Part 5 - The full Residential VII timeline and lessons learned

This is Part 5 of the series to collect the development of the Residential VII Zoning history in one place. The Residential VII zoning bylaw was discussed, written, approved in 2013 and then applied to Cook's Farm in 2014. 

The Town Council meeting Wednesday January 18, 2017 has the agenda item to decide if this zoning bylaw should be applied to the Summer St parcel. 

The Cook's Farm timeline and the creation of the Residential VII

• 2013
• The developer was a consultant in a meeting with the Economic Development Committee (EDC) as they discussed the Pond St property Oct 2012.
• The developer wanted to come back to the EDC with his proposal for Cook's Farm.
• He didn't get notification of being on the agenda and reached out to the Town Administrator at the end of January 2013.
• The Town Administrator advised the developer to put something together on what the bylaw change would look like so they (Planning) could review it.
• The developer did put his proposal together and sent it in March 2013.
• The Town Administrator replied in March 2013 with issues raised (incorporating feedback from Planning).
• The developer continues meeting with different groups within Franklin eventually with the Citizens Committee, and then the Master Plan committee, before coming to the Council meeting June 19, 2013. (audio recording now available)
• The Town Council, Planning, and Community Development Dept, Planning Board met for a bylaw workshop on July 31, 2013.
• The drafted bylaws came to the Town Council at the Sep 11, 2013 meeting to be referred to the Planning Board. (audio recording now available)
• The Planning Board reviewed the bylaws and due to a procedural error, needed to re-do their vote at the Sep 23, 2013 meeting.
• The Town Council held the first public hearing and qst reading of the bylaws on Sep 25, 2013. The bylaws moved to a second reading by a 5-2 vote (with 2 recused). (audio recording now available)
• The Town Council had the 2nd reading at the Oct 16, 2013 meeting and passed the bylaws by a 6-1 vote (2 recused). (audio recording now available)
• 2014
• At June 18, 2014 Town Council meeting, a Cook family member acknowledged meeting with the developer beginning in 2012 in the process of complaining that this was "taking too long".
• At the Nov 5, 2014 Town Council meeting the math challenge was with three councilors recusing themselves (and one open position - due to a resignation) were the five remaining councilors sufficient to vote on the measure before them? They voted 5-0 and it did pass.
• 2016
• With short notification, the neighbors along Summer St find out about the proposed zoning map change to enable a single family residence on approx 11 acres to be re-zoned to allow approx 34 single family units instead of the approx 6-7 that it would be currently zoned for.
• The neighbors turned out in good numbers but were apparently ignored as the Council moved the item to a 2nd reading by a 8-0 vote (one recused).
• 2017
• The Town Council is scheduled for the 2nd reading for the zoning bylaw map change for the Summer St property at their Jan 18, 2017 meeting.

Are there some lessons to be learned from this?

1. The bylaw notification process should be looked at. Some bylaws call for notification of abutters, some don't. It is inconsistent and unfair to the abutters.
2. The Town Council should develop guidelines on what factors should be considered for the next Residential VII zoning change to be approved? With out this, it is an open field for anyone that meets the requirements to come forward and get theirs approved.

Part 1

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/01/part-1-residential-vii-area-on-summer.html

Part 2

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/01/part-2-residential-vii-proposal-for.html

Part 3
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/01/part-3-residential-vii-processing.html

Part 4
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/01/part-4-following-residential-vii-bylaw.html

the dip in the outfield of the new softball field is being 'fixed' by
 moving the fences in and shortening the outfield

Electric Youth 2017 Debuts Two Shows at THE BLACK BOX

Electric Youth (EY) 2017, the international touring ensemble of talented singer-dancers trained at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA), headlines at THE BLACK BOX in downtown Franklin on Saturday, January 28, debuting two shows at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Backed by an eight-piece band of world-class musicians, Electric Youth delivers a fun, high-energy evening of family entertainment with an extensive range of contemporary pop, classic rock, Broadway and country hits for audiences all ages. 

The EY shows at THE BLACK BOX will feature fully choreographed performances of Michael Bublé, Colbie Caillat, The Black Crowes, Guns N’ Roses, Queen, Carrie Underwood, The Who, Stevie Wonder and more.

Selected annually by audition, the group is chosen for superior musicianship, stage presence, and “triple threat” accomplishments in voice, dance, and acting. This season’s ensemble of performers, ages 14-18, studies multiple dance disciplines, voice, and acting at FSPA. 

