Planning Board Approves Housing Plan, Reviews Multiple Projects

The Planning Board met Monday night in the Council Chambers, with one member participating by Zoom.

The first two items on the agenda were continuing hearings for visible projects in or near the center of town.

First up was 40 Alpine Row, a mixed-use plan for a site next to the train tracks formerly occupied by an oil retailer. Board member Joe Halligan recused himself from the discussion. The project calls for a multi-story apartment building and a modernization of an existing one-story building for business use.

In response to concerns from neighbors, the town engineer, and the Planning Board, the applicant shared plan revisions that made some internal roadways wider with more ample curve radii to better accommodate fire trucks.

Details were also discussed regarding runoff and ponding, especially in how it impacts neighbors that have been complaining since the roadway was resurfaced a few years ago.

A snow storage area has also been incorporated in the design.

One of the issues raised by Board Chair Tony Padula was the specification for the paving on the parking lot, which he said didn’t meet the town’s standards. The applicant insisted it was a private lot but Padula told him it was still subject to the same standard and told him to fix the issue before returning.

Mike Maglio, town engineer, also noted that the MBTA, which owns the abutting right of way, may need to be consulted regarding runoff and may also have concerns about retaining walls on a sloped area so close to their operations.

With those and many other issues raised, the applicant was given a continuance and invited to return on Oct. 18.

Then it was on to 5 Fisher Street – better known as the former site of the Clark, Cutler & McDermott company.

Here, most of the discussion swirled around water and runoff and, in particular, to what extent the property would need to meet the town’s strict new Storm Water regulation.

The applicant noted that all the proposed work – expanding some parking areas and installing curbs and drains – would significantly reduce runoff from the site.

But Padula reminded them that the project is a substantial redevelopment and must meet all current standards.

Armed with robust feedback from the Board and town engineer, the applicants agreed to have their hearing continued until Oct. 18.

The weightiest matter of the night was probably the discussion of the town’s Housing Production Plan. In the works for several months, the document outlines general goals and methods for keeping the town within state-defined affordability guidelines – ten percent or more of the housing being affordable per MGL Chapter 40B. These numbers are monitored by the Department of Housing and  Community Development.

The Plan had come before the Planning Board previously and members had been reluctant to approve it – the last stop before going to the Town Council for final approval (which is expected) and then on to review by the state.

Halligan noted that he had previously been wary of the measure because he was concerned it would limit the town’s autonomy and its ability to control development. However, he said he had been “educated,” particularly through a recent meeting of the Community Preservation Committee (on which he serves) and now felt it was a reasonable document.

Board member, William David, asked town planner Amy Love whether the Housing Production Plan would be “another 40B” where the state could tell Franklin what it had to do.

Love, said, no and Chair Padula, agreed, noting “this is strictly for the town it is not a state-controlled thing. we still have to approve and support water, sewer, fire, and police."

He, too, indicated that he had come to see the value of the document.

Opening up the hearing to public comment, Maxwell Morrongiello, a resident of Central Park Terrace, offered an impassioned statement of support for the Housing Production Plan and noted that his ability to access affordable housing was vital to him as it was to many other residents.

Similarly, Planning Board candidate Beth Wierling, chided the Board for not getting to an approval, sooner.

And, no sooner said than Padula closed the hearing, called for a vote, and the document was sent on its way to the Town Council with unanimous support from all members.