The Department of Planning & Community Development presented their FY 2010 work plan and priorities to the Town Council. The department's priorities include updating the master plan and affordable housing plan, promoting business development, revitalizing downtown Franklin through streetscape improvements, and redeveloping town-owned properties like the Nu-Style and Pond Street sites. The department also provides support to various town boards and is responsible for land use planning through zoning bylaws and open space preservation.
Department Of Planning & Community Development FY 2010
1. Department of Planning &
Community Development
FY 2010 Work Plan Update
& Current Priorities
2. Department Staff
Bryan Taberner, Director
Beth Dahlstrom, Town Planner
Liz Cassidy, Planning Board Secretary
& Administrative Assistant
Nick Alfieri, Conservation Agent & Part-time Planner
Kathy Celorier, Conservation Secretary
Town Council Presentation DPCD FY10 Work Plan & Priorities July 15, 2009
3. Support to Town Boards, Commissions & Committees
Planning Board
Conservation Commission
Public Land Use Committee
Design Review Commission
Technical Review Committee
Economic Development Committee
Other
Town Council Presentation DPCD FY10 Work Plan & Priorities July 15, 2009
4. Comprehensive Planning
DPCD is responsible for traditional land-use
related activities including update of Plans and
Creating Zoning Bylaws.
Open Space and Recreation Plan
Approved by the Executive Office of Energy and
Environmental Affairs.
2008 OSRP is an update of the Town’s 2002 Plan.
Purpose of plan is to create a document that guides the
Town in its efforts to preserve public and privately
owned open space, protect natural resources, and
enhance existing and develop new recreation resources.
Allows Town to participate in DCR grant rounds
through February 2014.
Town Council Presentation DPCD FY10 Work Plan & Priorities July 15, 2009
5. Comprehensive Planning (Continued)
Master Plan Update
Currently developing Scope of Work and Master Plan
Outline including summary of the following elements
Goals and Policy Land Use
Housing Economic Development
Circulation Open Space and Recreation
Community Services and Facilities
Natural, Cultural & Historic Resources
Implementation
Establish Community Master Plan Committee
Affordable Housing Plan Update needed by May 2010
Town Council Presentation DPCD FY10 Work Plan & Priorities July 15, 2009
6. Zoning Bylaws
Current Zoning Work :
Uses Accessory to Dwelling (Home Occupation) Bylaw
Sign By-law
Updating Commercial I Zoning District Bylaw
Later in FY10
Minor changes to Subdivision Regulations
Minor changes to site Plan Review Bylaw
Exploring need for Wind Turbine and Mural Bylaws
Town Council Presentation DPCD FY10 Work Plan & Priorities July 15, 2009
7. Commonwealth Capital
Each year DPCD prepares and the Town submits a
Commonwealth Capital Application.
The resulting Commonwealth Capital Score is used to evaluate
and score Franklin’s consistency with the State’s smart growth
and smart energy policies.
Score is used as part of grant proposal evaluation process.
Score is used to compare Franklin with other communities, on
how we’re doing balancing our community development
activities through sustainable development principles.
In FY09 172 communities completed an application
Average score (mean) was 69.2 (out of a possible 140)
Franklin’s FY09 score is 90.
Previous Scores: 102 in 2008, 99 in 2006, and 90 in 2005.
Town Council Presentation DPCD FY10 Work Plan & Priorities July 15, 2009
8. Community Development / Economic Development
Community Livability and Economic Viability
Create a community where
entrepreneurs will want to settle
and raise their families.
Current Community/Economic Development Priorities
Town Owned Properties
Business Attraction and Retainage
Creation of PDSs and EOAs
Downtown Revitalization
Town Council Presentation DPCD FY10 Work Plan & Priorities July 15, 2009
9. Town Owned Properties
Nu-Style Property, Grove Street
MassDevelopment Reimbursable Grant
Brownfields Assessment: work is complete and
Results Documentation will be to Town soon.
What’s Next?
Request for Proposals for Purchase and
Redevelopment of Property, or
Demolition and Remediation. Requires
funding, and RFP for Work, then 1 above.
