Franklin Town meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Franklin Plaza hearing continues; Town Administrator contract pending review

This week's Franklin government meetings were largely procedural, with no decisions published yet. The most consequential item on the horizon is the Planning Board's continued hearing on the Franklin Plaza mixed-use development, a four-story building proposed for 9-15 Main St. The Town Council also met to consider a contract for the Town Administrator, but the outcome has not been reported.

Recent meetings

Town Council (Aug. 12) — The council entered executive session to discuss contract negotiations with the non-union Town Administrator, then returned to open session to vote on Resolution 26-48 approving the contract. No result has been published.

School Committee (Aug. 11) — The committee was set to vote on the 2025-26 annual report, a policy on physical restraint and seclusion, and donations. The agenda included acceptance of $7,490 in championship signage donations from various boosters and $250 from BJ's Wholesale Club for in-house enrichment. The final FY26 financial report was also on the agenda.

Planning Board (Aug. 10) — The board heard a withdrawn special permit and site plan for 9 & 13-15 Main St., reviewed an ANR plan for Symphony Drive, a final bond release for J Victor Lane, and a final Form H for 230 East Central Street. All items were routine.

Charles River Pollution Control District (Aug. 12) — The board discussed revisions to the employee handbook, an elevator repair or modernization project, and an update on selling capacity to Franklin, Millis, and Medway. It also approved Warrant 27-02 totaling $311,291.34 for operations and $22,435.00 for capital expenses.

Conservation Commission (Aug. 13) — The commission held public hearings on three Notices of Intent, including an emergency culvert replacement at Nicholas Drive/Prospect Street and a pool project at 23 Anchorage Road. It also discussed a $637.79 expenditure for BeaverCON 2026 attendance.

Zoning Board of Appeals — The board cancelled its Aug. 20 meeting; the next is set for Sept. 3.

Coming up

Planning Board (Aug. 24, 7:00 p.m.) — Continued public hearing for the Franklin Plaza special permit and site plan at 9, 13, and 15 Main St. The board will also review a final Form H for the Adirondack Club parking at 800 Chestnut St., consider a time extension for the 60 Earls Way site plan, and approve minutes from July 13 and Aug. 10.

School Committee (Aug. 25) — The committee will vote on approving FPS School Handbooks, appointing Joe Corey and Pandora Carlucci to the Franklin TV board, and accepting donations of $170.83 for FHS supplies and $1,500 for championship signage. An executive session for collective bargaining strategy is also scheduled.

Pole Petition Hearing (Aug. 27) — The Town Administrator will hold a public hearing on seven new joint-owned utility poles proposed by National Grid and Verizon on Grove, East Central, Pleasant, Miller, Chestnut, and King Streets. The poles are primarily for new reclosers to improve reliability.

Conservation Commission (Aug. 27) — Four public hearings on Notices of Intent, including a project at 78 Populatic St. to connect a home to municipal water and sewer, relocate a driveway, and remove three trees. The commission will also discuss the Mass Ready Act.

Zoning Board of Appeals (Sept. 3) — Hearings on a pool variance at 20 Longfellow Drive (impervious area to 19.58% vs. 15% allowed) and a continued hearing for a 39-unit condominium at 202 Washington St. under a Comprehensive Permit.

No decisions reported in Franklin this week; Main Street mixed-use hearing set for Aug. 10

No decisions were reported from Franklin town boards in the past week; all recent meetings were held on an agenda-only basis, with minutes not yet published. The most consequential item on the horizon is a public hearing before the Planning Board on Aug. 10 for a proposed four-story mixed-use building at 9-15 Main Street.

Main Street mixed-use development

The Franklin Planning Board will hold a public hearing Aug. 10 to consider a Special Permit and Site Plan application from Fourzol, LLC for a four-story mixed-use building at 9, 13, and 15 Main Street. The project, called “Franklin Plaza A Mixed Use Development,” includes parking, landscaping, and utilities. The hearing was originally scheduled for July 27 but was postponed to Aug. 10, according to a cancellation notice.

