Franklin Gets Funds, Hope to Advance Senior Housing Project

Image: A preliminary concept for Franklin Ridge.

According to Bryan W. Taberner, Director of Planning and Community Development, the Town of Franklin has received an $850,000 Community Project Funding (CPF) grant through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funds will be combined with a portion of our FY2023 Massachusetts MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant to construct the Veterans Memorial Drive Extension in Franklin, which will extend the existing public right-of-way through an undeveloped tract of land to support the future construction of the Franklin Ridge Senior Affordable Housing Project.

The Town has recently completed an environment assessment (EA) of the Veterans Memorial Drive Extension project’s potential impacts, and has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment.
Anyone disagreeing with this determination or wishing to comment on the project may submit to the Town of Franklin’s Department of Planning & Community Development. All comments received by March 25, 2025 will be considered by the Town of Franklin prior to submission of a request for release of funds.
On or about March 26, 2025 the Town plans to submit a Request for Release of Funds and Certification to HUD for the release of the $850,000 in CPF HUD funding.

Combined notices pertaining to this project, are reproduced below:

These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be
undertaken by the Town of Franklin.

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS

On or about March 26, 2025 the Town of Franklin will submit a request to the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of HUD funds pursuant to the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118-42) (the FY2024 Act), and the Further Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118-47) (the Further FY2024 Act), for which Congress made
$3,290,054,336 in funding available for Community Project Funding {CPF). These CPF awards are
administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Town of Franklin has received $850,000.00 for the proposed construction of the Veterans Memorial Drive Extension in Franklin, which will extend an existing public right-of-way through an undeveloped tract of land to support the future construction of the Franklin Ridge Senior Affordable Housing Project. In addition to the $850,000 of HUD Community Project Funding, the Town of Franklin is utilizing a portion of its FY2023 Massachusetts MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant to construct the roadway extension project. The Housing Project will be constructed by a private entity.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

The Town of Franklin has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) on file at BETA Group, Inc., 89 Shrewsbury Street, Suite 300, Worcester MA 01604; and the Town of Franklin Planning Department, 355 East Central Street, Franklin MA 02038. The ERR may be examined or copied at BETA Group, Inc. on weekdays 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., or at the Town of Franklin Planning ·Department on Monday, Tuesday or Thursday 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Wednesday 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M., or Friday 8:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.