Live reporting - Legislation

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 13-69: Authorization for Intermunicipal Agreement with Town of Bellingham for Shared In-Home Respite Services
funded by a grant to hire a director and three part-time people
motion to approve, passed 9-0

Mercer and Bissanti recuse themselves

2. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-719: Changes to Chapter 185. Attachment 9. Schedule of Lot, Area, Frontage, Yard and Height Requirements – 1st Reading
motion to more to second reading, passed 5-2 (Powderly and Jones)

Powderly will not be moving this to second reading, I don't feel it is in the best interests. We have had a growth strategy, we can't support higher density at this time. There is nothing in this consistent with the Master Plan. it is not a whole list of things that are in conflict with the future.

Kelly - I think quite the opposite. Unless we are looking at smart growth opportunities, we are going to be in trouble. We need to look at what we have left and how we are going to use it. if 40B went into this lot, we would have a huge problem with the schools.

3. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-720: Changes to Chapter 185-4. Districts Enumerated – 1st Reading
motion to more to second reading, passed 5-2 (Powderly and Jones)

4. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-721: Changes to Chapter 185-5. Zoning Map – 1st Reading
motion to more to second reading, passed 5-2 (Powderly and Jones)

5. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-722: Changes to Chapter 185-50. Residential VII Zoning District – 1st Reading
motion to amended, passed 5-2 (Powderly and Jones)
2nd amendment suggested by property owners, under sec 2b 1b
move to strike sec 2b 1b and reletter
motion passed 6-1 (Powderly)

6. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-723: Changes to Chapter 185. Use Regulations Schedule, Parts I through Parts VII – 1st Reading
motion to more to second reading, passed 5-2 (Powderly and Jones)

7. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-718: Changes to Chapter 185-7. Compliance Required – 2nd Reading
2/3rd vote required as this is a second reading
motion to approve, seconded passed 9-0 via roll call
eliminate parking lots in residential areas and allow this downtown

Live reporting - Master Plan

Jeff Roy provides an overview of the changes from the comment period and then reads the introduction to the final version of the report. (copy to be provided later)

Dear Fellow Residents 

We have long known that Franklin is a community committed to high-quality education and the superb delivery of public services. It is part of what drove us all here to live, work, and raise families. Indeed, our community has been recognized by Family Circle magazine as one of the Top 10 places to raise a family, is at the top of the 100 safest cities to live according to Neighborhood Scout, and was recently ranked 10th among the Top 100 places to live and launch a business by CNN/Money. Once a busy hub for the production of straw bonnets back in the 18th and 19th centuries, Franklin has diversified tremendously since then and hosts a 360-acre industrial park, a single tax rate for businesses and residents, trails for hikers and bikers, two commuter rail stations, and two exits off I-495 that offer easy access to Boston,
Worcester, and Providence, RI. 

Committed to continuously improving the quality of life for everyone in our community, Franklin has developed—over many months and with input from a wide array of constituencies—a vision for its future as well as goals, principles, and a plan to support and implement that vision. This undertaking, encompassed within these pages, is a comprehensive Master Plan that seeks to ensure that the Town of Franklin can continue to meet its current and ongoing economic, social, and environmental needs without compromising the future for succeeding generations. 

We began with a vision of Franklin as a vibrant community that supports the arts, non-profit organizations, higher education, and businesses in an atmosphere that allows growth and prosperity, while at the same time conserving our heritage, natural resources, and history. Also, we are committed to building on and celebrating that uniqueness as a community, maintaining the quality of life that is our strength and competitive advantage. 

This Master Plan is a blueprint for our future that will help to guide our choices and decisions as a Town. It is a report to the community that sets forth a policy framework to guide town decision makers in the future, and it advances an action agenda to achieve the town’s vision. Indeed, it is a plan for smart growth that balances preservation of our exceptional natural and cultural heritage and our quality of life with the pursuit of new and exciting opportunities for economic growth. 

The Plan was designed, in part, to fulfill the requirements of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 41, §81D, for the development of municipal comprehensive or master plans. Citizen participation was crucial to its development, and it will be vital to its implementation over the next five to ten years. Aside from the invaluable knowledge that residents bring to the planning process, citizen participation is the only way to ensure that both majority and minority perspectives will be heard, evaluated, and accounted for as the Plan evolves. It is a “living document” which is meant to address and respond to the goals and aspirations of the community for the course and direction of our town. 

The implementation tool included within the Plan is vital to its success. The goals and objectives can, in many instances, be measured by comparing actual performance with the quantitative targets included in the implementation component of the Plan. We trust that the Town’s decision makers, guided by an Implementation Committee, will use this as a structure for acting upon our recommendations. We realize that the goals, objectives, and actions outlined in this Plan are ambitious and comprehensive, but they were created to address the desires, needs, and concerns of the residents of Franklin. 

We have all enjoyed the opportunity to serve Franklin over the past two years, and we offer this Master Plan with our best wishes and intentions. We stand ready to help and assist with its implementation and look forward to continued success and good fortune for our friends and neighbors in Franklin.

signed - very truly yours
Jeffrey N. Roy
Master Plan Committee Chair


The document and sections thereof, can be found here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/pages/FranklinMA_Planning/masterplandoc/doc

Thanks to the Planning Dept and their hard work, we could not have delivered this without their help.

Pfeffer - referring to the use of the term 'work force housing' the emphasis on the term is contrary to the way Franklin has grown. there is a recommendation to increase funding. No one would disagree with that but I have trouble with this phrasing.

