Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting Agenda - February 22, 2023 - 6 PM

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting

Agenda & Meeting Packet

February 22, 2023 - 6 PM

Agenda:

1. Discussion: An overview of the “Chapter 40B”

a. A Chapter 40B primer by the state Department of Housing and Community

Development (DHCD)  https://www.mass.gov/chapter-40-b-planning-and-information

b. A staff memo and slideshow will be forthcoming at the meeting.

2. Discussion & Project Presentation: 121 Grove Street, a “Friendly 40B”

a. Friendly 40B process ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2a._-_friendly_40b_process.pdf

b. Median Income Qualifications ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2b._-_median_income_qualifications.pdf

c. 121 Grove Street Application ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2c._-_121_grove_st._application_redacted.pdf

d. 121 Grove Street Site Plan ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2d._-_121_grove_st._site_plan.pdf

e. Planning Board comment letter ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2e._-_planning_board_letter.pdf

f. Conservation Commission comment letter  ->  

The agenda doc contains remote participation info ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2023-02-22_edc_agenda_.pdf

 

Chapter 40B primer by the state Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) 

The Living New Deal Map is a good entry point

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905.

A new resource on the New Deal program from the 1930's collects information on the impact of the program as it helped the USA recover from the Great Depression. 

The interactive map is a good way to dig into the information. I took a look at Franklin and Pawtucket, RI (where I grew up) to see what was available. 

The key result for was "The historic post office in Franklin, Massachusetts was constructed with federal Treasury Department funds. The building is still in service."

I recall seeing information about the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) which had a camp here in Franklin at the time, yet the map didn't reveal that result.

Alan Earls did a presentation on the development of the Franklin State Forest by the CCC camp -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/09/the-amazing-story-of-franklin-state.html

Pawtucket has a number of projects listed. I recall walking downtown sidewalks and seeing bronze plaques acknowledging the Works Progress Administration (WPA) embedded into the concrete. 

The Wrentham School is one of our neighboring sites listed. "Multiple New Deal agencies carried out improvement, development, and/or construction work at what was then Wrentham State School (now Wrentham Developmental Center)"

Explore the map and the resources available   https://livingnewdeal.org/map/

The home page -> https://livingnewdeal.org/

The Living New Deal Map is a good entry point

State forest parking lot on Grove St is ready for use

"Thanks to @MassDCR for an incredible job building a new parking lot for expanded State Forest access! Thanks to @jeffroy for your advocacy on this important state project! It’s summer, Franklin, let’s go explore Franklin State Forest!!!"

State forest parking lot on Grove St is ready for use

Franklin radar picked up via Twitter
https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1281616863269715970?s=09

In the News: "Towns shutter playgrounds, recreation areas"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

“It’s one of the hardest things I have had to do yet,” Franklin Town Administrator Jamie Hellen said last week regarding the closure of the town’s recreational areas, “especially for someone like me who is an avid outdoorsman, and loves sports and being outside.

“It’s toughest on the kids and families who all want to be outside utilizing our playgrounds and school grounds,” he wrote via email.

In Franklin, closures have included not only playgrounds and school grounds, but also Chilson Beach at Beaver Pond and the Beaver Pond field. The state forest land, though, is still open at this time, as is the Southern New England Trunkline Trail that passes on into Bellingham, Blackstone, Millville, Uxbridge, Douglas and beyond.

“As for town forests, we have kept those open and have actually set up a new site with a challenge and used trails and walks as a way to help give people something to do and look forward to doing with the whole family,” Hellen noted."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200412/towns-shutter-playgrounds-recreation-areas


Related post on outdoor trails in Franklin
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/04/enter-town-of-franklin-trails-walking.html

Interview with Rec Director Ryan Jette
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/04/fm-239-recreation-dept-director-ryan.html

This section of the SNETT trail you can get to from the Lake St parking area

Some MA state parks will be open more during the coronavirus outbreak

From the Milford Daily News, an article of interest for Franklin:

"All coastal beach reservation parking areas managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation will be closed to reduce groups of people from gathering during the coronavirus outbreak.

Gov. Charlie Baker issued the emergency order that goes into effect Friday at noon.

