To The Editor:

This post expresses the views and opinions of the author(s) and not necessarily that of Franklin Observer management or staff.

To the Editor,

On Monday, May 11, the Franklin Planning Board will once again consider matters related to the Cranberry Meadows subdivision proposal, a project that has become deeply concerning to me and many others who live on or near Sunken Meadow Road (off Pine Street).

Like many people in Franklin, I understand that communities grow and change over time. I am not opposed to housing or thoughtful development. What has been difficult to accept is the feeling that the concerns of existing neighborhoods are being treated as secondary to pushing projects forward.

Sunken Meadow Road and John Edward’s Drive are two small connected cul-de-sacs where neighbors know one another, children ride bikes in the street, and families chose to live because the area felt quiet, safe, and residential.

While the development itself is in Bellingham, much of the burden would fall on Franklin. Emergency vehicle access would come through Franklin, and additional traffic would impact Franklin roads and neighborhoods directly.

There are already existing concerns in the area. Children must walk in the roadway because there are no sidewalks in some parts, the neighborhood has no streetlights, and there is only one way in and out. A former Franklin Fire Chief previously raised concerns about emergency access to the neighborhood. These are not abstract planning issues to the families who live here — they are everyday realities.

Another major concern has been the number of waiver requests tied to this proposal. Earlier approvals included waivers involving sidewalks, roadway standards, drainage, lighting, and other local protections that many residents believed were put in place for a reason. The Massachusetts Land Court has since annulled the Planning Board’s prior approval and ordered the process to begin again from the start.

It is my hope that town officials and residents alike will continue to thoughtfully evaluate the lasting impacts of developments like this while working to safeguard Franklin’s neighborhoods, infrastructure, and public safety into the future.

The public hearing will take place on Monday May 11 at 7:00 p.m. at the Franklin Municipal Building, 355 East Central Street, and remotely.

Sincerely,
Caitlin Pacella