Zoning Board of Appeals

On Aug. 6, the Zoning Board of Appeals met to review two denied building permits. One involves a 233-square-foot attached addition at 6 Annabel Lane; the other is a 39-unit condominium development at 202 Washington Street with a stormwater report. Both require special permits due to non-conformity. The board also approved minutes from its July 9 meeting, but no minutes from the Aug. 6 meeting have been published.

Conservation Commission

The Conservation Commission held two public hearings on July 30: one for a Notice of Intent at 110 Populatic Street and another for an emergency culvert replacement at Nicholas Drive/Prospect Street. The commission also discussed minor buffer zone activities at 30 Jefferson Road and 37 Anchorage Road, plus a bylaw and regulation memo. No decisions have been reported.

Economic Development Subcommittee

On Aug. 4, the Economic Development Subcommittee discussed a draft downtown revitalization proposal from the UMass Boston Downtown Planning Studio, a draft “Friendly 40B” Local Initiative Program Participation Policy, and a GATRA update. No votes were reported.

Other boards

The Commission on Disability met Aug. 6 and discussed a vote to use $100 for a Franklin Downtown Partnership membership, ideas for handicap parking funds, and adding virtual meeting options. The Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School board met Aug. 6 to discuss annual goals for the executive director and board of trustees, governance policies, and committee chairs for 2026-27. The Agricultural Commission met July 27 to review the Zucchini Race and Farmers Market event and plan for the Pumpkin Festival. No minutes from any of these meetings have been published.

Coming up

• **Aug. 10** – Planning Board public hearing on the Main Street mixed-use development (9, 13, 15 Main Street).
• **Aug. 12** – Charles River Pollution Control District board meeting to vote on employee handbook revisions, elevator repair or modernization, and an update on selling capacity to Franklin, Millis, and Medway. The board will also consider Warrant 27-02 for operations and capital expenses.
• **Aug. 13** – Conservation Commission public hearing on a proposed accessory pool area at 23 Anchorage Road (approximately 1,300 square feet within the 50–100-foot buffer zone to bordering vegetated wetlands).

Franklin Boards Tackled Sewer Transfers, Parking Fines, and Liquor Licenses; Outcomes Pending

Franklin's boards and commissions held a busy stretch of meetings from July 21 through July 30, 2026, but minutes have not yet been published for any of them. That means no outcomes are confirmed — what follows is what each body was scheduled to consider, based on the published agendas.

Town Council: Sewer Capacity, Parking Fines, Liquor Licenses

The Franklin Town Council's July 22 agenda was the busiest of the period. The council was set to vote on three resolutions: Resolution 26-138, the order of layout and acceptance of the J. Victor Lane Drainage Lot Parcel 1 (requiring a two-thirds majority); Resolution 26-139, authorizing transfer of excess sewer capacity at the Charles River Treatment Plant to Millis (majority vote); and Resolution 26-140, authorizing a similar transfer to Medway (majority vote).

The council was also scheduled for a second reading and final roll-call vote on Bylaw Amendment 26-953, which would replace the current flat $25 fine for violating the winter storm overnight parking ban with a tiered structure: $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second, and $300 for third and subsequent offenses.

Four public hearings on Section 15 All Alcoholic Beverages Package Store licenses were on the agenda: a transfer and manager changes for Lincoln Street Market at 465 Lincoln St. (Contractor & Sons Inc.); a transfer from Village Mall Liquors, Inc. to Franklin Georgios LLC d/b/a Georgio's Liquors at 60 Franklin Village Drive, including a pledge of license and inventory; a transfer from Shikshapatri Corporation d/b/a Dacey's Market and Deli to Contractors Family Market Inc. d/b/a Dacey's Market at 353 Lincoln Street, also with pledge of license and inventory; and modifications to officers, directors, and stock interest for Lincoln Street Market.

The council was also set to consider adopting social media and email guidelines for elected and appointed officials, approve minutes and appointments, and recognize a new firefighter/paramedic.

