Build-Out & Infrastructure Analysis from MAPC Franklin For All Executive Summary

An extract from the Build-Out & Infrastructure Analysis from MAPC Franklin For All Executive Summary follows: (In the full report, this can be found on pages 15-17. The Summary Memo #3 can be found on page 60)

When proposing recommendations that can lead to increased density in an area, it is important to assess the potential impacts from new development and the municipality’s ability to serve that new development. A “build-out analysis” is a tool used in urban planning to estimate the amount and location of future growth. This analysis provides a projection of the maximum number of new housing units and other nonresidential square footage that could result if each parcel were to be redeveloped according to proposed zoning regulations. From there, potential impacts can be estimated such as increased population, parking needs, traffic, demand on municipal services, and more. In general, a build-out analysis provides an overestimation of growth and associated impacts with the understanding that many parcels in a given area will not be redeveloped for any number of reasons.

The new Multi-Family Zoning Requirement for MBTA Communities, also known as the new Section 3A of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40A (“Section 3A”), requires communities that are served by the MBTA to have at least one zoning district of a “reasonable size” located within a half-mile of an MBTA station where multifamily housing is permitted “as of right” at a minimum gross density of 15 units per acre. To comply with the “reasonable size” requirement in Section 3A, these districts must be at least 50 acres total with a minimum of 25 contiguous acres. Under the regulations, Franklin will also need to prove to DHCDw that it has multifamily district with a unit capacity—the number of housing units that can be developed as of right in the district— equal to or greater than 1,883 units.

Currently, Franklin does not have a district of reasonable size that complies with all the requirements of Section 3A. The Downtown Commercial District does allow multifamily housing in accordance with Section 3A, but that district is less than the required 50 acres (40.2 acres). If it fails to comply with Section 3A, Franklin will no longer be eligible for state funding from the Housing Choice Initiative, the Local Capital Projects Fund, the MassWorks Infrastructure Program, and potentially other grant sources.

MAPC’s Data Services Department conducted an analysis to calculate total build-out units in the Franklin Center study area based on the Town’s current zoning and the adoption of new zoning regulations that comply with Section 3A. This analysis assumes the adoption of a Chapter 40R Smart Growth Overlay District (described in detail in the Recommendations section) that includes properties within the Downtown Commercial (DC), Commercial I (CI), and General Residential V (GRV) Districts.

With a total build-out of 3,352 housing units spread out across 174.29 acres, the district-wide gross density would come out to 19.23 units/acre and thus comply with Section 3A. MAPC compared the results of the build-out analysis with existing housing units in the CI, DCD, and GRV Districts to calculate net unit yield.

Build-Out & Infrastructure Analysis from MAPC Franklin For All Executive Summary

Based on recent studies, local data, site visits, and interviews with Town staff, MAPC has assessed infrastructure in the Franklin Center study area to determine to what extent existing infrastructure may be a barrier to new development and redevelopment.

DPW has no concerns about capacity issues in Franklin’s water and sewer systems, and they think that a very substantial amount of development would need to happen in a very short period of time in order for this to be a concern. Both Franklin’s wastewater and water supply systems could handle another 20% of their total capacity before it becomes a concern. DPW notes that the additional 20% does not mean 20% more units or more people, as newer systems are going to be more efficient in water usage and drainage.

If we translate 2,510 net units under the total build-out in the previous section to population, we could expect a maximum of 6,526 new residents given the average household size in Franklin of 2.6. This would be an increase Franklin’s population by a maximum of 17.8%, from 36,745 to 43,271 people. Based on these findings and the fact that the build-out is an overestimation, MAPC does not believe that the increase in population as a result of Franklin For All’s proposed zoning changes will result in capacity concerns for the Town’s water and sewer supplies.

The Charles River Pollution Control District operates the treatment facility that supports the Town’s sewer system. As part of the agreement for Franklin to be in the Charles River Pollution Control District, the State mandates that people may only water their lawns on trash day. This restriction is announced by the Town each year and runs from May to September. Because of this policy, residents have a false perception that the Town’s water supply is stressed and they blame new development for these complaints.

As the Town of Franklin considers new zoning in and around its downtown center, ensuring the provision of adequate transportation infrastructure and multimodal walking, biking, and transit connectivity will be critical to accommodate new growth and development. Under Section 3A, the Town must create a new multifamily zoning district, 50% of which must be located within half a mile of a commuter rail station. With an MBTA station in the heart of its pedestrian-friendly downtown, Franklin is well-positioned to create new transit- oriented housing and commercial opportunities for residents and visitors. However, targeted infrastructure improvements and broader transportation policy changes will be necessary to ensure that the Town maximizes the potential benefits it can realize under Section 3A.