DCR will open select state parks early and expand access to other parks to provide additional open space opportunities for residents, the governor said. DCR will also be limiting the amount of parking spaces available at certain high-visitation state parks.

 .....

DCR’s ice rinks, visitor centers, campgrounds, playgrounds, fitness areas, athletic fields, athletic courts, golf courses and bathroom facilities will remain closed until May 4"

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200402/ashland-natick-and-hopkinton-state-parks-will-be-open-more-during-coronavirus-outbreak

Hiking in MA State Parks  https://www.mass.gov/hiking-in-massachusetts-state-parks

Hiking in MA State Parks

The Amazing Story of the Franklin State Forest

The presentation copy that Alan Earls shared at the Franklin Historical Museum on Sunday, Sep 9, 2018 is shared here. 

About 40 people participated in the presentation and discussion on Sunday. The daughter of Leonard Cook shared some highlights of his memoir reflecting on the time he had served in a CCC camp in western MA. 

"Most people, of a certain age, know the term CCC. A public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed and unmarried men. There were CCC camps and environmental projects in every state. The project was responsible for planting more than three billion trees and constructed trails and shelters in more than 800 parks nationwide during its nine years of existence. These programs and projects helped to shape the modern national and state park systems we enjoy today. Join us to learn about Franklin's own CCC Camp and it's place in this program's history. 

Contrary to what a casual observer might assume, the Franklin State Forest is not the forest primeval - undisturbed by humans -- but a "modern" invention – spawned by a 1914 act of the Massachusetts legislature that authorized gradual creation of state forests around the commonwealth. It was finally made a reality during the Great Depression through "bargain" land purchases and with plantings and improvements by President Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps, which had a large encampment in town for a time. Further modest enlargements were made in the late 20th century.  

Join us Sunday afternoon, September 9 at 1:15 as local historian Alan Earls, tells the forest's story through Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) records, maps, and film clips made in 1935 by Franklin's pioneer documentarian, Stanley Chilson."

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/08/second-sunday-speaker-series-continues.html

CCC State Forest Presentation from Franklin Matters

The Amazing Story of the Franklin State Forest

Second Sunday Speaker Series continues at the Franklin Historical Museum - Sep 9

SECOND SUNDAY SPEAKER SERIES continues at the Franklin Historical Museum

The Amazing Story of the Franklin State Forest

Sunday September 9 at 1:15 PM

Most people, of a certain age, know the term CCC. A public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed and unmarried men. There were CCC camps and environmental projects in every state. The project was responsible for planting more than three billion trees and constructed trails and shelters in more than 800 parks nationwide during its nine years of existence. These programs and projects helped to shape the modern national and state park systems we enjoy today. Join us to learn about Franklin's own CCC Camp and it's place in this program's history/

Contrary to what a casual observer might assume, the Franklin State Forest is not the forest primeval - undisturbed by humans -- but a "modern" invention – spawned by a 1914 act of the Massachusetts legislature that authorized gradual creation of state forests around the commonwealth. It was finally made a reality during the Great Depression through "bargain" land purchases and with plantings and improvements by President Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps, which had a large encampment in town for a time. Further modest enlargements were made in the late 20th century. 

Join us Sunday afternoon, September 9 at 1:15 as local historian Alan Earls, tells the forest's story through Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) records, maps, and film clips made in 1935 by Franklin's pioneer documentarian, Stanley Chilson.

The museum is located at 80 West Central Street, is wheelchair accessible and admission is always free.

Join us, and learn your history!

Second Sunday Speaker Series continues at the Franklin Historical Museum - Sep 9

"a 2003 assessment of the site noted about 2.8 acres of uncapped waste"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The town is considering a land swap with the state that would both allow work at the landfill and expand the state forest. 

At its meeting earlier this month, the Town Council requested legislation that would give the town nearly five acres of land next to its recycling center on Beaver Street in return for 29 acres next to the forest. 

Deputy Town Administrator Jamie Hellen said the trade would accomplish several things. 