Charles River Pollution Control District

The CRPCD board's July 22 agenda included approval of two warrants: Warrant 27-01, covering $425,080.96 in operations and maintenance costs and $117,075.00 in capital costs; and Warrant 26-13, covering $337,433.70 in O&M and $3,632.50 in capital. The board was also scheduled to discuss employee handbook revisions, receive updates on the 2025 NPDES permit appeal and the aeration valve project, and consider the sale of capacity from Franklin to Millis.

Conservation Commission

The Conservation Commission's July 30 agenda included public hearings on a Notice of Intent at 110 Populatic Street and an emergency culvert replacement at Nicholas Drive/Prospect Street. Minor buffer zone activities at 30 Jefferson Road and 37 Anchorage Road were also listed, along with review of July 2 and July 16 meeting minutes and discussion of a bylaw and regulation memo.

Other Boards

The Design Review Commission was scheduled July 21 to review the Fresh Monkee project at 5 West Central Street and the Franklin Plaza project at 9, 13 and 15 Main Street, plus officer nominations and June 16 minutes.

The Housing Authority's July 21 agenda included updates on net metering, two FISH infrastructure projects (#101198 asphalt walkways and #101199 asphalt paving for office-area parking), Executive Director salary consideration, and planning for an End-of-Summer Cookout for elderly residents.

The Board of Assessors met jointly with the Town Council Economic Development Subcommittee on July 23 to discuss "New Growth" — how new apartment construction affects assessed value and tax revenue, including the income approach to valuing apartment buildings and Proposition 2½ implications. FY24, FY25, and FY26 New Growth summaries were on the agenda.

The Tri-County School Committee Nominating Committee was scheduled to consider appointing Peter Wiernicki to the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical School Committee.

The Zoning Board of Appeals' July 23 meeting was cancelled; its next meeting is August 6.

The Planning Board's July 27 meeting was also cancelled. The public hearing for the Franklin Plaza mixed-use development at 9, 13, and 15 Main Street — a four-story building proposed by Fourzol, LLC — was postponed to August 10.

Coming Up

• **Aug. 4 — Economic Development Subcommittee:** Draft downtown revitalization proposal from UMass Boston, a draft Friendly 40B Local Initiative Program Participation Policy from Councilor Morrongiello, and a GATRA update from Director of Planning and Community Development Morena Zelaya.
• **Aug. 6 — Zoning Board of Appeals:** Special permit request for a 233 sq. ft. addition at 6 Annabel Lane and an application for a 39-unit condominium development at 202 Washington Street.
• **Aug. 6 — Commission on Disability:** Vote on using $100 for a Franklin Downtown Partnership membership, plus discussion of handicap parking funds and virtual meeting access.
• **Aug. 10 — Planning Board:** Public hearing on the Fourzol, LLC four-story mixed-use building at 9, 13, and 15 Main Street.
• **Aug. 13 — Conservation Commission:** Public hearing on a Notice of Intent for an accessory pool area at 23 Anchorage Road, with approximately 1,300 square feet of work within the 50–100-foot buffer zone to bordering vegetated wetlands.

Franklin meeting roundup: ZBA hearings, conservation projects on deck; Town Council set for sewer, parking fine votes July 22

Franklin boards and committees held a busy stretch of public hearings and discussions from July 7 through July 16, but minutes have not yet been published for any of those sessions, so no final decisions can be confirmed from the available record. Agendas show the Zoning Board of Appeals, Conservation Commission, Planning Board, and several town committees all had substantive items scheduled.

Zoning Board of Appeals — four hearings July 9

The ZBA scheduled public hearings on four applications, all involving previously denied building permits:

• **202 Washington Street** — Next Generation Custom Homes Corp. sought a comprehensive permit for a 39-unit condominium development.
• **9 Julie Dawn Drive** — Margaret Driscoll and Jonathan Carmine requested a variance for an attached garage (23'10" x 24'6") that would sit 25.4 feet from the left side yard setback, where 40 feet is required. The property is in the RR I Zoning District (Map 231, Lot 026).
• **2 Elizabeth Avenue** — Woodstock Building Associates LLC sought a special permit for an 11' x 12' addition that would increase impervious area to 19.6%, above the 15% limit (Map 236, Lot 040).
• **365 Prospect Street** — A special permit was sought for an inground pool increasing impervious area to 19.67%.

