Franklin Matters: zoning board of appeals

The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) met as scheduled Thursday night, May 8, 2025. The 444 East Central portion of the meeting begins at 19 minutes into the recording and such is set for the replay here. (You can easily go to the beginning of the video and view the earlier portion if you choose.)

Franklin TV video for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/82a99atYf0s?&t=1149

The ZBA page for this 444 East Central project is here -> https://www.franklinma.gov/815/2025-Current-Recent-ZBA-Hearings

The application as submitted on the Town page is here -> https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4594/444-East-Central-ZBA-application-comp-permit

Meeting items of note

Halligan recused himself
project overview briefly recapped (slides captured below)
a clerical problem with notice resulted in an agreement between the applicant attorney and the committee, committee not to invoke safe harbor, appplicant not to invoke a constructive grant. The constructive grant would have allowed the applicant to bypass most of the ZBA process
The application will continue and take some number of months to do so. The next meeting is targeted for June 5, the next after that is July 17
Due to this negotiation, the peer review process did not start. Traffic will be first up at the next meeting
Town Administrator Jamie Hellen participating this time, and he explains why, he is participating to explain details around the process and clarify, everybody can hear the record as one
One sore point (lack of communication from the ZBA Chair and other members after multiple email queries), it was revealed that responding to individual emails is a non-no during the time that the subject is before the Board. It could potentially violate open meeting law. All discussions, responses to questions, need to be in the open meeting.

Slides of the presentation -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/x5N6EvhwDRUtcRps5

The waivers requested by the project are outlined in Section 8 and contained in this PDF (separated from the full project doc) -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/11lkqa0Hz1VCO_J3utf-5NynwlnPeVPQj/view?usp=drive_link

To support Town Administrator Hellen's statements on water supply, information on the water conservation page should explain -> https://www.franklinma.gov/628/Water-Conservation

There is a 3-part podcast series covering the water supply and operations for Franklin from well to our faucets -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/09/town-of-franklin-all-about-water-system.html

There is also a 3-part series on the sewer from our flushes to the Charles River Treatment -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/09/town-of-franklin-all-about-sewer-system.html

444 East Central project

Thursday, May 8, 2025

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, May 8, 2025 ???

Library & Senior Center events
Thursday, May 8

FHS Lacrosse Boosters Fundraiser

5:00pm Board Game Night (Pete's Nerd Emporium)

5:30pm 3rd Annual SAFE Gala (SOLD OUT, silent auction still open)(Lakeview Pavilion)

7:00pm The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood (Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School)

7:30pm Musical Bingo (Teddy Gallagher's Irish Pub)

For additional details on Library & Senior Center events ->

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

** Town Meetings today **

Pole Petition Hearing Agenda - 90 East Central Street

May 8, 2025 Time: 12:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05082025-1716

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)

May 8, 2025 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05082025-1695

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What's happening today in Franklin?

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

Town Council hears of clean audit and renewal of AAA rating among items on a varied and busy meeting (video)

The Town Council met as scheduled on Wednesday evening, May 7 starting a few minutes after 7 PM with all 9 Councilors present.

The Franklin TV recording is available for review -> https://www.youtube.com/live/BjLJUaJedMc&t=389

The agenda and released documents for this session -> https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05072025-1719

Quick recap:

Town Clerk Nancy Danello provides some updates on the early voting, last day to register, etc. for the FY 2026 override special election June 3
School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan provides some updates on the redistricting efforts, how the savings will lay the foundation for the future assuming the override does pass
Citizens comments:

J Callaway-Tripp, thanks for the Parmenter property deed adjustment; Future use of whatever the property be designated for, requesting a Town wide vote as it did back in the early 1950's; Request a town committee to determine the future of the property
M Minnichelli quotes Yogi Berra, reminding that we should set a target, the 10% is a state requirement
J Nutting speaking for the override
Sherlock spoke to the FinCom budget hearings (watch, listen, read almost complete) and Pen to Picture event May 10 at the Library
J Cohen asking for help in speaking for clarity on the issues around the override, stopping building is not the same as voting on the override

Recognition

Police Department - Swearing in of New Police Officer, Tyler Hosley
Police Department - Recognition of New Town of Upton Chief of Police, Chief Nicholas Palmieri, former Sergeant of the Franklin Police Department

