Economic Development Subcommittee

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting Agenda & Meeting Packet May 3, 2023 Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building 2nd floor, Council Chambers 355 East Central Street 5:30 PM A NOTE TO RESIDENTS: All citizens are welcome to attend public board and committee meetings in person. The meetings will also be live-streamed by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast Channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29. Additionally, in an effort to maximize citizen engagement opportunities, citizens will be able to continue to participate remotely via phone OR Zoom. Link to access meeting: May 3, 2023 EDC + Steering Committee Meeting Link HERE -- Then click “Open Zoom” ○ Or copy and paste this URL into your browser: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84012046556 ○ Call-In Phone Number: Call 1-929-205-6099 & enter Meeting ID: 840 1204 6556 then press # Agenda: 1. 2022-2023 EDC/Town Council Goals Review a. Discuss next steps on each of the outstanding remaining goals on the list: i. Review sidewalk snow removal bylaw. ii. Research changes to the home occupation business bylaw. iii. Review the marijuana overlay district. iv. Review the cell phone tower overlay district and consider a 5G local permitting bylaw. This is a meeting of the Franklin Town Council Sub-Committee; under the Open Meeting Law, this subcommittee is a separate "public body" from the Town Council. Therefore, unless the Town Council has separately notified and posted its own meeting, Councilors who are not members of this subcommittee will not be permitted to speak or otherwise actively participate @ this meeting, although they may attend and observe. This prohibition is necessary to avoid the potential for an Open Meeting Law Violation  2022-2023 Town Council and Town Administration Goals The following are a list of goals approved by the EDC subcommittee of the Town Council for the 2022-2023 session. Economic & Community Development (To the EDC) ● Facilitate the “Franklin For All” Downtown Franklin and Franklin Crossing zoning diagnostics study and implement the studies’ recommendations. ○ The EDC will serve as members of the The “EDC+ Steering Committee” with two members of the Planning Board and one member of the ZBA. Status: The Franklin For All Study was completed. Several recommendations have been successfully making their way through the zoning process. ● Revise the public downtown parking lots bylaw. Status: An overhaul of downtown parking lot bylaws and main street parking regulations has been completed. The pay parking kiosks have been delivered and will be installed May and June 2023. July 1, 2023 the Depot Lot and Ferrara Lot will be open! The Main Street and East Central Street Corridor will also be redesigned and prevent overnight street parking on the central business corridor. ● Review sidewalk snow removal bylaw. Status: Discussion to be determined… ● Implement housing production plan recommendations. Status: Both Inclusionary Zoning and Accessory Dwelling Units legislation have been approved by the EDC+ Steering Committee and successfully making their way through the zoning process. These are both enormous accomplishments and transition into the Master Plan process to begin in June. ● Consider policy development on the redevelopment of North Grove Economic Development Area (aka Nu style). Status: Substantial progress has been made. (1) 2022 Land Institute Study (2) $100,000 in federal ARPA funding toward environmental assessment and preliminary remediation of the site. The hired LSP will begin work July 1st and will have a year to make progress. The $100,000 is also seen as a carrot or “match” in our grant application with the federal government. The staff are preparing a $500,000 grant application for a full cleanup of the site. ● Facilitate a branding & marketing analysis. Status: Working toward securing funding for a Phase I of Branding & Marketing of $100,000, half from the state through Jeff Roy, half through the Town (Capital Round 2). Update hopeful later in the summer 2023 when the Town gets an approved budget from the state. Town and School officials have committed to working collaboratively on this project. ● Support the process toward a new town Master Plan beginning in 2023. Status: Complete. Master Plan Committee approved. ● Research changes to the home occupation business bylaw. Status: Discussion to be determined… ● Review the marijuana overlay district. Status: Discussion to be determined… ● Support a process to update the Open Space Plan, which expires in 2023. Status: In process. April 26, 2023 Town Council discussion. Expected final plan for the Council in Fall 2024. ● Review the cell phone tower overlay district and consider a 5G local permitting bylaw. Status: Discussion to be determined… ● Further “lot line cleanups” project. Status: Finalized and completed all multi-parcel lot line cleanups! Great job Bryan Taberner! Now onto the single parcels…