Sunday, August 11, 2013

In the News: Master Plan, St Rocco


Housing component of Franklin master plan criticized

Broad goals for the future of housing and development in town laid out in the draft master plan drew criticism Saturday at a public hearing on the document.


Familiar faces set up Feast of St. Rocco in Franklin

Peter Brunelli says it takes more than one person to plan each new day of the 35th annual Feast of St. Rocco, a popular celebration of Franklin’s Italian-American community.


Saturday, August 10, 2013

live reporting - Public Hearing - Master Plan (continued)

Committee Chair Jeff Roy providing an overview with use of a PowerPoint presentation similar to that used for the Town Council meeting Jul 17, 2013

Document link here  http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/07/live-reporting-master-plan-committee.html

Chris Vericker steps in to lend a hand with the section on Housing. Chris had led the work effort by that subcommittee.

Jeff Roy resumes the presentation on Natural, Cultural and Historic resources
looking to get a performance venue in the downtown area to help draw people and provide some business opportunities

the Master Plan leveraged work by the 2008 Open Space and Recreation plan, incorporating those recommendations and adding to it

leverages the School Dept Strategic Plan within this plan. This plan is updated every 5 years.

Comments open until Aug 16th. Those submitted will be reviewed and incorporated as necessary before the Sep 18th meeting with the Town Council. The document should really be an open around a living document
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/this-is-going-to-be-living-document.html

I stepped up as first commenter thank the committee for their work, this was a great effort by a bunch of volunteers. I raised the use of "in fill development" what does it mean?

Beth Dahlstrom - the term is meant to refer to developing within and on existing developments rather than developing open space.

Second term for definition is "workforce housing"

Jeff Roy - answered that the term was meant to cover broad usage around affordable housing.

This lead to my recommendation to add a glossary and improve the overall accessibility of the document. You can link within the doc from the term to the glossary.

Councilor Judy Pfeffer also commented on the use of "workforce development" looking for clarification on the term. She also objected to the recommendation of "increased funding for the Schools". As a Town Councilor, their challenge is to provide equitable all Town departments and the plan should pick one over the others.

Dennis Grillo - As a developer, the key issues should be making it affordable to business in town. I am not against any of it. I am not really sold on green energy. green energy supplies about 2 % of our tax dollars on failed projects.

Chris Vericker - This is not a spending plan, this is a guideline for the Town to use in planning.

Jeff Roy - that is what this plan is all about. If we are going to grow, we have to grow smartly. They should be considering these details. one of the struggles for a community like Franklin in achieving green status, we are already doing so much in this space that we can't easily achieve this status.

Dennis Grillo - What green costs to produce and what the return is, think about the return on the dollar. Money is easy to spend. It has to make sense.

no other comments or questions so the meeting is officially closing




Live reporting: Public Hearing - Master Plan 2013

from the Franklin Public Library

presenters: Jeff Roy

Over view with presentation similar to that provided to the Town Council on July 17th



"this is going to be a living document"

The public hearing on the Master Plan will be held today at 10:00 AM in the meeting room at the Franklin Public Library.
"It’s the most important part of the process," state Rep. Jeffrey Roy, committee chairman, said Friday. "We’ve gotten public input along the way in bits and pieces … but I don’t think anyone has seen the project we’ve put together in one document. People may look at some of the ideas a little differently in the context of the bigger picture." 
The 172-page master plan includes overarching goals, which are presented with specific actions for how to achieve them. 
Roy said he has already fielded calls about certain sections of the document. 
"The initial reactions I’ve seen are on the housing component," he said. "Folks think there is too much emphasis and focus on workforce housing. I’m getting the sense that people think we have enough of that inventory in Franklin."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x369946656/Hearing-this-morning-on-Franklin-master-plan#ixzz2bYtT3p41

Related posts on the 2013 Master Pin include links to the full plan document

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/master-plan-mission-and-vision.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/master-plan-mission-and-vision.html

Reporting from the initial presentation to the Town Council
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/07/the-master-plan-is-here-master-plan-is.html

Run for the Neighbor Brigade - Pam's Run

Franklin benefits from the good works done by our chapter of the Neighbor Brigade. Runners and walkers can participate in either a 3 mile or 5 mile course. All are welcome to contribute to the cause. Follow the link to register for the race or contribute.

“A road race that brings groups of neighbors together to support their communities had long been a dream of Pam’s,” said Nowland. “She understood the power of small, everyday acts of kindness and support, and something like this, which is so grounded in community to benefit Neighbor Brigade’s cause, would have made her heart sing.” 
Pam’s Run will take place on Saturday, Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to noon. A party will be hosted throughout the event with food and fun for all ages. 
The race will start and finish at Loker School, located at 47 Loker St. in Wayland. 
To register for Pam’s Run go online (www.pamsrun.com). Registration is $30 per participant.


Read more: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x997494997/Pams-Run-in-Wayland-to-honor-Neighbor-Brigade-founder#ixzz2bYpJsx00


47 Loker St, Wayland, MA


View Larger Map


Related posts on Franklin's Neighbor Brigade

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/06/in-times-of-challege-there-is-franklin.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/04/a-wonderful-community-service.html


Rescheduled: Bike Tour of the SNETT


Please note: Due to a scheduling conflict, the Bike Tour of the SNETT has been rescheduled to Saturday, August 24, 2013 from 8:30 to noon.  If you would like to join the tour, please use the registration link below.

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The Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee (FBRTC) will host a Guided Bike Tour of the Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT).  The tour will begin at the Grove Street trailhead in Franklin, and travel west 7.5 miles to Blackstone to learn about the work being done on the trail.  In Blackstone, you will have a chance to see the bridge rehab construction taking place, including a temporary ramp from Church St down to the RR grade, which will give you an idea of the Purchase Street ramp.  The tour will be led by Mr. Bill DeSantis, Corporate Director Bicycle Pedestrian Transportation of  Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB Engineering).

This event is free, but we ask that you register in advance. Also, parking is available across the street from the trailhead at Grove St.




In the News: PMC, St Rocco's

Franklin girl pedals kindness in the PMC Kids' Ride

Last weekend's Pan Mass Challenge wasn't just for the grown ups. Younger riders got into the pedaling act, too, taking part in the Pass Mass Kids' Ride at Patriot Place on Sunday, Aug. 4.


St. Mary's readies for the Feast of St. Rocco in Franklin

St. Mary's Church in Franklin will hold the Feast of St. Rocco Friday night, and  all day Saturday and Sunday at the festival grounds across from the Franklin Town Common.