Electric Youth 2017 includes Julia Buccella, Brooke Collins, Aaron Frongillo, Sydney Leach, Caitlin Woodcock and Melissa Wyner of Franklin; Caroline Merten of Hopedale; Sam Evans and Colie Vancura of Medfield; Katie Gray of Milford; Naomi Fitzgerald, Mairead Nee and Griffin Wilkins of Walpole; and Susauna Wickstrom of Wrentham. 

The EY singer-dancers are backed by Boston musicians who’ve performed, recorded and toured with music legends Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie, B.B. King, Diana Ross, The Temptations, Van Morrison and many others. Raye Lynn Mercer and Hallie Wetzell are Electric Youth’s Director and Vocal Director, respectively. Choreographers include Mercer, Casey Andrade, Cheryl Madeux, Nick Paone and Kellie Stamp.

Electric Youth has released six professional albums and toured Europe 13 times, with performances at England’s Arundel Festival, Disneyland Paris, professional theaters in Bristol, London and Windsor, and such renowned venues as Sanremo’s Ariston Theatre and Vienna’s Konzerthaus, Musikverein and Schonbrunn Palace. 

EY also has headlined Fourth of July shows for U.S. troops and their families stationed in Italy at Camp Ederle, Camp Darby and Aviano Air Force Base. The ensemble has performed on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, on Fox-TV and WBZ Radio, and at Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium, Mechanics Hall, the Smithsonian Museum Theater, the United Nations and the American Embassy in Rome. EY’s music, including the 2014 album Power Chord, is available at amazon.com and iTunes. Electric Youth 2017 will tour England, France, Italy and Switzerland this summer.

Tickets for Electric Youth in Concert at THE BLACK BOX are $26, with $18 tickets available for children 12 and under at the first show only. To purchase tickets, visit www.THEBLACKBOXonline.com, stop by the box office at 34 Main Street in Franklin, or call (508) 528-3370. THE BLACK BOX is located at 15 West Central Street in downtown Franklin. For more information about Electric Youth, visit www.electricyouth.com.

 

Electric Youth 2017 Debuts Two Shows at THE BLACK BOX

FHS boys basketball top Attleboro

Girls Basketball = Franklin, 38 @ Attleboro, 49 – Final

Boys Basketball = Attleboro, 51 @ Franklin, 63 – Final


Joe Clark, HockomockSports.com Student Reporter provides the full game recap

"On Tuesday night at Franklin High, the Panthers took advantage of a balanced scoring attack and a strong defensive effort to defeat the Attleboro Bombardiers, 63-51. 

Defense was the name of the game for both sides, as neither team scored three points until the 3:57 mark of the first quarter when Jake Dunkley (18 points, five rebounds) hit a shot to put Attleboro up 3-2. 

A 5-0 Franklin run from there put the Panthers up 7-3, but an and-one layup from Lucas Boucicaut (nine points) cut the Franklin lead to one and after baskets from Connor Peterson (10 points), who had four in the first quarter, and freshman Bryant Ciccio (four points), Franklin took a 9-8 lead into the second quarter. 

Early in the second, Attleboro took its final lead of the night at 14-12 with 5:12 to play in the half after a basket by Berlyns Abraham (five points) and four points from Boucicaut. From there, Franklin was led by Josh Macchi, who scored 10 of his 18 points in the second quarter to put Franklin up 26-24 at the half."

Continue reading the article online
https://hockomocksports.com/macchi-defense-keep-franklin-boys-basketball-rolling-against-attleboro/

FHS Panthers

For all the results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/tuesdays-schedule-scoreboard-011717/

Franklin Library: Behind the Paranormal with Paul and Ben Eno - Jan 19 - 6:30 PM

Behind the Paranormal with Paul and Ben Eno

Thursday, January 19, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

"Paul Eno and Ben Eno, the father-son co-hosts of the CBS Radio and WOON 1240 Boston/Providence destination show Behind the Paranormal will be appearing at the Franklin Public Library to discuss their new book, Beyond the Paranormal: Everything you know is wrong.

Journey through the paranormal from prehistory to the planets and our future, with over 50 bizarre cases of ghosts, poltergeists, demons, cryptids, UFOs, and other out-of-the-ordinary phenomena. Based on CBS and WOON 1240 radio scripts broadcast by a world-famous father-and-son team of paranormal investigators, their research has revealed bizarre connections not only between seemingly unrelated occurrences but also between the paranormal and our everyday lives, the history of our species, and our possible future as a race.  