Funding required: MassDevelopment Loan for
Demolition and Remediation or EPA Grant
Town Council Presentation DPCD FY10 Work Plan & Priorities July 15, 2009
10. Town Owned Properties (Continued)
Four Corners Property
Planning Board Endorsed the Walgreens plan for the
Four Corners site on May 18, 2009
Demolition complete, and construction underway
Unresolved Parcels and Tax Title Properties
Development or Auction of Specific Parcels
Conserve Specific Parcels for Future Use
Preservation of Open Space and Natural Resources
Transfer management of specific parcels to School
Department, Conservation Commission, or other
Town Council Presentation DPCD FY10 Work Plan & Priorities July 15, 2009
11. Town Owned Properties (Continued)
Pond Street Property
Designated PDS
Consultant: Property assessment and draft
concept plans, preliminary commercial
subdivision plans
Designated EOA
Next Steps:
Complete planning and engineering documents.
RFP(s), Realtor
Town Council Presentation DPCD FY10 Work Plan & Priorities July 15, 2009
12. Business Attraction and Retainage
Business Outreach
Marketing of Franklin in General to the
Greater Business Community
Highlight Franklin’s Resources and
Opportunities
Franklin’s Industrially Zoned areas
Downtown Historic Commercial District
Incentives, Available Assistance
Community Assets
Town Council Presentation DPCD FY10 Work Plan & Priorities July 15, 2009
13. Business Outreach (continued)
Marketing Materials/Resources
Business Outreach Packets (80% complete)
Economic Development Web Pages (50% Complete)
NEREJ Project
Opportunistic Marketing
Respond Quickly to Public Relations Opportunities
Press Releases
Fortune Small Business Magazine ranked Franklin
number 10 out of the top 100 places to live and launch
a business
Town Council Presentation DPCD FY10 Work Plan & Priorities July 15, 2009
14. Business Outreach (continued)
Marketing and Reuse/Revitalization of
Underutilized Industrial and Commercially
Zoned Properties
• MassDevelopment/Town of Franklin
Business Visitation Program
• Massachusetts Site Finder Web Site
• Partnership with other State Agencies
• Work with property owners and realtors
Town Council Presentation DPCD FY10 Work Plan & Priorities July 15, 2009
15. Creation of Priority Development Sites
Forge Park (30 Parcels)
Franklin Industrial Park (20 parcels)
Pond Street
Other?
Town Council Presentation DPCD FY10 Work Plan & Priorities July 15, 2009
16. Creation of Economic Opportunity Areas
9 Forge Park – Tetra Medical
Forge Park (33 Parcels)
Franklin Industrial Park (22 parcels)
Pond Street
Other?
Grove Street area
Town Council Presentation DPCD FY10 Work Plan & Priorities July 15, 2009
17. Downtown Revitalization
DPCD is working to implement many key initiatives to transform
Downtown Franklin into a successful, revitalized commercial district
Franklin Center Plan
Improve access to and increase amount of public parking.
HPP Roadway and Streetscape Improvement Project
Improving Traffic Circulation and Utilizing Traffic
Calming Measures
Improving Parking and Pedestrian Connections
PWED Grant and Potential Undergrounding of Utilities
Town Council Presentation DPCD FY10 Work Plan & Priorities July 15, 2009
18. Downtown Revitalization (Continued)
Promote Public and Private Investment
Continue to work with Downtown Partnership
Establishing an Image and Identity
Promote Franklin Center as a Historic
Commercial District
Create and promote Cultural Corridor including
a historic walking trail.
Town Council Presentation DPCD FY10 Work Plan & Priorities July 15, 2009
19. Assorted Issues
Walkable Community Workshop
Urban Center Study
Mass Dept. of Energy Resources Energy Audit
Planning for parking area near SNETT Trail
Bike Racks
Boston MPO Funded: Reimburse up to $7,000
Town to Install
Conservation Commission
DelCarte Conservation Area
Boy Scout Project – Bridge in Town Forest
Town Forest Management
Town Council Presentation DPCD FY10 Work Plan & Priorities July 15, 2009
20. Priorities
Downtown Revitalization
Roadway and Streetscape Improvement Project
HPP, PWED, Underground Utilities
Public Input, Coordination
Master Plan, Housing Plan
Continued Business Outreach
Reuse / Revitalization of Industrially Zoned Properties
Zoning By-Law Amendments
Nu-Style Property – Next Steps
Pond Street Property - Next Steps
Town Council Presentation DPCD FY10 Work Plan & Priorities July 15, 2009