The board also planned to approve minutes from June 25, 2026.

Conservation Commission — three hearings, two expenditure votes July 16

The Conservation Commission scheduled hybrid public hearings on Notices of Intent for three sites:

• **110 Populatic Street** (NOI)
• **23 Anchorage Road** — Domenic Fruci proposed an accessory pool area with approximately 1,300 square feet of work within the 50–100 foot buffer zone to Bordering Vegetated Wetlands (Map 207, Lot 7).
• **Nicholas Drive/Prospect Street** — Emergency replacement of a stone headwall and culvert (12 Nicholas Drive, Map 326, Lot 84), involving work within wetlands buffer zones, Land Under Waterbodies, and a 200-foot Riverfront Area.

The commission also planned votes on two expenditures: rehabilitation of three crossings in the Franklin Town Forest, and Farmers Market table cloths.

Planning Board — Elena Estates hearing July 13

The Planning Board scheduled a public hearing on a preliminary subdivision plan for Elena Estates, a 4-lot subdivision with a separate drainage parcel at 266 and 0 Pleasant Street (Assessors Map 262 Lot 22, Map 267 Lot 4.1) in the Single Family III Zoning District. The applicant is Eric Marder of Lynnfield, MA, with a plan by D&L Design Group. The board also planned to consider an endorsement for Grillo Estates and review minutes from May 11, June 1, and June 22, 2026.

Other committees

• **Pole Petition Hearing (July 7):** The Town Council held a public hearing on a petition from Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless for a Grant of Location to install a small cell wireless antenna and equipment on utility pole #63-84 at 606 Pond Street.
• **Municipal Affordable Housing Trust (July 9):** Officer elections, continued discussion of trust-held parcels, and a finance update covering the general fund and the Franklin Ridge project.
• **250th Anniversary Celebration Committee (July 7 and July 13):** Discussions covered merchandise orders, marketing collateral, website and social media strategy, a press release approval protocol, donor event invitations, grant research, and a book contract.
• **Historical Commission (July 8):** 2026 final expenses and 2027 budget discussion, reappointment of Phyllis Malcolm as representative on the Community Preservation Committee, and a proposed MOU for an Open Mic night.
• **Cultural District Committee (July 9):** Subcommittee reports on the Wind Phone, Fence Gallery, Artsy Boxes, Storefront Frames, and Cultural Weekends, plus a World Cup update from Cory Shea, Director of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy.
• **Communications Subcommittee (July 15):** Draft social media engagement guidelines and email guidelines for elected and appointed officials, plus a debrief on Town Councilor attendance at early summer community events.

Coming up

• **July 21 — Design Review Commission:** Officer nominations, plus project reviews for Fresh Monkee at 5 West Central Street and Franklin Plaza at 9, 13, and 15 Main Street. 7:00 PM, Town Council Chambers and Zoom.
• **July 22 — Town Council:** The busiest upcoming session. The council is scheduled to vote on Resolution 26-139 (transfer of excess sewer capacity at the Charles River Treatment Plant to Millis), Resolution 26-140 (transfer to Medway), Resolution 26-138 (acceptance of J. Victor Lane Drainage Lot Parcel 1, requiring a two-thirds majority), and Bylaw Amendment 26-953 (second reading and final vote on winter-storm overnight parking ban fines, replacing the current $25 flat fine with tiered penalties of $100 first offense, $200 second, $300 third and subsequent). Three Section 15 alcoholic-beverage license transactions are also on the agenda: Georgio's Liquors at 60 Franklin Village Drive, Dacey's Market at 353 Lincoln Street, and Lincoln Street Market at 465 Lincoln Street. 6:00 PM, Municipal Building, 355 E. Central Street, and via Zoom.
• **July 22 — Charles River Pollution Control District:** Approval of Warrant 27-01 ($425,080.96 O&M and $117,075.00 capital) and Warrant 26-13 ($337,433.70 O&M and $3,632.50 capital), plus discussion on selling capacity from Franklin to Millis.
• **July 23 — Board of Assessors / Economic Development Subcommittee:** Joint meeting on "New Growth," including how apartment developments affect assessed value and tax revenue under Proposition 2½.
• **July 23 — Tri-County School Committee Nominating Committee:** Appointment of Peter Wiernicki to the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical School Committee. 5:15 PM, Franklin Municipal Building.
• **July 27 — Planning Board:** This meeting was cancelled. The public hearing for the four-story mixed-use building at 9, 13, and 15 Main Street (applicant Fourzol, LLC) has been postponed to August 10, 2026.
• **July 23 — Zoning Board of Appeals:** Cancelled. Next meeting August 6, 2026.