Meet inter-world parasites that might be farming your family or community, encounter disappearing buildings, and ghosts of people who aren’t dead. Push the boundaries as you find out what the Bible and other ancient documents might really mean, and what UFOs, invisible friends, and those footsteps in the attic could really be. Explaining the paranormal is not the problem. It’s handling the explanations. Everything you know is wrong. 

Paul and Ben Eno are the father-son co-hosts of the CBS Radio and WOON 1240 Boston/Providence destination show Behind the Paranormal, with an estimated 3 million listeners. Paul began paranormal research in 1970 while studying for the priesthood. His mentors included parapsychologist Dr. Louisa Rhine, Fr. John J. Nicola (technical adviser for The Exorcist) and first-generation ghost hunters Ed and Lorraine Warren. He graduated from two seminaries, but was expelled from a third because of his paranormal work. He became an award-winning New England journalist and the author of seven books. 

Ben Eno joined his dad’s adventures at the age of thirteen and, at sixteen, became the youngest syndicated broadcaster in America. Ben is a sound expert and a graduate of Emerson College in Boston."

Franklin Library: Behind the Paranormal with Paul and Ben Eno - Jan 19 - 6:30 PM

This was shared from the ToF webpage
http://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/events/99463

and
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2017/01/behind-paranormal-with-paul-and-ben-eno.html


You can find out more about Behind the Paranormal at their website  http://www.behindtheparanormal.com/

Reminder: Info Night with the Charles River Rats - Jan 19 - 6:00 PM

Do you love riding your bike? Having fun and riding bikes is what we are all about!

Join us for an introduction to the New England High School Cycling Association (NEHSCA) and hear details about our racing season coming in the spring of 2017.

This will be the 2nd season for our regional team from Franklin, Medway, Millis,
Norfolk Bellingham and Wrentham to compete against other New England teams.

Boys and girls in grades 5-12 are eligible, no experience necessary. Our coaches will teach you all the skills you need.

What: Info Night with the Charles River Rats
When: Thursday, January 19th, 2017

Where: Franklin Recreation Department
275 Beaver Street Franklin, MA 02038

Time: 6:00PM – 7:30 PM

Contact: Rob Rood
Phone: 774-302-9883
Email: overthesummitcoaching@gmail.com
Web: www.nehsca.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nehsca

image from http://www.nehsca.com/

SEPAC Event - "The Typical and Atypical Reading Brain" - Jan 19 - 7:00 PM

SEPAC WORKSHOP - PLEASE JOIN US

What: The Typical and Atypical Reading Brain: Early Identification of Developmental Dyslexia Using Evidence from Behavioral and Brain Studies

Presenter: Dr. Nadine Gaab, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School

When: Thursday, January 19, 2017
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Where: Municipal Building, 3rd Floor Training Room, 355 East Central Street, Franklin

Happy New Year! Concerned about your child's reading?

Bring your questions and concerns to this workshop. Dr. Gaab conducts research at the Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, where her work focuses on auditory and language processing in the human brain and its applications for the development of typical and atypical language and literacy skills. 

In addition, Dr. Gaab is working on detecting possible pre-markers of developmental dyslexia in preschoolers and infants, and on creating remediation programs for reading and language impaired children.

As always, this workshop is free and open to the public. For more information about this workshop and other upcoming SEPAC events, check out our website, www.franklinsepac.org or "like" us on Facebook at Franklin Sepac. Hope to see you there!

SEPAC Event - "The Typical and Atypical Reading Brain"

In the News: Rail Trail applies for grant; Montessori teachers meet

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee has applied this month for a state grant as it continues its efforts to develop the local leg of the Southern New England Trunkline Trail. 

Marc Kaplan, the group's president, said it is seeking money from the Recreational Trails Program to help make the $12,000 project a reality. 

"The program has been around for quite some time," he said. "I believe it is federally funded and administered by the state (Department of Conservation and Recreation)." 

The project is aimed at improving the section of trail between Prospect Street in Franklin and Lake Street in Bellingham. That section of the trail, said Kaplan, has a lot of overgrowth and damage caused by the use of motorized vehicles over dirt."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170117/franklin-rail-trail-advocates-seek-grant

http://www.franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/

"More than 400 teachers and administrators from Montessori schools throughout Massachusetts and New England, including Woodside Montessori Academy in Millis, met at Dean College in Franklin for the annual conference of the Montessori Schools of Massachusetts. 