"It would allow us to cap the old landfill," he said. "The town would also be able to expand its recycling center."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170209/franklin-seeks-land-swap-with-state

The details on the land swap including maps of the two areas can be found online
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/17-05_land_swap.pdf

an old logging road in the State Forest not far from some of the land involved in the swap

"We just want people to know that everything's open for business"

"Though the busy season at the Franklin State Forest has passed, state officials are reminding area residents that the property remains open during the winter. 

The state Department of Conservation and Recreation put out a notice this month to promote the winter recreational use of the 843-acre forest. Park Supervisor William "Tom" Ashton said that there are many ways that locals make use of the land, even after snow has fallen. 

"During the wintertime, there are activities like snowshoeing and hiking," he said, adding that cross-country skiing and fat tire snow biking are other options. "We want to let people know that, 'Hey, we're still here - we have a beautiful park with a lot of wonderful scenery.'" 

The notice highlights the forest's pine trees as being especially scenic when they are blanketed in new snow."

Continue reading the article online
http://franklin.wickedlocal.com/news/20170116/franklin-state-forest-remains-open

• The park hiking map

http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dcr/parks/trails/franklin.pdf

My wife and I took a walk on a recent Sunday. We started from the SNETT and then took a side trail into the State Forest to pick up the old logging trail in the forest that ended up at the water tower. It was a good walk.

winter forest land

look up once in a while, quite a view

old logging road

remnants of trees come in odd shapes

and yes, in New England forests you will find stone walls

In the News: Town Council accepts land, guided walk in Upton St Forest

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The Town Council accepted about 20 acres of land off of Lincoln Street, which abuts Helen Keller Elementary School and Annie Sullivan Middle School. 

Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said the parcel comes from a developer of Rolling Brook Estates, a nearby housing development. He said the town wanted to keep the land as open space, since children often walk through to get to the schools. 

Councilor Andrew Bissanti, though, questioned the acquisition of the plot, asking whether anything could be built there. 

"It's touted as a great piece of land... I see nothing but rivers and streams," he said. "I'm not for taking land off the tax roll on behalf of a developer."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160923/franklin-accepts-lincoln-street-land

"The Friends of the Upton State Forest on Saturday are guiding a historical tour of the landmarks and sites hidden within the forest. 

Friends member Bill Taylor said that the event is part of the Blackstone Heritage Corridor GO! program, which is an “effort to educate people about the history of the Blackstone Heritage Corridor.” 

The walk is actually the 60th on the program of events for the GO! program, which runs through the month of September, he said. 

Walkers will explore various historic items in the forest, including cellar holes, surface quarrying, stone walls, cut stones, water crossings, early roads and an old cranberry bog while discussing “who used the land that is now Upton State forest.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160923/historic-upton-state-forest-tour-saturday

Where is the Upton State Forest?

New "Healthy Heart Trail" at Franklin State Forest

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The Department of Conservation and Recreation has announced a new Healthy Heart Trail at Franklin State Forest. 

This trail is one of more than 70 Healthy Heart Trails that DCR has designated across the commonwealth to promote good health and a connection with nature. Park supervisor Tom Ashton and his staff have marked the 1.2-mile trail that covers several rolling hills. Ashton encourages visitors to access the trail at the entrance adjacent to the Hockomock YMCA, as well as the gate along Grove Street. 

Covering 843 acres in the Forge Hill area, Franklin State Forest is a minimally developed property managed for passive recreation. For maps or information: mass.gov/dcr."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160730/department-of-conservation-announces-new-franklin-state-forest-trail

on a trail in the Franklin Town Forest off Summer St

• You can go directly to the Franklin State Forest page

http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/massparks/region-south/f-gilbert-hills-state-forest.html#Franklin SF

• Or check out the Southern New England Trunk Trail (SNETT) off Grove St

http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/massparks/region-central/southern-new-england-trunkline-trail.html

Franklin Rock Walk - June 18th

Hi Steve,

We've crossed paths at a number of different points along the way, particularly through my involvement with Franklin history and historical commemoration. 

I'm also involved in the New England geology scene and I'm offering a unique program at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 18th. We will be exploring the Franklin State Forest, and the geology of Franklin, meeting up in the YMCA parking lot. 