Franklin Meeting Roundup: Recent Outcomes Pending, Parking Fines and Downtown Development on Horizon

Official minutes have not yet been published for Franklin's recent board and committee meetings, so no decisions from the past two weeks can be confirmed. Agendas show that bodies were scheduled to act on a 39-unit condominium development, a school union contract, and several zoning variances. Residents now face a busy upcoming schedule, including a final vote on winter parking fines and a hearing on a downtown mixed-use building.

School Committee and Charter School

The Franklin School Committee was scheduled to meet virtually on June 29 to consider ratifying the Educational Support Professionals Union Contract. Minutes are not yet published, so the outcome is not confirmed. Separately, the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School board met July 1 to discuss charter school replication and vote on a faculty representative for AY26-27.

Zoning Board of Appeals

The Zoning Board of Appeals had a full agenda for July 9, with four public hearings scheduled. The largest item was a comprehensive permit application by Next Generation Custom Homes Corp. for a 39-unit condominium development at 202 Washington Street. Other hearings included a variance for an attached garage at 9 Julie Dawn Drive (proposed 25.4 feet from the side setback where 40 feet is required) and special permits for additions at 2 Elizabeth Avenue and 365 Prospect Street that would increase impervious area beyond the 15% limit. Outcomes are pending publication of minutes.

Health, Conservation, and Housing

The Board of Health met July 1 to discuss withdrawing from the METACOMET Shared Service Agreement and a variance request for 324 Pleasant Street. The Conservation Commission met July 2 to consider a continuance for a Notice of Intent at 110 Populatic Street and discuss a Friendly 40B affordable housing proposal. The Municipal Affordable Housing Trust met July 9 for officer elections and a finance update on the Franklin Ridge project.

Other Committees

The 250th Anniversary Celebration Committee and its subcommittees met June 29 and July 7 to plan commemorative projects, including a video, oral history initiative, and booklet. The Historical Commission met July 8 to discuss its 2027 budget and consider reappointing Phyllis Malcolm to the Community Preservation Committee. A July 7 Pole Petition Hearing was scheduled for Verizon Wireless to install a small cell antenna at 606 Pond Street.

Coming up

• **July 13:** The Planning Board holds a public hearing on Elena Estates, a proposed 4-lot subdivision at 266 and 0 Pleasant Street, and considers an endorsement for Grillo Estates.
• **July 16:** The Conservation Commission holds public hearings on projects at 110 Populatic Street, 23 Anchorage Road, and the Nicholas Drive/Prospect Street emergency culvert replacement. The board will also vote on expenditures for Franklin Town Forest crossing rehabilitation and Farmers Market table cloths.
• **July 22:** The Town Council holds a second reading and final vote on Bylaw Amendment 26-953, which would replace the current $25 flat fine for winter storm parking ban violations with a tiered structure of $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second, and $300 for third and subsequent offenses. The council also holds public hearings on three liquor license transfers and a request to accept J Victor Lane as a public way.
• **July 23:** The Zoning Board of Appeals meeting is cancelled. The next meeting is August 6.
• **July 27:** The Planning Board holds a public hearing on a special permit and site plan application for a four-story mixed-use building at 9, 13, and 15 Main Street, submitted by Fourzol, LLC.