Summary Memo #3 contains transportation observations and recommendations for infrastructure improvements at specific locations in Franklin Center, as well as more general transportation observations and recommendations that will enable the Town of Franklin to help meet projections for future growth.

The full report from MAPC on the Franklin For All project can be found

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19mEIXUyn9W5LNvxOF3dt6_kjLJNbB0eG/view?usp=sharing

The Build-out and Infrastructure Analysis in PDF format ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AVnJhGCmQRVNT26Y7RxQfpfPsPM3IsmK/view?usp=sharing

Summary Memo #3 in PDF format ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AXceqlsJzMi_TcUYT2sJ_Dlz1MhWUT2Q/view?usp=sharing

Build-Out & Infrastructure Analysis from MAPC Franklin For All Executive Summary

Executive Summary: ** 2021 Town of Franklin Housing Production Plan (HPP) ***

The Town of Franklin Housing Production Plan (HPP) is a proactive strategy for meeting the housing needs of the community, and in particular, for planning and enhancing its affordable housing inventory. This document, an update to Franklin’s first HPP that was approved by Town Council in 2011, has been designed to expand upon the concepts outlined in the previous 2011 HPP, serve as an update with more recent data, and explore incentives and other options to increase Franklin’s affordable housing supply.

Since 2011 the Town has made good progress implementing its affordable housing goals and increasing the number of SHI Eligible Housing units. In 2019, the Town surpassed the State-mandated target of 10% affordable housing of its total year-round housing units under M.G.L. Chapter 40B. This Housing Production Plan (HPP) is intended to direct housing development and preservation in such a way that the Town will remain above 10%, and therefore be in control of its 40B destiny. In addition the strategies included in the updated HPP provide the Town’s residents with options not previously not pursued.

Previous Affordable Housing Planning. The Town has made affordable housing planning a priority for much of the last twenty-five years. The Town of Franklin’s 1997 Master Plan prioritized creating affordable housing for the community’s senior population, which is summarized in Goal 1 of the Housing Element: “Ensure that housing opportunities for the elderly are sufficient in number and type to meet the projected growth in their population”.
In 2004, the Housing Element of Franklin’s Community Development Plan, “Affordable Housing, Strategy and Development Action Plan” identified several goals the Town still needs to address, including: Increase housing opportunities for low, moderate, and middle income households; Ensure the Town meets the 40B goal for subsidized housing; Increase housing opportunities for seniors; and Encourage development of multifamily housing.

In 2011 the Affordable Housing Strategy and Development Action Plan, Franklin’s first Housing Production Plan was approved by DHCD. The Plan had several similar goals to those mentioned above including Encourage development of multifamily housing; Increase housing opportunities for seniors and the elderly, but focused much effort on utilizing zoning to create greater housing density, use Zoning “By Right” as a tool, and Amend the zoning by-laws to allow Assisted living and other elderly housing facilities. The biggest priority of the 2011 HPP was creation of a Municipal Affordable Housing Trust. A summary of the Plan’s Housing Implementation Strategy is included in this document as Attachment B.

The most recent housing related planning was during creation of Franklin’s 2013 Master Plan. Substantial public input was gathered and Master Plan Committee developed housing goals that reflected the needs of the community. Housing related Goals, Objectives and proposed actions from the Master Plan’s Implementation Element are included in Attachment C of this document. 

The most relevant housing goals for the purposes of this HPP are as follows:

• Goal 1: Provide the appropriate mix of housing alternatives that meet the needs of Franklin based employment
• Goal 2: Support development of affordable housing opportunities for low, moderate and middle- income households.
• Goal 4: Encourage, rezone as required, and support housing appropriate for expected future demographics.

The above goals have influenced the development of the HPP’s goals detailed in Section 2.

Find the full copy of the Housing Production Plan

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/franklin_housing_production_plan_-_may_2021_public_draft.pdf

Info on the public comment period

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/05/2021-draft-housing-production-plan-open.html

Executive Summary: **2021 Town of Franklin - Housing Production Plan - Public Review Draft**

Town of Franklin - budget growth and split between municipal and schools - FY 2012 to FY 2022

As part of the continuing series to prepare for the Finance Committee budget hearings (which begin next week) and the Town Council budget hearings (in May), check out the link to the details on the history of the budget year over year from FY 2012.