Author and educator David Sobel gave the keynote address, using images and video to describe projects all over the world where teachers have prioritized experiences in nature for children."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170117/montessori-schools-of-massachusetts-hold-annual-conference

Part 4 - Following the Residential VII bylaw timeline

This is Part 4 of a series to collect the development of the Residential VII Zoning history in one place. The Residential VII zoning bylaw was discussed, written, and approved in 2013 and then applied to Cook's Farm in 2014. 

The Council meeting Wednesday January 18, 2017 has the agenda item to decide if this zoning bylaw should be applied to the Summer St parcel. 

The timeline for 2013 covers from when the Town Council first heard of the proposal and the need for bylaw changes, through the joint workshop, to the ultimate passage of the zoning bylaw now known as Residential VII. 

The audio recordings of several Town Council meetings held during 2013 are shared here.  

We went back into the archive to bring these out with the help of Franklin TV. The video on demand archive on the official Town of Franklin webpage only goes back to 2014. So we are going back to

• June 19, 2013 = the first meeting that the Town Council heard about the proposal for Cook’s Farm and of the need for the Residential VII zoning change.
• Sep 11, 2013 -= Residential VII zoning bylaw proposal referred to the Planning Board
• Sep 25, 2013 = Residential VII zoning comes back to the Council for the first reading and barely makes it to the 2nd reading by a 5-2 vote (2 recuse)
• Oct 16, 2013 = Residential VII comes up for the 2nd reading and passes by a 6-1 vote (one of the prior ‘no’ votes changed)

Other supporting links for this timeline

1 - Town Council meeting - June 19, 2013
My notes reported live during the meeting

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/06/tensions-rise-over-cooks-farm-and.html

There is no copy of the official meeting notes from the Town of Franklin for this session. The archive goes from June 5 to July 17, 2013.

The audio recording of the June 19, 2013 meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/01/fm-123-town-council-meeting-june-19.html

From the June 5 meeting:

SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS: Franklin Citizen’s Committee – Councilor Kelly announced a meeting regarding the Cooks Project would be held on Thursday, June 13th at 7:00PM.

June 5 meeting notes
http://franklinmaarchive.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinMA_MinutesAgendasArchive/FranklinMA_CouncilMin/2013%20Minutes/060513.pdf

The archive of Town Council minutes goes from June 5 to July 17, 2013

 

2 - Town Council - Special workshop on Residential VII bylaw language - July 31, 2013

My notes reported live during the meeting July 31, 2013
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/07/live-reporting-town-council-special.html
The workshop (like most of this type) was held in the 3rd Floor Training Room at the Municipal Building and not recorded by Franklin TV. I have been unable to find if I did record the meeting (which I usually do). There are no minutes from this meeting in the archive.

3 - Town Council - Residential VII comes before Council and gets referred to Planning Board - Sep 11, 2013

My notes reported live during the meeting

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/09/live-reporting-legislation.html

Milford Daily News - article posted (Fri Oct 4, 2013) before the 2nd vote

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/10/the-council-should-not-approve.html

The meeting minutes can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/01/sep-11-2013-town-council-meeting.html

4 - Town Council - Residential VII 1st hearing sees a divided Town Council move the measure to a 2nd reading by 5-2 vote - Sep 25, 2013

My notes reported live during the meeting

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/09/divided-council-moves-zoning-bylaw.html

Sep 25, 2015 official minutes
http://franklinmaarchive.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinMA_MinutesAgendasArchive/FranklinMA_CouncilMin/2013%20Minutes/09253.pdf


Key section of the Sep 25 minutes
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/01/sep-25-2013-divided-council-moves.html

Planning Board - needed to re-do their vote to NOT recommend the Residential VII bylaw:

CITIZEN COMMENTS: ►Planning Board Chairman Anthony Padula announced a housekeeping error at the September 23rd Planning Board Meeting when a motion was heard before the audience had an opportunity to comment on a presentation made by Ron Roux. Mr. Padula said the zoning bylaw amendment would be added to the October 7th Agenda and would be voted on again at that meeting

(From the official minutes linked to above)

5 - Town Council - Residential VII bylaw passes by 6-1 vote - Oct 16, 2013

My notes reported live during the meeting

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/10/ichigo-ichie-cooks-farm-and-bunch-of.html