2 minute recess

Public hearing

New Section 12 Restaurant All Alcoholic Beverages License and Approval of Karan Goswami as the Manager - Kaushik Restaurants Inc. d/b/a Mirchi Indian Cuisine. Attorney and applicant participated remotely. Applicant had started ABCC application without legal assistance, withdrew it from ABCC and with legal guidance resubmitted. No real changes to application operational details; Motion to approve, second, passes 9-0

Public hearing

Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-935: A Zoning Bylaw to Amend Chapter 185, Section 24, Floodplain District. No comments or questions from public or Council, had also been approved by Planning Board Motion to move to 3nd reading, second, passes 9-0

License Modification - Change of Manager of a Section 12 Restaurant All Alcoholic Beverages License: The Chateau Restaurant of Franklin, Inc. d/b/a The Chateau, Motion to approve, second, passes 9-0
Presentation:

FY24 Financial Audit - Scott McIntire, CPA, Managing Director, CBIZ, we have a clean audit result this year. Scott compliments to the Town for preparing and executing in the audit, Entirely new set of staff to conduct this audit, a clean audit opinion. This reflects an evaluation of the internal controls of the Town operations
Jamie also updated that the recent bond application resulted in renewal of our AAA rating, a major accomplishment to continue this
What does the triple AAA mean? The lowest interest rate is available to use and will save us millions of dollars; Beaver St interceptor project is at 1.5% interest, in today's market it would be about 4%

Legislation for action

Resolution 25-28: Extension of the Time Period for the Automatic Reverter Contained in the Deed of Former Town-owned Land Off Panther Way Previously Conveyed to the Franklin Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund; Motion to approve, second, passes 9-0
Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-927: A Zoning Bylaw to Amend Chapter 185, Section 3 of The Code Of The Town of Franklin, Definitions (Shared-Use Commercial Kitchen) - Second Reading; & Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-928: A Zoning Bylaw to Amend Chapter 185, Attachment 3, Use Regulation Schedule, Part II Principal Uses (Shared-Use Commercial Kitchen) - Second Reading; Both measures Motion to approve, second; Discussion, there has been interest expressed; Passes 9-0 via roll call

TA Report highlights

Budget hearing May 21-22, will be continued to June 4 to do the votes that night after the
override results are available
How does development affect the budget? Jamie will do his best to address, will be beneficial for community discussion as part of the hearing 5/22. Jamie will be attending the ZBA meeting at the request of the chair and members. Will be part of other discussions on the 444 East Central St item for as long as it goes
Best Western no longer housing emergency shelter as of July. Budget issues were not being created by that State item. The Town has not spent a dollar on that
Bids came in on budget for the cupola, hopefully work will start June/July when contractor will be available
Cricket field being built and opening here on Pond St (behind Kennedy)
Sculpture Park new features there
Porchfest will also feature a Cornhole competition June 7

My notes collected in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YrOYu85-re20L0v7tmmAvCY2e54ir5sY/view?usp=drive_link

Thursday, April 10, 2025

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, April 10, 2025 ???

Thursday, April 10

* Franklin Art Association Art Show and Sale Exhibit (Norfolk Public Library)

5:00pm Board Game Night (Pete's Nerd Emporium)

6:30pm Open Mic Night (Birchwood Bakery)

For additional details on Library & Senior Center events ->

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

** Town Meetings today **

Charles River Pollution Control Meeting

April 10, 2025, 3:00 PM https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04102025-1664

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meetings

April 10, 2025, 2:00 PM https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/5145/April-10-2025---Agenda?bidId=

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

April 10, 2025, 7:30 PM = No meeting, next meeting is April 24

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What's happening today in Franklin?

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

Thursday, March 27, 2025

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, March 27, 2025 ???

For additional details on Library & Senior Center events ->
https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

Thursday, March 27

* "Look Up" Gallery (Franklin Public Library during open hours)

5pm Board Game Night (Pete's Nerd Emporium)

7pm Jennifer Tefft (live music) (Start Line Brewing Co, Hopkinton)

** Town Meetings today **

Zoning Board of Appeals, ZBA Meeting

Thursday, March 27th Time: 7:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03272025-1619

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Why are there multiple calendars?

What's happening today in Franklin?

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

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