If you could add this event to your calendar or let people know about it on Franklin Matters, that would be tremendous!

Best,

Eamon McCarthy Earls

a trail in the Franklin Town Forest off Summer St (not where the rock walk is scheduled to take place)

In the News: Christmas concert, original panto, free entrance to state parks

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

Franklin Federated Church will present this year’s annual Christmas concert, “Peace on Earth,” 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at the church at 171 Main St. 

The concert will feature an arrangement of classical music and Christmas melodies performed by “Quartet Duviteux,” a string quartet of young musicians who met as students at the New England Conservatory of Music. Maria van der Sloot, violin, is from Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada; Luther Warren also plays violin and comes from Minneapolis, Minnesota; Linda Numagami plays viola and comes from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and cellist Marza Merophi Wilks was born in Peru and spent her high school years in Ithaca, New York. 

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling the church office at 508-528-3803.

Read the full article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151124/NEWS/151128102/1994/NEWS

Franklin Performing Arts Company will present “Snow White and the Seven Elves,” an original panto, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12, and 2 p.m. Dec. 13, at the Black Box, 15 W. Central St. 

The production follows in the tradition of a British panto, a type of show that retells a well-known fairy tale in an exaggerated style filled with audience participation, popular songs, slapstick comedy, jokes and dances.

Read the full article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151124/NEWS/151127785/1994/NEWS

Starting on Thanksgiving day, all state parks and forests will be free and open to all residents. 

The free entry from Nov. 26 through Nov. 29 by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation is being done as a thank you to those currently serving or have served in the armed forces. 

Find out more information on parks and forests nearby at mass.gov/dcr.

Read the full article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151124/NEWS/151127734/1994/NEWS

In the News: high school fields, Park Serve Day

The three new athletic fields at Franklin High School are now under construction, with the turf field expected to open first, just in time for the fall sports season. 

Although the new high school has been open since September, the work represents the final phase of a $104.5 million project that began in October 2012.
The school will host fields for baseball, softball, football, soccer, field hockey and lacrosse. 

The baseball and softball fields, located on the footprint of the razed high school building, will not be ready until 2017, according to Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting. While construction will likely wrap up over the summer, the grass needs time to grow.

the site of the future turf field as it appeared on Apr 12

Continue reading the article here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150424/NEWS/150427311/1994/NEWS

You can find all the comments that Jeff Nutting made during the Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/04/live-reporting-finance-committee-apr-22.html

Several local parks are participating in the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation's annual Park Serve Day on Saturday. 

The program encourages residents to help DCR staff get parks and beaches ready for summer by cleaning coastlines, clearing trails, planting flowers, painting picnic tables, mowing, weeding and picking up litter, according to a press release from DCR. 

“This effort is a true collaboration, in partnership with residents, friends groups and local officials, which will benefit the tens of thousands of visitors heading to DCR parks this season,” DCR Commissioner Jack Murray said in the release. “We all have a role to play in preserving and enhancing our forests and parks. Park Serve Day provides an opportunity for residents to experience our great resources first-hand and spread the word about what the commonwealth has to offer.”

The Franklin State Forest is on the listing for action today. Continue reading the article for details on how to participate.
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150423/NEWS/150428026/1994/NEWS

You can register online for this activity on the DCR webpage here
http://web1.env.state.ma.us/DCR/MassParksPublic#/main/Calendar#mainTab

Franklin State Forest

The Civilian Conservation Corp also worked in Franklin back in the 1930's. According to Eamon Earl's research for his new book on "Franklin: From Puritan Precinct to 21st Century ‘Edge City’", the CCC established a camp on top of Forge Hill and planted trees.

Franklin State Forest entrance on Grove St

Just inside the entrance to the Franklin State Forest, there is a large marker with a layout of the various trails through the forest.

Franklin State Forest trail map

Additional info on the CCC can be found here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_Conservation_Corps

Outdoors in Franklin

Looking to get out of the house and do something this week? Take a hike in Franklin.

Noted author Michael Tougias also wrote a "Trailguide: Outdoors in Franklin." The trailguide can be found on the Franklin website.

