Rezoning from residential to business

Coming up for the second reading tonight is a proposal to rezone some parcels along King St at the i495 interchange.

7. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 12-689:Changes to Chapter 185 §5. Zoning Map: Single Family III to Business Zoning District- 2nd Reading 

The last 10 pages of the agenda document for the Town Council meeting provide the map views for these parcels.

These photos were taken of the parcel frontage along King St as I ran by Sunday morning.

The power lines run right through the property being reclassified so that will be something to work around as the developers figure out how to maximize the space being rezoned.

You can find the full agenda for the Town Council meeting here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/09/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-oct-3.html

and the agenda document with the maps can be found here (the last ten pages cover this rezoning change)
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2012%20docs/100312.pdf

"Improving public education would be a major focus"

Continuing to mine the recent meeting the Milford Daily News arranged with the 10th Norfolk candidates, they have posted this article where the candidates agree one issue at least: education.

Roy and Eustis expressed similar views on the state of the state’s education system — K-12 to four-year and two-year colleges — during a recent meeting with the Daily News. The Nov. 6 election is 34 days away. 

In general, they both want to help the state’s education system continue to improve, and each sees a growing problem in escalating college costs. 

Democrat and Republican agreed that tuition at state colleges has to be reined in, to prevent the high cost from dissuading prospective students and to make college a realistic option for more families.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x264122712/10th-Norfolk-candidates-agree-on-education#ixzz28E8td2IV

Trail Walk Scheduled - Oct 13

In case you missed talking with the folks at the Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee tent at the Harvest Festival, here is the flyer about the Oct 13 Rail Trail walk that is scheduled.

The event is free, sponsored by the Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee and the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Please register at www.franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/oct13





The trail walk is scheduled for Saturday, Oct 13 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM
Rain date is Sunday, Oct 14 in the same starting time

More information on the Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee can be found on their web page
http://www.franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/

Federal Funds Boost 10 Regional Transit Authorities

Some Federal money can be coming to GATRA according to this

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Federal Funds Boost 10 Regional Transit Authorities

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 10/2/12

Governor Deval Patrick and MassDOT announced today that MassDOT will award $13.2 million to 10 Massachusetts Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) to make needed capital investments including new bus purchases and facility repairs.

The funds are available as part of the Obama Administration's "We Can't Wait" initiative that allows states to repurpose unused federal transportation earmarks (from 2003 to 2006) for use on highway and transit projects that are able to obligate the funds by the end of the year.

Projects selected represent RTAs across the Commonwealth and are focused on state of good repair including bus replacements along with customer service improvements, such as Real-time customer information signs for the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, above, and major projects already underway such as the Gallagher Terminal Garage in Lowell.

"The Obama Administration has made a smart decision to put unspent dollars into necessary projects that create jobs," said Governor Deval Patrick.  "These projects reflect our commitment to improve public transportation for residents across the Commonwealth."

The repurposed earmark funds are 100% federal funding, require no state match and must be used for capital needs.  MassDOT selected the 11 projects from a list of 28 project requests totaling $45.6 million from the state's 15 RTAs.

The 11 projects were selected based on the likelihood of the individual RTA's ability to obligate funds by the end of December and spend all funds in the near-term.  The funded project list includes the following:

• Berkshire RTA-  Four 14-passenger vans w/ fare boxes, $420,000  
• Berkshire RTA-  Maintenance facility roof, $250,000   
• Brockton Area Transit- Three 35' Hybrid transit buses and two 35' diesel transit buses, $2.6 million                       
• Cape Ann Transportation Authority- Maintenance facility roof, $408,179   
• Greater Attleboro-Taunton RTA- Two 30' transit buses, $740,000    
• Lowell RTA- Gallagher Terminal parking garage replacement, $2.5 million           

• Martha's Vineyard RTA-  Three 27' buses and one 30' bus, $1,085,000     
• Montachusett RTA- Wachusett Commuter Rail Extension, $3.6 million     
• Nantucket RTA-  Four 25' transit buses, $749,000       

• Pioneer Valley Transit Authority- Real-time customer information signs, $450,000         
• Southeastern Regional Transit Authority- Parking deck resurface, fireproofing replacement, $370,000    

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In the News: book sale, art party, variety show, skating

The fall book sale, the second major fund raiser for the Franklin Library, is coming up Oct 19-21.

Friends of Franklin Library plan annual book sale

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Combine art and halloween to get a great party!

Franklin Art Center slates Spooktacular Halloween Art Party

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Will they sing "Life is a Cabaret, old chum", mark your calendar, get a ticket and find out!

Franklin High to stage A Cabaret variety show

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Never mind art and Halloween, how about skating and Halloween!

Pirelli Veteran's Arena to hold Halloween public skate

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

"give the kids a better experience"

Milford daily News reports the Tri-County VocTech will be getting some MSBA funding to renovate its science labs.

Four of Tri-County’s five labs will be revamped using the design, inspired by the nationwide push to bolster science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, in public schools. The fifth lab only requires minor renovations. 

The labs date back to 1977, the year in which Tri-County was built. 

The state grant covers slightly more than half of the $1.8 million project, with the school paying the rest. Work will include the installation of new casework, wall cabinets, countertops, plumbing fixtures, flooring and furniture. 

The labs will also feature upgraded infrastructure, such as new electrical and plumbing systems and smartboards.

Worthy of noting is that the architect selected is Ai3, the same as for the Whitman-Hanson model school that was selected for the new Franklin High School.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x264122693/Tri-County-Valley-Tech-get-help-from-state#ixzz28E6z8OKU

Related post on Ai3  http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/11/ai3-architects.html

Experienced with the model

Reporting on the School Building Committee meeting from Monday night, the Milford Daily News writes:

The East Providence-based firm constructed the Whitman-Hanson Regional High School and in 2008 worked on Norwood High School, the first built under the state’s model school program. 

Norwood was also the first school to use the Whitman-Hanson model. Since then, a handful of other districts have picked the model because of its adaptable design, including Natick and Franklin. 

Sean Fennell, Franklin’s project manager, said Agostini has a pristine reputation for completing big projects on time and within budget. Fennell said the firm is "the best you can hope for" when placing a public bid. 

"They make sure the price is right," Fennell said. "And these guys never miss a deadline."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x264122307/Contractor-for-new-Franklin-High-is-praised#ixzz288M5J3u4

Additional information on the entire high school building project can be found in my collection
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/12/collection-high-school-building-project.html

and updated information can always be found on the new high school web page
http://www.newfhs.com/