Section from the official minutes for the meeting
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/01/oct-16-2013-town-council-passes.html

Cook's Farm being built as the first Residential VII development on RT 140

FHS winter sports results for Monday, Jan 16, 2017

Via Hockomock Sports we can share the results of the FHS gymnastics and girls hockey games on Monday


Gymnastics = Franklin, 114.35 @ Sharon, 126.7 – Final

FHS Panthers

– Franklin junior Liz Traphagen took the individual all-around with a score of 32.65. Traphagen scored an 8.1 on vault, 7.6 on bars, 8.35 on beam and 8.6 on floor. Franklin sophomore Sadie Rondeau was third overall on beam with an 8.1

Girls Hockey = Franklin, 0 @ Canton, 6 – Final

– Canton junior Marissa Devane potted a hat trick to pace the Bulldogs.

For the other results around the Hockomock League on Monday
https://hockomocksports.com/mondays-schedule-scoreboard-011617/

"In classical languages, we focus a lot on reading"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"More Franklin students are continuing on with foreign language studies after they've met their requirements, according to district officials. 

Foreign language teachers gave a presentation on their efforts at a School Committee meeting this month, saying that there had been a positive trend among upper-level students. 

Department head Laura Evans said colleges typically require two or three years of foreign language study at the high school level, but more students had elected to continue beyond that point. 

"With the sophomores of the class of 2015, 55 percent chose to move on (to the next language level) for their junior year," she said. "This year, 78 percent chose to move on."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170116/franklin-foreign-language-numbers-rising

For more from the School Committee meeting last week
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/01/live-reporting-foreign-language-overview.html

the end slide from the presentation on foreign language education in the Franklin schools

FM #124 - Residential VII - Town Council Meeting audio - 2013

This internet radio show or podcast is number 124 in the series for Franklin Matters. This captured the audio recordings of several Town Council meetings held during 2013.  

Yes, that is correct 2013. We are going back into the archive to bring these out with the help of Franklin TV. The video on demand archive on the official Town of Franklin webpage only goes back to 2014. So we are going back to

• June 19, 2013 = the first meeting that the Town Council heard about the proposal for Cook’s Farm and of the need for the Residential VII zoning change.
• Sep 11, 2013 -= Residential VII zoning bylaw proposal referred to the Planning Board
• Sep 25, 2013 = Residential VII zoning comes back to the Council for the first reading and barely makes it to the 2nd reading by a 5-2 vote (2 recuse)
• Oct 16, 2013 = Residential VII comes up for the 2nd reading and passes by a 6-1 vote (one of the prior ‘no’ votes changed)

My notes from the meetings have been posted to the Franklin Matters webpage.

I’ll indicate between sections of the meetings which one you’ll be listening to. This should help to set the context for the overall discussion and decision to create and pass the Residential VII zoning bylaw.

Without further ado, here are the combined recordings of the meetings

-------------

This brings the recording of several Town Council meetings from 2013 to a close.

----    ----    ----

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but I can't do it alone. I can use your help.

How can you help?

• If you like this, please tell your friends and neighbors.
• If you don't like this, please let me know.

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements.

Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission

I hope you enjoy!

subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters on iTunes

FM #123 - Town Council Meeting - June 19, 2013 (audio)

This internet radio show or podcast is number 123 in the series for Franklin Matters. This captured the audio recording of the Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, June 19, 2013.  

Yes, that is correct 2013. We are going back into the archive to bring this one out with the help of Franklin TV. The video on demand archive on the official Town of Franklin webpage only goes back to 2014. We are going back to June 19, 2013 as this was the first meeting that the Town Council heard about the proposal for Cook’s Farm and of the need for the Residential VII zoning change.

My notes from the meeting had been posted to the Franklin Matters webpage in 2013. The meeting agenda is also available and links are provided. The Town of Franklin Town Council meeting minutes also happens to ‘skip’ this meeting hence the need to share it in the full source.

This is part of the series recapping the introduction of the Cook’s Farm proposal, the development of the zoning bylaw for Residential VII, and its final approval by the Council for the COok’s Farm property in Oct 2016.

Without further ado, here is the recording of the meeting

-------------

This brings the recording of the June 19, 2013 Town Council meeting to a close.

----    ----    ----

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but I can't do it alone. I can use your help.

How can you help?

• If you like this, please tell your friends and neighbors.
• If you don't like this, please let me know.

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements.

Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission

I hope you enjoy!

subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters on iTunes