Appendix C1 - Historic Data: Budget Breakdown
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/appendix_c_historic_data_fy22.xlsx_-_budget_breakdown.pdf

The chart depicts the split between the municipal portion of the budget (police, fire, etc...) (orange color) and the school portion (both K-12 and others) (blue color) as well as showing the growth of the budget year by year.

municipal and school split over the FY 2012-FY2022 period

Prior posts

School budget, executive summary by School Superintendent Sara Ahern

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/franklin-public-schools-fy-2022-annual.html

Executive summary by Town Administrator Jamie Hellen
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/franklin-public-schools-fy-2022-annual.html

Link to Town of Franklin budget proposal for FY 2022
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/fy-2022-town-of-franklin-budget-proposal.html

 

Franklin Public Schools: FY 2022 Annual Budget - Message to the Community

"We are pleased to present the School Committee's Approved FY2022 Budget to the community. This budget is the culmination of many steps in the  development process, beginning with the School Committee's Budget Workshop on December 1, 2020. Since then, the Superintendent, Central Office team, building principals, and School Committee have been working collaboratively to develop a budget for the 2021-2022 school year. The FY22 School Committee's Approved Budget in the amount of $67,914,184 represents an increase of $2,255,684 or 3.44% over the FY21 budget.

This budget is presented with two focal areas. First, the budget is shaped to support Franklin's Portrait of a Graduate -- the community's consensus of five essential skills each student will practice and develop through their PreK-12+ school experience. Second, the budget prioritizes services and supports for our students who will be returning to school after over a year of a disrupted educational experience as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, we anticipate that new health and safety practices and effective uses of technology will persist in our learning environments. Our budget is also aligned to the district's four strategic objectives: social-emotional well-being of students and staff; rigorous and engaging curriculum; high-quality instruction to meet the academic and SEL needs of each learner; effective two-way communication to support student learning.

The main drivers of the budget include anticipated increases for health insurance premiums and contractual obligations for salaries. Other contributing factors include a slight reduction in the amount of revolving funds used to offset the budget and an increase in other expenses like contracted services, and supplies/materials. Investments to support the social emotional and academic needs of students are prioritized in this budget. The FY22 budget detail also reflects reductions as a result of the recent decision to retire the Davis Thayer Elementary School. Overall, the FY22 budget equates to a Level Service Budget with a reallocation of $1,090,815 to support some strategic investment initiatives that have been identified by the Administrative team. These Investment Initiatives are outlined in detail on the following pages.

The development of the FY 22 budget was a challenge as the FY 21 budget was significantly complicated by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Additional federal aid is expected through FY 22 and is factored into the projections in the detail that follows. FY 22 state aid to the Town of Franklin is not yet finalized, however, we do not anticipate significant changes to this proposal. The forecast for the development of the future budgets will likely present challenges given the continued needs across the district, the local fiscal forecast, and an expected decrease in Coronavirus relief funding in the next few years.

We are thankful for the collaborative work with the Town Council and the Finance Committee. We want to thank the community of Franklin for support in the public education of Franklin's children."
 

 

This executive summary can be found on Page 4 of the full budget document

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/exec_summary_4-15-21.pdf

Town of Franklin budget page  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget 
Franklin Schools budget page  https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget 

Franklin Public Schools: FY2022 Annual Budget - Message to the Community

Download your copy of the FPS Budget Development and Facts https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SjS8GCvwlhcumoPI17Tjus6bi_paVHsz/view?usp=sharing  or view here https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget

Franklin Public Schools: Executive Summary of Comprehensive Reopening Plan

 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Franklin Public Schools presents this Comprehensive Reopening Plan to the Franklin Public Schools community after months of planning, using guidance from state agencies such as the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Centers for Disease Control, and Department of Public Health. A District-Wide Reopening Task Force met in working groups to consider Health, Safety, and Operations; Teaching and Learning/Digital Learning; Personnel; and Whole Child Supports. Principals are working with Building-Based Implementation teams to plan for building-specific implementation, and coordination of the plan is occurring among administrators across the same level (e.g. elementary, middle). Survey data about remote learning in the spring of 2020 was reviewed in order to improve and develop a stronger remote model with which to open school.