Author Michael Tougias has written many area guidebooks including River Days: Exploring the Connecticut River from Source to Sea, Exploring the Hidden Charles: A Guide to Outdoor Activities on Boston's Celebrated River, and New England Wild Places: Journey's Through the Back Country, as well as Until I Have No Country: A Novel of King Philip's War in New England and the non-Fiction King Philip's War: The History and Legacy of America's Forgotten Conflict. 

This guidebook was developed as an initiative of the Franklin Open Space Committee with support from the Department of Community Planning including former director Todd Ford, current Director Daniel Ben Yisrael, Town Ecologist Rich Vacca, and GIS Specialist Nick Alfieri as well as input and support from the Conservation Commission. Special thanks go to the graphic arts class of Mr. Eskay Sriram at Tri-County Regional Vocational School, which provided several excellent candidates for cover illustrations. The illustration selected was created by Corey Gray.

There are descriptions of walks covering the following:

• Franklin Town Forest
• Franklin State Forest
• Charles River
• Indian Rock
• DelCarte Conservation Area
• Beaver Pond
• Charles River
• Dacey Farm
• Uncas Pond and Trout Fishing
• SNETT Trail

As this was written in 2002, the some of the subject areas may have changed. The Dacey Farm has since become more formal open space for Franklin with the development of ball fields and most recently the dog park.

The trailguide can be found here (PDF):

really going to change how the DCR does business

“The DCR forest vision draft, if ever adopted, would represent a major improvement in the state’s practices and policies for cutting on forest lands, because it would much more emphasize stewardship, habitat, recreation, and scenic values, with less emphasis on timber cutting,’’ said Gregor McGregor, a member of the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions, which advises local boards in communities around the state.

The draft plan represents “a paradigm shift,’’ he said, in moving land use away from timbering and toward ecosystem values.

This caught my eye although the Franklin Forest is not specifically mentioned in the article. There is a wealth of additional reading available on the DCR website here:
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/news/publicmeetings/tsc_draft_recommendations.htm


Last night there was a forum in Westborough, the next closest forum will be on the 11th in Taunton:
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/news/publicmeetings/forestryfvpupcoming.htm


Feedback can be provided by attending one of the forums, via email or an online survey. Of course,  there is no restriction against providing feedback in all three methods.

You can read the full article in the Boston Globe West edition from Thursday
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2010/02/04/some_state_owned_parkland_being_reclassified_to_minimize_tree_cutting_other_damage/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+Globe+West

"starting with nothing but their vision"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Mar 28, 2009 @ 12:05 AM

---

FRANKLIN —

As it now stands, the 1.42-mile trail through Franklin State Forest looks like "a BMX course" or "mogul ski hills," but bicyclists, equestrians and politicians who gathered at the trail head yesterday envisioned a smoother path.

The goal is to forge a trail from Franklin to Bellingham, and ultimately to Palmer in Central Massachusetts.

Among those at yesterday's brainstorming session, state Rep. James Vallee said he wants to create a trail conducive to bicycling, horseback riding, hiking and other activities.

"It's in pretty good condition, it's in a pretty good state," but not quite ready for such pursuits, he said.

read the full article about the efforts to improve the rail trail in the Milford Daily News here

"a wonderful addition to the state forest"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Feb 27, 2009 @ 11:26 PM

---

FRANKLIN —

The state is considering buying 50 acres next to the Franklin State Forest from a private owner, said state Wendy Fox, spokesman for the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.

The DCR has sent a notice of interest to the town, Fox said, and is talking with the landowner, Reed Trust, of 230 Village St., Medway, of which Ronald Dolloff is a trustee.

The owner is asking for $2 million for the property at 1312 West Central St. (Rte. 140), confirmed their real estate agent, Jeff Allaire of ERA Key Commercial in Franklin.

The property, zoned as office/light industrial, also includes a 1,368-square-foot, boarded-up two-story house.

Neither Fox nor Allaire would comment about how serious the state is about acquiring the land, or how close it is to acquiring it. Fox said the state has been in talks with the owners for about six months.

"We do this all the time, the state is always looking at interesting property," Fox said.

Read the full article about the state's interest in the property in the Milford Daily News here