Roy - we did spend time discussing this, the term is standard in the planning arena. It may be misunderstood. It is a term of art that we felt should remain in their. It is not to lower the quality. I do agree with you that where the money will come from is an issue. I have read multiple annual reports and I have one on my desk where the citizens are asking about where they are going to come up with funding for schools. These goals are lofty. The decisions will be left to you as leaders for this community. It is not a statement of what we are going to do, it is a goal. I appreciate your input. We felt it was important.

Motion to accept, passed 9-0

Vallee - We will set up a committee to work the actions

Live reporting - license transaction, zoning bylaws public hearing

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
New All Alcoholic Beverages Restaurant License:
Artistry Franklin

looking to open before Thanksgiving
motion to approve license, passed 9-0



F. HEARINGS
Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-719: Changes to Chapter 185. Attachment 9. Schedule of Lot, Area, Frontage, Yard and Height Requirements- 7:10 PM
Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-720: Changes to Chapter 185-4. Districts Enumerated – 7:10 PM
Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-721: Changes to Chapter 185-5. Zoning Map- 7:10 PM
Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-722: Changes to Chapter 185-50. Residential VII Zoning District – 7:10 PM
Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-723: Changes to Chapter 185. Use Regulations Schedule, Parts I through Parts VII – 7:10 PM

hearing opens with all of the bylaws at once.

Mercer and Bissanti recuse themselves

Jeff provides overview on the package

Richard Cornetta, represents the Cook Family Trust property
Christopher and Ralph Cook

requesting to amend language to striking section in entirity
to remove section that could create a jurisdictional conflict between Planning Board and Conservation Commission
reference to dead end streets, Planning Board has been designated as ruling body, would have approved language codifying language that would have defined the dead end street
as an alternative remove dead end streets

Vallee - getting conflicting info
Nutting - 600' is required by the Planning Board and we would like to keep it
Cerel - proposed alternative would not be legal, they happen to be the special permit authority
zoning has to be uniform, predicable and fixed
it is the only place as an oversight and needed elsewhere
if an emergency vehicles were to be blocked it could be an issue particularly giving the density of the proposal

Nutting - this zoning bylaw will go to other places,
Cornetta - we are no proposing a change in the length, this is just the first place where you have codified the standard. By placing a hardline, you are taking some authority from the Planning Board.

Padula, Planing Board Chair, 600' as stated is for the maximum 12 homes on a 600' road; the homes are likely to be sprinkled, when sprinkled you can cut the space required between houses, it is there for a reason, I don't think the whole bylaw should be changed to cater this plan.

Pfeffer -
one is applied to subdivision and one applies to special permit
if the road gets blocked, emergency vehicles get blocked

McCarragher - if it is beyond 600' you also need a secondary egress, a secondary road to get people out of the area. When you put larger populations in there, you need a secondary road. If you increase the density, you increase the risk - 20 units versus 5, we usually can get in pretty good but it is getting out that is an issue

Powderly - we have multiple recommendation to keep this in, while this might be the first time we are doing this, if we are being smart to do this, then we should do that.

Padula -

Cornetta - we do not disagree with what is being said here tonight, our comment was meant to ilusstrate that this is the first time you are doing this. If you could look at the distinctiion between lop roads or dead ends, maybe we could look at an other design to meet the requirements. The project still is functional with this language.

Bill Roche - President of Franklin Country Club, the Board of Governors has voted to endorse the rezoning

live reporting - Town Council meeting - Sep 25, 2013

Present: Mercer, Dellorco, Kelly, Powderly, Vallee, Pfeffer, Jones, Bissanti, Roy

Absent: none


A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
July 17, 2013; August 7, 2013 Executive Session
motion to approve minutes, passed 9-0

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by Franklin Matters.

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
none

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Planning Board Chair, Tony Padula mentioned that he wants to re-do the vote on the zoning bylaw package to clean up some housing keeping issues with the vote. The motion to approve was made before the hearing was closed. One member has retracted their vote. The vote can be re-done on Oct 7th and back to the Town Council in time for the second reading of this package.


E. APPOINTMENTS
Finance Committee - William Dowd
motion to approve, passed 9-0

Disability Commission - Mark R Thompson
motion to approve, passed 9-0

Franklin - Fall color

fall color along King St

Friendly reminder that the Town Council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM in the council chambers. The agenda and associated documents was posted here

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/09/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-sep-25.html

Library Board - Aug Meeting

The minutes of the August meeting at which the October Book Sale was voted to be not held were posted to the Library website on Tuesday after being approved during Monday's meeting..

I am probably not alone in finding it interesting that the book sale which has been held with a preview for Friends of the Franklin Library members on Friday night, open to the public at the DPW garage on Saturday and again on Sunday with the 'bag of books' sale was referred to as a 'one day' sale.

http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Library/minutes2013/AUG2013.doc


Prior posts:

Monday's meeting
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/09/library-board-will-not-reconsider.html

The Board letter to the FoFL
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/09/friends-of-franklin-library-book-sale.html

The FoFL response
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/09/friends-of-franklin-library-fall-book.html


Disclosure: my wife is a member of the Friends and as a kindergarten teacher takes advantage of the book sale to purchase books for her classroom.

Library: "The Science of Crime Scene Investigation"

The Library is hold a crime scene investigation activity for kids in grades 1 to 4 on Friday, October 4th.

Pre-registration is required as space is limited. Register by following this link:
http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e84qpeuva016f194

Silly science and mystical math