

5. Discussion: GATRA Update - Morena Zelaya, Director of Planning and Community Development and Franklin GATRA Representative

a. Staff Memo https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10541/5a-GATRA-Update-for-080426-EDC-Meeting

6. New Growth Follow up

7. Next Meeting September 17th (Permitting 101 w/ town permitting boards)

8. Adjourn

Shared from - https://www.instagram.com/p/DblJgxlFfbM/

Saturday, August 1, 2026

Agenda for the Economic Development Subcommittee meeting, Tuesday, Aug 4 at 6 PM

Economic Development Subcommittee

Agenda & Meeting Packet

August 4, 2026 = 6:00 PM

Agenda:

1. Call to Order

2. Discussion/Action: Umass Boston Downtown Planning Studio

a. Draft proposal https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10539/2a-UMass-Boston-proposal-for-8-4-26-EDC-Mtg

3. Discussion/Action: Friendly 40B Policy

a. Draft policy from Councilor Morrongiello https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10540/3a-Friendly-40B-Policy-draft-for-8-4-26-EDC-Mtg

4. Discussion/Action: Climate Leader Designation Goal

5. Discussion: GATRA Update - Morena Zelaya, Director of Planning and Community Development and Franklin GATRA Representative

a. Staff Memo https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10541/5a-GATRA-Update-for-080426-EDC-Meeting

6. New Growth Follow up

7. Next Meeting September 17th (Permitting 101 w/ town permitting boards)

8. Adjourn

The agenda doc also contains remote participation info

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08042026-2434

Thursday, July 30, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

Current Zoning for Downtown Commercial District does NOT require parking for Commercial in a "mixed use" development

Current Town Code: § 185-21Parking, loading and driveway requirements.

“Parking schedule. The number of parking spaces required for a particular use shall be as follows:

[Amended 7-13-2011 Bylaw Amendment 18-805; 8-8-2018 by Bylaw Amendment 18-805]

(1) In the Downtown Commercial Zoning District:

[Amended 8-14-2024 by Bylaw Amendment 24-907R]

(a) Residential dwelling units: one parking space per residential unit in a mixed use development.

(b) Nonresidential uses are exempt from this section (§ 185-21B).

(2) In the Commercial I Zoning District:

(a) Residential dwelling units: 1.5 parking spaces per residential unit.

(b) Nonresidential uses: one space per 500 square feet of gross floor area.”

Background:

Zoning was changed in 2024 for Downtown Commercial for mixed use buildings to remove parking requirements for “commercial use” and retain for “residential use”

Economic Development Cmte meeting - recommends change to Town Council - April 10, 2024

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/04/economic-development-moves-proposal-to_0742567348.html

Town Council

- August 14, 2024 agenda

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/08/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-for.html

- August 14, 2024 - meeting recap

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/08/august-14-town-council-meeting-audio-in.html

MBTA Compliance

MBTA zoning status update July, 2024

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/07/mbta-communities-update-71-communities.html

MBTA Zoning Summary - April 1, 2026

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/9325/MBTA-Communities-Council-Presentation---4126?bidId=

Before the MBTA Compliance became "a thing" Franklin was already working with the Metroplitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) on the Franklin For All project.

You can listen to the podcast series for background on many of the topics still coming around regarding development:

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/02/franklin-for-all-housing-zoning-podcast.html

Additional info can be found on the Town page - https://www.franklinma.gov/292/Franklin-for-All

Monday, July 27, 2026

Economic Development Subcommittee discuss new growth with Board of Assessors (audio)

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

The Economic Development Subcommittee met on Thursday, June 23, 2026 as scheduled. Committee Chair LeBlanc, members Morrongiello, Malloy were present for this session, Griffith was absent.

Economic Development Subcommittee discuss new growth with Board of Assessors (audio)

Quick recap:

Director of Assessors Kevin Doyle read a prepared statement for the record outlining the assessment process
Questions from the committee members
the focus of the discussion on new growth is due to its impact on the financial revenue available above 2.5% (and the levy limit)
really to better understand the valuation process and how to make improvements as possible
question on a possible timeline for a permit through to the assessment and re-evaluation; response included mention of a subscription to aerial photos of the Town 3x during the year to help identify what is happening around Town, trying to get an answer on an avg time line but it is not forthcoming
the two approaches for commercial valuations come within 5-10% plus or minus of each other; course 101 from the Dept of Revenue provides the basics
2 properties in the same neighborhood should calculate to the same, based upon the tables (I.e. property card records) and MA process
is there an audit to see that we are covering what should be? Effectively, no - audits wouldn't necessarily be fair and equitable for all
question about the Senior means exemption, will get the info asked for
question on an ownership change, if the new owner transaction brings that amount into new growth, does that really overstate our assessed value? as the old owner's assessed value goes away from the total assessed value? or does it? We understand the question, we need to get back to you on the right answer
Another example - residence valued at $900k, renovation of $40k, new assessed value comes at $1M but the $100k increase is 'only' $14k of new growth and the balance is the market value; Answer: don't confuse the market value with the cost of the renovation, it is not a straight linear line

The meeting runs about 1 hour 45 minutes.

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1784-economic-development-subcmte-mtg-07-23-26/

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Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/live/PJlxSRZebX0?&t=91

The meeting agenda and released documents - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07232026-2422

My full set of notes captured in the meeting

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E5RSt7sJdi_34C3soFiPJHoNlikm8ioc/view?usp=drive_link