🔨 Mixed Reactions on Mayor’s Housing Plan
Council Eyes Residential Tax Exemption | Farmers Market Season Ends Thursday | D3 Community Meeting | Community Events | The Civic Week Ahead
I run past the pumpkin patch and the tractor rides, Framingham. Instead I went apple picking.
Also this weekend Framingham and the Cemetery Trustees celebrated the 175th anniversary of Edgell Grove Cemetery. If you have never taken a stroll around Edgell Grove, I recommend you do so - especially during the fall.
A little history: In 1846, Colonel Moses Edgell donated his Grove Street land to Framingham seeking for a new cemetery. General Henry A.S. Dearborn, founder of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, designer of Mount Auburn Cemetery, and pioneer of the garden cemetery, designed Edgell Grove.
Click here to learn more about the cemetery on their website.
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Mixed Reaction on Mayor’s Housing Plan
The Sisitsky Administration’s proposal to comply with the MBTA Communities Act was met with mixed reaction by Councilors and residents alike at the last Council meeting. The last minute addition of Nobscot and Saxonville took people by surprise, since neither location was part of the ongoing conversation.
What they said: “Obviously this is going to get changed, because I don’t think anybody on this Council is going to approve this plan as presented.” said District 1 Councilor Christine Long, also Chair of the Planning and Zoning Subcommittee.
“Piece of Garbage”: Many residents in attendance told the Council Framingham should ask for a waiver and get credit for all of the housing built in the last few years, while others encouraged the City to join other communities, like Milton, and sue the Commonwealth. Some argued the city should cheat the system and zone in places where buildings can never be built.
“The plan that was given to us is a piece of garbage. And I’d like to send it back…Most communities in Massachusetts are looking at what the state did and they’re figuring out ways to work the system to the least detrimental impact for their city. They’re looking at the tricks of the game. They are looking for places they can rezone where they aren’t going to develop. They are tricking the system and that’s what we should be doing,” said District 3 Councilor Adam Steiner, who lives in the Nobscot area in the proposal.
What would happen if Framingham says no?: The Commonwealth says any community refusing to comply will loose state funding and grants.
All eyes are on Milton right now. The Commonwealth sued them for refusing to comply, and the case is in front of the Supreme Judicial Court.
So far 75 of 177 communities have passed zoning to comply with the law. Neighboring Southborough approved theirs last week.
Nobscot Neighborhood Meeting: About 125 people on zoom and in person attended a neighborhood meeting led by Councilor Long last Saturday morning. Jeffrey Roelofs, attorney for J & Company the owners of the Nobscot parcels in question, attended the meeting. Roelofs said he was there to listen, learn and answer questions. He did state that his clients do not have a plan in place and are open to ideas.
Like the Council meeting, attendees shared their ideas on asking for a waiver, suing the state, or not developing the land at all. The overall consensus is Nobscot does not belong in the MBTA zoning map.
What is the role of the Council?: The Planning Board makes the recommendation, but it is the Council that gives the final approval. It can also reject or amend any provisions that would comply with the MBTA Communities Act.
How did we get here?: The MBTA Communities Act was signed into law in January 2021. This is the Commonwealth’s plan to address the housing crisis by mandating new zoning that will increase housing in 177 MBTA communities.
The Sisitsky Administration started talking about the zoning process back in January, which then led to a back and forth between the Council and the Mayor on who is exactly responsible for zoning matters. The Mayor tasked the Planning Board and the Director of Planning and Community Development Sarkis Sarkasian with compliance.
Initial discussions around locations included Route 135, 9/90 and Tech Park, and Shoppers World.
After five months of discussion, the Planning Board reviewed the final proposal from Sarksian and the Administration which included zoning units in Downtown, Saxonville, Nobscot, Speen Street, Shoppers World, and 9/90. In an effort to continue rebalancing the map and taking more pressure off the Downtown, the Planning Board approved adjustments of 30 units per acre for every district to the plan.
What is next?: Both the Planning Board and the Council will hold public hearings. Council Chair Phil Ottaviani announced the Council hearing is Tuesday, October 29. The Planning Board is hosting a public hearing on the plan on October 17.
