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.

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