From the Town Administrator's FY 2027 Budget narrative, each department's story is worth sharing.General Purpose
The Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD)'s mission is to plan and implement comprehensive policies and initiatives that work to fulfill the community development and land use-related goals of the Town and its residents. DPCD works to administer and implement the goals identified in Franklin's 2025 Master Plan. The Department works in all areas of planning and community development, and is responsible for traditional land-use related activities such as updating the Town’s plans, and amending and creating zoning bylaws.
Core Functions
● Provides helpful and timely customer service to both internal stakeholders and the general public who call for a variety of questions and public records requests.
● Support of Town Boards, Commissions, and Committees: Provide staff support to several boards, commissions and committees, including the Planning Board, Conservation Commission, Design Review Commission, Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, and the Technical Review Committee.
● Provides project guidance and information to applicants, prospective applicants, abutters and other interested parties.
● Works closely with the Zoning Board of Appeals and Conservation Commission on related projects.
● Produces zoning bylaw amendments in response to community needs, particularly those identified in the Town's Master Plan, and to state and federal requirements.
● In recent years DPCD has worked on dozens of projects in all areas of planning and community development, including comprehensive planning, downtown revitalization, economic development, open space preservation, wetlands protection, natural hazard mitigation, brownfields redevelopment, historic preservation, affordable housing, transit oriented development, and sustainable development including the use of smart growth and low impact development concepts.
Staffing
● One (1) Director of Planning and Community Development
● One (1) Town Planner
● One (1) Permitting Specialist
Strategic Initiatives & Accomplishments
FY26 Accomplishments
● Created a new zoning district for the Crossing Neighborhood District and amended related bylaws.
● Amended a Zoning Bylaw to add a definition for Residential Commercial Kitchens and related regulations.
● Submitted Zoning Bylaw amendments related to MBTA Communities compliance as well as a general cleanup.
● Received a Determination of Conditional Compliance from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities for the Town's efforts towards complying with the MBTA Communities Act.
● Reapplied for Housing Choice Community Designation
● Applied for and awarded a $250,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for demolition and abatement at 21 Grove Street.
● Submitted grant applications for assistance with updating Town's Hazard Mitigation Plan.
● Affordable housing: coordinated the resale of four affordable units. Established a new process for resale opportunities, including new forms and a clearer timeline to reduce confusion among applicants.
● Affordable housing: Assisted with ownership transfer of Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Funds (MAHTF) parcel for the Franklin Ridge Senior Housing project.
● Affordable housing: Will be conducting an information session at the Franklin Senior Center to introduce new processes and explain differences in types of affordable housing and how they're administered.
● Design Review Commission: Bylaw and Guidelines review and potential updates. Submitting Community OneStop for Growth grant application for help in producing these updates.
FY27 Initiatives
● Spearhead the implementation of the 2025 Master Plan.
● Draft bylaw amendments related to Wireless Communications Services District to bring in line with federal requirements.
● Create a consolidated local permit application for certain clean energy projects as required by 225 CMR 29.00.
● Oversee next phase of demolition, abatement and remediation efforts of brownfields site at former Nu-Style property, 21 Grove Street.
● Draft a new Hazard Mitigation Plan and submit for approval.
● Amend and develop Zoning Bylaw to encourage growth that will benefit the Town.
● Work to implement the goals and strategies identified in the Master Plan including but not limited to:
○ Work to revitalize Franklin’s Downtown core and adjacent neighborhoods.
○ Expand and enhance the downtown and neighborhoods by prioritizing them for housing development and investments in neighborhood character that include improving infrastructure, amenities, community engagement, and quality of life for residents.
○ Provide guidelines on Franklin character and develop a more clearly defined review process
○ Provide quality arts and cultural resources as a vital part of the creativity and growth of our community.
○ Work to obtain the funding and other resources necessary to implement open space and recreation goals, objectives and actions identified in Plan.
FY27 Requested Budget Highlights
● DPCD is requesting a small increase of $1,000 in our consulting services budget line in anticipation of necessary work related to the Nu-Style brownfields site and to potential Design Review Commission bylaw and guidelines updates.
● DPCD is also requesting a small increase of $500 for its Meetings & Conferences budget line in anticipation of increased attendance at meetings and conferences by the new Director.
FY27 Requested Budget Summary
The Department of Planning and Community Development has an outsized impact on how Franklin grows and develops. With a staff of just three we provide staffing and support to numerous standing and ad hoc committees and boards, we provide accurate information and assistance to numerous residents and stakeholders, including on matters that may not be entirely under the department's purview. We handle affordable housing resale opportunities in house, something a great number of communities find too cumbersome to do themselves and ask the State or other regional entity to handle.
The DPCD Director consistently works with the Downtown Partnership, sits on the GATRA board and on the 495/MetroWest Board of Directors.
The Town Planner sits on MAPC's SouthWest Advisory Planning Committee (SWAP) and on its Council, to which the Director is also the alternate. This requested budget is already
$26,000 less than the FY26 revised budget and further cuts will have a great impact on our ability to serve residents, promote Franklin, and to help Franklin grow in a way that best incorporates the needs of the community.
The DPCD has historically struggled to maintain a full and complete staff, notably a full time position was reduced from the budget in FY26 as part of the override failure.