These public hearings are the time to have residents’ voices heard about the proposal and make changes. After the hearings, the Planning Board will make a final recommendation for the Council to review and vote on.
Moving forward: “We need to work together as a board. Equity, fairness, equitable across the board, and not just riling up one section of town so we got north vs. south, because that’s the worst thing that can happen in this community,” said Chair Ottaviani.
Council Eyes Residential Tax Exemption
Tomorrow the Council meets to discuss a possible implementation of a residential tax exemption. The concept was discussed at the Finance Subcommittee meeting on August 13.
What is a residential tax exemption?: As outlined in Massachusetts general law, the exemption allows people who live in smaller or more affordable homes a tax reduction by shifting some of the tax burden to owners of larger, more expensive homes, vacation homes, apartments, or vacant land.
Popular in seasonal communities: Locations that adopted the exemption often have the following characteristics:
Large cities or towns with many non-owner occupied properties like apartment buildings
Resort communities with many seasonal residents
For example, Barnstable, Mashpee, Oak Bluffs, Provincetown, Boston, Somerville and Cambridge all have a residential exemption.
How does it work?: In order for a household to obtain an exemption, a.) their home value must fall within the criteria and b.) a homeowner must apply for it. This is not automatic. If your home is above the threshold, your property tax bill will increase. Take a look at this example chart from the Assessor’s powerpoint.
Next steps: For an accurate calculation, the Assessor’s Office would start data collection and verification of all owner occupied residential properties. A survey would be prepared and mailed to each property owner to inquire of their interest and to tally up the results to be used in the analysis phase. Accurate ownership data/numbers used to provide information for the City Council and Mayor to make a determination of potential acceptance for a future fiscal year such as FY2026, for example.
But for now, the Council is only in the discussion phase. Stay tuned as this develops.
Farmers Market Season Ends Thursday
The Framingham Farmers Market season is winding down for 2024! Come to the last market of the year this Thursday, October 10 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Framingham Centre Common. Please note the 6:00 pm closing time!
D3 Community Meeting
Mayor Sisitsky comes to District 3 on Thursday, October 24. Join the Mayor at Brophy School from 7:00pm to 8:00 pm. Mayor invited District 3 Councilor Adam Steiner and District 3 School Committee member Jennifer Moshe to join him.
(This is my district - see you there!)
Community Events
4th Annual Indigenous People’s Day
Join the City of Framingham and FPS, and community partners in honoring Indigenous People’s Day on Monday, October 14 from 12:00pm-3:00pm at Farm Pond Park. Attendees will hear from Indigenous speakers, students, and other guests, starting at 1 p.m. There will also be a performance and food trucks available, and attendees are welcome to bring their own food as well.
Spooktacular is Back
The 5th Annual Spooktacular returns on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the Memorial Building, 150 Concord Street. Bring your ghouls and ghosts for this Halloween celebration with fun activities, trick-or-treating, and plenty of candy.
The Civic Week Ahead
Monday, October 7
2:15pm: Keefe Technical High School Council Agenda
6:00pm: Council Rules, Ordinances and Ethics Subcommittee Agenda
6:00pm: Keefe Technical High School Committee Agenda
7:00pm: Team Framingham Agenda
7:00pm: Women, Children, and Families Commission Agenda
7:00pm: Bilingual Parent Advisory Council Agenda
7:00pm: Community Preservation Committee Agenda
7:00pm: SIFOC Agenda
Tuesday, October 8
Wednesday, October 9
1:00pm: Cushing Memorial Chapel Advisory Committee Agenda
4:30pm: Brophy School Council Agenda
6:00pm: Council Planning & Zoning Subcommittee Agenda
6:00pm: Composting Task Force Agenda
6:00pm: Stapleton School Council Agenda
7:00pm: Sustainability Committee Agenda
7:00pm: Zoning Board of Appeals Agenda
7:00pm: Historical Commission Agenda
7:00pm: Disability Commission Agenda
7:00pm: Cultural Council Agenda
Thursday, October 10
In Closing…
In case you missed it, The Ham’er monthly guide to all things events, meetings, and volunteer opportunities for October published last week. Take a look here.
See you next week,
Mary Kate