Land-Use
Policy Statement: Adopt long-term sustainability, and start-growth principles to attain fuller, more efficient development, protecting natural resources and the New England, small town character of Franklin.
General Goals:
- Designate areas for workforce housing in order to retain existing businesses and attract new industries;
- Minimize the occurrence of new development by focusing on Brownfield re-development; and
- Protect the health of our citizens and help sustain our businesses by preserving natural
- lands and the resources they provide.
Natural, Cultural and Historic Resources
Policy Statement: Preserve Franklin’s New England, small town character through controlled growth, preserving scenic vistas, supporting local arts and culture, and protecting historic architecture.
General Goals:
- Protect and preserve the integrity of natural resources in town;
- Provide resources for the arts, and support cultural initiatives in town to foster education and creativity;
- Maintain the Town’s historic appeal by identifying and protecting trademark land and historic characteristics.
Open Space and Recreation
Policy Statement: Open space and recreational resources are a key contributor to the quality of life in Franklin and an important aspect of the community’s appeal. Open lands help protect the Town’s water supply, manage flood waters, provide wildlife habitat, and provide opportunities for passive and active outdoor recreation within the Town.
General Goals:
- Document the Town’s open space and recreational resources, and improve public awareness of these resources through increased education, signage, publicity, and events;
- Preserve existing unprotected natural and open space resources in Franklin;
- Provide opportunities for passive and active recreation to meet the community’s evolving needs;
- Implement sustainable practices in the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of Franklin’s public parks and playgrounds; and
- Investigate grant programs and other revenue sources available to provide funding for the goals and objectives of this chapter.
Circulation
Policy Statement: Assure the safe and efficient movement of goods and people within the Town of Franklin, and across the regional transportation network, by providing a range of integrated transportation options.
General Goals:
- Provide the necessary infrastructure to keep Franklin’s citizens and businesses moving and growing in town;
- Support green, sustainable transportation initiatives by accommodating pedestrians and cyclists throughout town;
- Reduce the dependence on single passenger vehicles by improving public transportation and ridesharing options; and
- Improve access and circulation in the Downtown.
Housing
Policy Statement: Support in-fill housing practices and provide for all affordability options, giving Franklin’s residents the opportunity to maintain a decent standard of living.
General Goals:
- Provide sufficient affordable housing;
- Encourage clustered and mixed-use housing to minimize land-clearing as well as conserve open and natural lands;
- Encourage the development of small scale housing units in and around the Downtown; and
- Welcome new industrial development by designating areas for workforce housing.
Economic Development
Policy Statement: Adopt strategies for business and workforce retention and attraction to diversify Franklin’s economic foundation, and increase its property tax yields.
General Goals:
- Actively pursue the improvement of infrastructure to attract large industry, small businesses, and skilled workers;
- Further incentivize the biotechnology, medical device, and research industries to come to Franklin; and
- Advocate for the small business community, especially within and around the Downtown area.
Community Services and Facilities
Policy Statement: Provide adequate and appropriate facilities and infrastructure necessary to accommodate current and future community needs by maximizing use of existing resources and adding new assets in an economically prudent manner.
General Goals:
- Continue to provide quality police, fire, and emergency medical services to keep Franklin’s residents safe;
- Invest in Franklin’s future by increasing funding for its schools;
- Increase the capacity of the Town’s water and sewer supply as needed to accommodate new industrial development and strengthen Franklin’s economic and social infrastructure; and
- Support the safe and timely movement of people and goods throughout town.
The public input period is open until August 16, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. A copy of the Draft Plan is available online at http://town.franklin.ma.us/pages/FranklinMA_Planning/masterplandoc/doc, at Franklin Public Library or at the Department of Planning & Community Development in Franklin Municipal Building.