Franklin Public Schools proposes to open in a predominantly remote model of instruction to start the 2020-2021 school year and phase into a hybrid approach throughout the initial fall months. During this time, groups of students will begin coming into school to experience instruction in a hybrid model of both in-person learning, two days a week and remote learning three days a week (grades K-8) and, at the high school, in-person learning one day a week and remote learning four days a week. Target dates (subject to change) include:

• September 16, 2020 -- highest Needs students
• September 30, 2020 -- High Needs Students, Kindergarten and Grade 1
• October 19, 2020 -- Grades 2-3; 6
• October 26, 2020 -- Grades 4-5; 7-8
• November 19, 2020 -- High School

The District is preparing to support the reopening of school by developing Universal Health and Safety Practices, preparing the physical spaces, developing and delivering targeted professional development, acquiring new resources including technology and personal protective equipment (PPE), and funding additional staffing positions to support both the remote and hybrid instructional models.

Universal Health and Safety Practices will be in place for occupancy of our buildings by faculty/staff and students. All members of the Franklin schools community will be expected to wear masks/face coverings except if exempted for a documented medical or behavioral reason. Masks/face coverings may be removed during periodic mask breaks and when eating. Franklin Public Schools will aim for 6 feet of physical distancing, especially when masks are not worn. Three feet of physical distancing will be the minimum. Additional PPE will be used for distancing of less than three feet. Good hand hygiene practices (frequent hand washing and hand sanitizing) will be expected.

The physical spaces of Franklin Public Schools will be modified in order to accommodate the Universal Health and Safety Practices. Desks will be spaced 6 feet apart and facing the same direction. Shared equipment will be minimized. Traffic through the school buildings will be modified to be orderly and to limit interactions among adults and among smaller cohorts of students. Air circulation will be increased and UVGI filters will be installed in HVAC systems. Plexiglass barriers will be installed as an additional protective measure in smaller spaces.  Tents will be placed outdoors for mask breaks and other opportunities for staff and students to gather in a well-ventilated location. Windows will be open whenever possible. The Nurse’s Offices are identifying Medical Waiting Areas for students and staff who are suspected of possibly having COVID-19 and are present in school. Ample, developmentally appropriate signage will be posted in conspicuous locations around the schools to remind students and staff of the Universal Health and Safety Practices.

Staff members will engage in additional professional development in order to support the reopening of school. The first ten days of the school year will provide additional opportunities for our faculty and staff to learn and plan for the school year. Topics of this professional development will include Universal Health and Safety Practices, social-emotional well-being of staff and students, academic instruction in a remote and hybrid environment, assessing and responding to students’ SEL and academic needs upon return to school, and ant-bias education. Professional development will be reinforced throughout the school year in order to support educators implementation of this plan.

The District is using funding from various federal and state coronavirus relief funding opportunities in order to augment resources for reopening school. This includes the acquisition of PPE (e.g. masks, gloves, gowns, face shields, waste disposal bags) for faculty and staff to use. Additionally, the District will use this funding to augment its cache of Chromebooks so that students may experience remote and hybrid learning in a 1:1 environment. Internet capacity exiting our school buildings will be amplified by adding additional bandwidth to support video conferencing and live virtual instruction. The District will expand licenses and subscriptions for teaching resources and instructional software for District-approved materials, which will be curated into a District tool-kit and displayed on a “Landing Page”.

Funding will also go to support additional personnel in reopening schools. The District proposes to hire Digital Learning Integrationists to support remote instruction in the remote and hybrid models. Additionally, the District will hire additional Licensed Practical Nurses to support the anticipated additional health needs of the school community. In order to maintain healthy and safe school buildings, the number of different adults in school should be limited. As such, the District proposed to hire permanent building substitutes. The District also proposes to hire bus/school monitors who will assist in the supervision and enforcement of mask-wearing, physical distancing, and hand hygiene. Crossing guards may be needed if additional students are walking to school, given modifications to bus transportation this year.

This Comprehensive Plan should be considered a living document, which will be updated periodically as the beginning of school gets closer. We anticipate additional guidance, updated health data, and potential information about additional financial resources. Additionally, we will continue to learn as we implement during a very fluid situation. The community will remain informed through the District’s Communication Plan, involving periodic updates from the Superintendent and School Principals and the posting information on the District’s Reopening Website.

Find the full plan on the Town of Franklin page  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/discussion_action_a_-_reopening_plan.pdf

Franklin Public Schools: Executive Summary of Comprehensive Reopening Plan