🔨 MBTA Zoning Not Over!
FPS Hiring Bus Drivers | Electricity Program Deadline Soon | Mayor’s D8 Forum | The Civic Week Ahead
Good evening, Framingham.
Senator Elizabeth Warren was in town over the weekend. She held a town hall meeting in a packed Nevins Hall in the Memorial Building. The MC was our own State Representative Priscila Sousa.
If you missed it, Access Framingham was there to record it. You can view the meeting on the AFTV YouTube page.
1.| Council Seeks to Reduce Central Business District
It seems Framingham isn’t finished with complying with the MBTA Communities Act quite yet.
Back in December: Right before Christmas, Mayor Sisitsky submitted the existing Central Business Zoning for compliance with the MBTA Communities Act. The Mayor did this without Council approval, citing this zoning was already approved back by Town Meeting in 2015. The Council voted to table the discussion until February at their last meeting of 2024. The state deadline for submitting plans was December 31.
A report from the Planning Board and an approval from the Council was part of the process the city was working through before the Mayor made his last minute decision.
Then in January: The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities gave Framingham a conditional compliance decision. For the city to receive full compliance, certain zoning issues needed to be resolved, such as removing the cap on building 250 units in a year in the Central Business District (CBD), and restrictions on unit size and type. Framingham must submit an economic feasibility study by June.
Mayor Sisitsky’s zoning submission allows for 5400 units, more than the 4,355 units required by the state. Currently, the CBD can take another 12,777 units.
And today: Now the Council seeks to reduce the CBD in order to bring the number of units closer to the required number, and relieve the side streets from overdevelopment. Councilor Christine Long, chair of the Planning and Zoning Subcommittee, is leading the effort.
By the numbers: According to Long, since changes were made to the CBD in 2015, 754 units have been built. Another 556 units are approved and permitted. Long stated the number of units has been “overblown”.
The new plan would reduce the CBD from 224 acres to 125 acres. The state requires 50 acres. Additionally, it outlines 30 units per acre instead of 90. It reduces buildings from 6 stories to 4 stories.
All of this allows for zoning of a total of 4,372 units.
The proposed plan will take credit for units built at the Bancroft, Alta Union House, Modera.
Not the first time: Long led the effort to reduce the CBD back in 2021. The then Building Inspector Mike Tusino (now the COO) was concerned that two family homes could be converted into four family or more with no parking requirements. This change in housing would increase traffic the side streets cannot handle. Additionally, it would lead to further gentrification, resulting in bigger buildings at higher rents.
Then-Councilor John Stefanini of District 8, an area this change would greatly affect, stated making this change would preserve the economic development along the major corridors with retail space on the first floors.
Looking at the maps: As you can see below, the change in zoning outlined in green is nearly identical to what was proposed in 2021.
But what happened?: After several meetings, the Council took a vote on November 16, 2021. The reduction did not pass by a vote of 4-6-1.
The roll call: Voting yes: John Stefanini (D8), Christine Long (D1), Janet Leombruno (at large), Michael Canon (D4). Voting no: Robert Case (D5), Cesar Stewart-Morales (D2), George King (at large), Adam Steiner (D3), Margareth Shepard (D7), Tracey Bryant (D9). Abstain: Phil Ottaviani (D6).
Now what? At the February 11, 2025 Planning and Zoning Subcommittee meeting, members voted 5-0 to recommend that the Council “advertise amendments to the Central Business District to reduce the size of the district map in compliance with the required 4,355 units required by MBTA zoning.”
The motion was made by Bryant and seconded by Ottaviani. This is now on the Council meeting agenda for tomorrow, Tuesday, February 25, for a vote for advertising.
This motion will result in a public hearing on the amendments in the coming months.
2.| FPS Hiring Bus Drivers
Framingham Public Schools is full steam ahead in bringing buses back in-house. The School Committee voted to approve the move in hopes to solve the chronic bus issues that have plagues the district for years.
How will this work? FPS will lease buses from NRT, the current company being used by FPS for drivers and buses. Moving forward drivers will be hired by Framingham.
Benefits for drivers: Drivers will be paid $35 an hour with a $1,000 signing bonus. Additionally, paid training, sick days, and 10 vacation days are part of the package.
To apply, please visit the FPS website.
3.| Electricity Program Deadline Soon
New program: Framingham Community Electricity launches next month.
What is it?: It is a group electricity buying program for residents and businesses. Eversource remains our electricity delivery utility. But Framingham will buy cleaner electricity from First Point Power.
What you need to do: If you want to be part of the program, you don’t have to do anything – you are automatically enrolled. If you do not want to participate, you must opt-out by Wednesday, February 26.
Have questions?: Tomorrow, Tuesday, February 25 the city is holding drop-in office hours. Come by the Ablondi Room in the Memorial Building from 3:00pm-7:00pm to get answers to your questions.
For more information online, visit the official Framingham Community Electricity website.
4.| Mayor Visits District 8 on Thursday
After doing a monthly tour of each of the districts last year, Mayor Sisitsky announced he will hit the road again for his one hour district meetings once a month.
He starts off the tour with District 8 on Thursday, February 27 from 6:30pm - 7:30pm. The meeting is in the conference room on the 2nd floor of Loring Arena.
The Civic Week Ahead
Monday, February 24
Tuesday, February 25
Wednesday, February 26
8:00am: Barbieri School Council Agenda
10:00am: Economic Development Corporation Agenda
10:00am: MRECC Finance Advisory Committee Agenda
2:00pm: Edgell Grove Cemetery Trustees Agenda
2:00pm: Housing Authority Agenda
4:00pm: Board of Library Trustees Building Committee Agenda
5:15pm: McCarthy School Council Agenda
5:30pm: Veterans Council Agenda
5:30pm: 325th Anniversary Celebration Committee Agenda
6:00pm: School Committee Executive Session Agenda
6:00pm: Composting Task Force Agenda
6:00pm: Council Appointments Subcommittee Agenda
7:00pm: School Committee Agenda
7:00pm: Cultural Council Agenda
7:00pm: Disability Commission Agenda
7:00pm: Sustainability Committee Agenda
In Closing…
Enjoy those 50 degrees on Wednesday. Spring is near!
