Is the Decades Long Billboard Battle Coming to an End?
Moving Billboards from Downtown | Community Aggregation On the Horizon | Nobscot…Continued | The Brazilian Election | The Week Ahead
Happy Monday! It is Indigenous Peoples Day and Columbus Day. Special shout out to our Canadian friends celebrating Thanksgiving.
♻️Remember: today is a holiday, so trash and recycling collection are pushed back a day.
Is the Decades Long Billboard Battle Coming to an End?
(Two of the billboards in Downtown Framingham. Yes, the clouds were crazy today.)
A proposed ordinance would remove ten billboards in Downtown Framingham and Framingham Centre owned by Clear Channel, in exchange for one digital billboard located on the Mass Pike.
Why it matters: These billboards are considered blight in Downtown, where efforts are underway to continue Downtown’s revitalization. This ordinance was proposed in a package of Downtown-centric ordinances, including the one about aggressive solicitation, the community cares program and expanding the opportunity zone, by Councilors Mike Cannon, George King and John Stefanini.
Where on the Pike would this new billboard be installed? The ordinance states it must be installed in a limited manufacturing zone within 250 feet of the Pike. According to a recent article in the MetroWest Daily News, a potential location for the new billboard is at 500 Old Connecticut Path, behind the TJX building.
Well, not so fast… Billboards have been a hot topic in the ‘ham since 1974. In 2007 the town passed a bylaw pushing out all traditional billboards by September 2008. But the courts sided with Clear Channel saying the boards, many of which were installed in the 1930s, were grandfathered in when the town previously banned any new installations.
The debate continues… some residents want billboards gone completely. No exchanges. Clear Channel states this is the only case where they are removing 10 billboards for one digital one. The last time this was discussed was in 2019 and concerns about light pollution put an end to any negotiations. Clear Channel says their technology has greatly improved and changed over the last 3 years, including controls regarding lighting and brightness.
What’s next? The ordinance is in front of the Council’s Economic Development and Housing Subcommittee, chaired by Cannon. This was an item on their agenda on September 14. This discussion is ongoing with another meeting and presentation from Clear Channel planned.
Community Aggregation on the Horizon
(Screenshot from MassPowerChoice presentation to the Environment & Sustainability Subcommittee.)
A plan to bring municipal electricity aggregation to Framingham is currently underway. Sustainability Coordinator Shawn Luz is leading the project. Luz provided an update on the developing program to the Council Environment & Sustainability Subcommittee, chaired by Janet Leombruno, last week.
MassPowerChoice is the city’s newly hired consultant to help Luz and the city work through this process.
The big picture: Municipal, also referred to as community, aggregation is a form of group electricity purchasing. Aggregation benefits include cleaner electricity, and competitive, stable prices (however, no guarantee there will be savings).
Eversource will continue to deliver the electricity, but with this program Framingham can purchase cleaner electricity from a supplier it choses. Power goes out? Call Eversource. Who sends the bill? Eversource. Receive discounts from Eversource? You still will with this new program.
How does it work: Program has a series of tiers, each with different amounts of renewable energy used and price points. All Framingham residents are automatically enrolled in the program, per state law. Participation is not required. You can opt out at any time without any penalties or fees.
What’s next: Framingham is drafting its development plan to be submitted to the state Department of Public Utilities. DPU must approve the plan and this can take months. During plan development, a public presentation will be held for community input and approval. Once the plan is approved by DPU, then the city can go out to the market to find suppliers and competitive prices.
The bottom line: Aggregation is coming, but the city is at the beginning of the process, so we’re looking at implementation in a year or so. Leombruno holds monthly subcommittee meetings where Luz keeps the committee in the loop about this program. I’ll be watching this as it processes and let you know the latest about this exciting program.
Nobscot…Continued
A correction: Last issue I wrote that all 26 acres were clear cut for the school. This is incorrect. There are two parcels in question, and the school was only one of them and not all of that acreage was clear cut. However, when you drive down Edmands Road and you see cleared land, that is still the location in question.
What we know today: No project plan has been submitted to the city. The Framingham Source published an interview with the developers. They bought a 13 acre parcel next to the 13 acre parcel where the school was supposed to be built. They have the option to buy that parcel if the city rezones this area of Nobscot.
Everything appears to be a concept, that includes assisted living, retail, apartments and townhouses. There is no mention of Market Basket in the concept.
No one is happy… Council Planning and Zoning Subcommittee, chaired by Christine Long, held a meeting last Monday about the petition and to set a date for a public hearing. Like the Council meeting the week before, none of the Councilors (Long, Bryant, Stewart-Morales, Leombruno, Cannon) expressed anything positive about a zoning change.
What’s next: The subcommittee voted to hold a public hearing on the petition for Tuesday, December 6. The Planning Board holds their public hearing first, in order to make a recommendation on the petition per state law, on Thursday, November 3.
The Brazilian Election
Brazil held their national presidential election on Sunday, October 2. Brazilians are required by law to vote in the election, regardless of where they live. Framingham was one of two cities in Massachusetts, the other was Malden, selected by the Brazilian Consulate as voting locations.
Why Framingham: Framingham has the largest Brazilian population in the Commonwealth. St. Tarcisius was the polling location in Framingham. People came from all over New England to vote. More than 10,000 people voted in Framingham. A
A runoff election is now scheduled…None of the 11 candidates received more than 50% of the vote, thus resulting in a runoff of the top two candidates on Sunday, October 30.
The Week Ahead
Board of Library Trustees, Personnel Subcommittee: Tuesday, 10/11 at 5:30pm
Discussing the Library Director’s performance evaluation for 2022-2023
Board of Health: Tuesday, 10/11 at 7:00pm
Request for a new food vendor at TJX HQ
Historic District Commission: Tuesday, 10/11 at 7:30pm
Public hearing about 129 Pleasant Street and informal discussion about 110 Edgell Road
Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting: Wednesday, 10/12 at 7:00pm
Reports from Superintendents of Recreation and Park Maintenance, and Directors Report
Zoning Board of Appeals: Wednesday, 10/12 at 7:00pm
Numerous hearings, but one especially about demolition of an existing retail shopping center to construct a mixed use project at 208 Waverly Street. Hearing is continued to the 11/9/22 meeting.
Cultural Council - Wednesday, 10/12 at 7:00pm
Fundraising for Collins Scholarship, review of updated grant review process
Council Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee, 10/13 at 7:00pm
Agenda has not been posted as of Ham’er publication
Thanks for reading this week’s Ham’er! The weather looks great this week - enjoy!
See you next Monday.
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