Franklin Matters: zoning board of appeals

Showing posts with label zoning board of appeals. Show all posts

Thursday, September 4, 2025

Franklin ZBA makes 'first' vote on 28 Queen St to approve (video, audio, & transcript)

FM #1505 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1505 in the series.

This session shares the Franklin (MA) Zoning Board of Appeals meeting conducted via Zoom Only on Thursday, September 4, 2025 at 5 PM. All three members of the Board were present. The transcript provides additional details on the short meeting.

Quick recap:

Mistake made with the vote to take the matter “under advisement”. The vote eas 2-1 which should have been successful. The Chair was looking for a 3-0, hence “it” failed. There was another vote in the prior meeting but that shouldn’t have occurred.
The first vote on the measure to grant the variance was tonight. Motion made. Friendly modification to round from 22.1 to 22. Accepted.
Vote passes 3-0, Meeting adjourns after some additional remarks by the Chair in light of comments he heard when he viewed the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Sep 3.

The recording runs about 6 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1505-franklin-ma-zba-mtg-09-04-25/

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28 Queen St

ZBA agenda doc -> https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09042025-1895

Franklin TV YouTube for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ClJoJ3ue4w

Transcript -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QEN2Q-hSSNyAo7KHEes-15wvuyEeWfVX/view?usp=drive_link

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What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, September 4, 2025 ??

Thursday, September 4

Library & Senior Center events

6:30pm Puzzle Solving Competition (Franklin TV and Radio Studio)

7:00pm 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node Meeting (First Universalist Society Franklin)

9:00pm Brian Cabral (live music) (3 Restaurant)

For additional details on Library & Senior Center events ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

** Town Meetings today **

Franklin Commission on Disability

Thursday, September 4 Time: 4:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09042025-1887

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) (added 9/2/25)

Thursday, September 4 Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09042025-1895

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, September 4 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/484?fileID=6052

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What's happening in Franklin, MA

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

Town Administrator Releases Memo with ZBA Update

Town Administrator Jamie Hellen released this memo during the Town Council meeting on Wednesday evening. You can download the PDF copy or view it here

Download PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TMwJRj8zJqR7hkwTNkZbtKkfEeX55eg2/view?usp=drive_link

View the PDF:

Town Administrator Releases Memo with ZBA Update

Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Zoning Board of Appeals adds a 1 agenda item meeting to Thursday, Sep 4, 2025

Thanks to the notification service implemented by the Town of Franklin's new web page, alerts on the meeting added to the calendar and to the agenda posted for the 5 PM session were received on Tuesday.

You can find the agenda on the Town page -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/Zoning-Board-of-Appeals-31/?#_09042025-1895

or view the agenda here:

Zoning Board of Appeals adds a 1 agenda item meeting to Thursday, Sep 4, 2025

Saturday, August 30, 2025

Voices of Franklin: ZBA term expired?

To the Editor:

As a longtime Franklin resident and engaged community member, I've been closely following the Zoning Board of Appeals meetings. While I initially found the Chair's tone and treatment of residents to be troubling, what concerns me even more is the procedural lapse that has gone largely unaddressed.

The Chair's term expired on June 30th. Since then, he has neither stepped down nor been officially reappointed. This raises a serious question: if he has not been formally reappointed, how can he continue to vote on matters that affect our town's future? In my view, any vote cast since June 30th should be considered invalid. The legitimacy of these proceedings is compromised, and that should alarm every resident who values fair process and accountability.

Equally troubling is the silence from our Town Administrator, who is responsible for appointments. Why has this lapse been allowed to continue? Why hasn't the Town Council been asked to weigh in on the Chair's reappointment? These are not minor oversights—they speak to a broader issue of transparency and respect for the people of Franklin.

When residents see officials operating without proper authority, and when those in charge fail to correct it, trust erodes. We deserve better. We deserve leadership that respects the rules, honors the public's voice, and upholds the integrity of our town's governance.

Sincerely,

Jane Callaway-Tripp

Franklin, MA

If you have something to say, you can find the guidelines here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html

Voices of Franklin: ZBA term expired?

Thursday, August 28, 2025

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, August 28, 2025 ??

Thursday, August 28

7pm Jennifer Tefft (live music) (The Tap, Cumberland)

9pm Steven Fritzsche’s Jukebox Gold (live music) (3 Restaurant)

Library & Senior Center events

For additional details on Library & Senior Center events ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

** Town Meetings today **

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, August 28 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08282025-1855

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What's happening in Franklin, MA

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

Friday, August 15, 2025

Voices of Franklin: Petition Drive This Friday (8/15/25) at Farmers Market

Residents Rally Against 444 East Central Street Project: Petition Drive This Friday at Farmers Market

The proposed development at 444 East Central Street has become a flashpoint in Franklin, sparking widespread concern among residents who feel their voices have been sidelined. Despite strong public opposition, the project remains under review by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) — and the version currently before them is not the same project the Town Council originally approved.

What Changed?
- The original plan, which many residents urged the Council to reject, has since ballooned in scope.
- The number of requested waivers/variances has tripled, jumping from 18 to 30.
- The building height has increased from three stories to four, directly contradicting town guidelines and threatening the character of the surrounding neighborhood.
- Although the town had the opportunity to invoke Safe Harbor protections, it chose not to—leaving Franklin vulnerable to overdevelopment.

A Call to Action
This Friday at 1:00 PM, concerned residents Gene Grella and Jane Callaway-Tripp among others will be at the Franklin Farmers Market with a grassroots petition. This is a chance for every resident who cares about Franklin's future to make their voice heard.

> "If you're truly all set with the direction the town is building in, then please come to the Farmers Market and help us with your signature—your voice. There is power in numbers, and we all need to stand together."

Why Sign the Petition?
- To urge the ZBA to end this project—it no longer reflects the original proposal and disregards community concerns
- To reject the precedent of approving 30 waivers/ variances for a single development
- To preserve Franklin's identity and prevent it from becoming another overbuilt suburb

Franklin's Future Is in Our Hands
This is not just about one building—it's about the kind of town we want Franklin to be. Do we want to protect our small-town charm, or watch it erode under unchecked development?

"This is our town, and it's time we stand up for what we want our town to be."

Join us Friday. Sign the petition. Speak up. Because Franklin belongs to all of us.

Jane Callaway-Tripp

Franklin resident and candidate for Town Council

If you have something to say, you can find the guidelines here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html

Voices of Franklin: Petition Drive This Friday (8/15/25) at Farmers Market