🔨 Oh, hey! More road work!
Looking at the MBTA Communities Act & Framingham Zoning | Update on 613 Pleasant Street | Recent Crime News | Earth Day Postponed to Saturday | The Civic Week Ahead
I’m back, Framingham!
Happy Passover, to my neighbors celebrating this week. May your tables be surrounded by family and friends, and your homes filled with love and joy. Chag Pesach sameach!
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Work Begins on Edgell & Central Streets Intersection
If Edgell Road is an important part of your travels, plan on extra time. Improvements to the Edgell & Central Streets intersection started this morning.
What is being done? The intersection is getting a bit of a facelift with road widening, turn lanes, ADA compliant sidewalks, pedestrian signals, dedicated bike lanes, and a traffic light.
According to MassDOT, the agency overseeing the work, “The project aims to enhance vehicle operations and safety by addressing congestion issues on Central Street and rectifying existing sight distance deficiencies.”
How long is this going to last? Again, according to our friends at MassDOT, it should take “two construction seasons.” So, I’ll let you decide how long that’ll be…
And the effect on traffic? Work will only occur during the day, Monday to Friday from 7:00am until 3:30pm. Lane shifts and alternating traffic will be used during construction.
Godspeed to those who need to travel down Union Avenue to Edgell or Central.
Important Discussion on Thursday about MBTA Communities Act
Housing, housing: There has been a lot of talk about housing, apartments and the MBTA Communities Act since the beginning of this year. The Sisitsky Administration is taking this opportunity to review all of Framingham’s zoning, along with what needs to be done to comply with the new state law.
Important meeting: The Planning Board will discuss the MBTA Communities Act and zoning at its meeting on Thursday, April 25 at 7 p.m. It will be a hybrid meeting. Here is the link to the agenda with the Zoom link if you cannot attend in person.
What is the MBTA Communities Act: To address Massachusetts’ housing crisis, the state is mandating each of the 177 communities surrounding the MBTA to create zoning that allows multi-family housing by right. There is no requirement to build the units.
The Overlay District zoning requirements:
Must be at least 50 acres (can include more than one district)
Must include 25 contiguous acres
No district can be less than 5 contiguous acres
40% of each district must be within ½ mile of Commuter Rail / Bus Station
The Act does not:
Require production of housing
Compel communities to pay for infrastructure for future development
Supersede historic districts
Supersede Wetland Protection Act or Title V of MA Environmental Code
Allow municipalities get a waiver or exemption from the requirements
What does this mean for Framingham: Framingham received an interim certificate of compliance earlier this year. However, the city has until December 30, 2024 to fulfill the requirements of the new state law. The state believes - according to their math of 15% of our housing stocking - 4,335 more units can be built in Framingham. Again, this doesn’t mean the city is building 4,000 units. All the law requires is the zoning.
To give you an idea: The Central Business District (Downtown Framingham and surrounding neighborhoods) is 227 acres and can produce 12,777 units of housing.
State wants 15 units per acre. Looking at the chart below, you can see all of the recent housing projects have been way more than this number.
Focused on 135: One of the areas heavily discussed is Waverly Street (Rt.135). Sarkis Sarkisian, Director of Planning and Community Development, stated at the last joint meeting of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals in March that there is lots of interest in Waverly Street. But that area needs to be zoned to include housing that fits into the scale of the neighborhood.
Comments from the Council subcommittee: Last week the Planning and Zoning Subcommittee met to discuss this law, as well. Waverly Street was also a topic of interest, including diminishing the size of the Central Business District, and look at other opportunities for Waverly Street that addressed parking needs, business development and redevelopment of the area.
Issue of transportation: Public transit continues to be a major issue. As several councilors pointed out, Framingham is still a town when it comes to public transportation. Will the state do more to improve public transit?
Next steps: Attend the meeting. Have your voice heard. These discussions about zoning, housing, redevelopment are critical to Framingham’s future. You and I need to make sure our voices are heard to impact and shape this city. I’ll do my best to keep you informed.
Update on 613 Pleasant Street
After years of further falling into decay, there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel for 613 Pleasant Street.
An informal discussion: The Historical Commission and Historical District Commission met in a joint meeting with the owner of 613 Pleasant Street and Sarkis Sarkisian, Director of Planning and Community Development.
Fred Lavitman bought The John Hemenway House five years ago in 2019 from the previous owners who purchased the house from the longstanding owners, subdivided it and then sold the historical building. According to Lavitman, his intention has always been to restore the Hemenway House to its former glory. But due to COVID and the supply chain issues, the cost of materials skyrocketed, putting this project on the backburner.
Unaware of previous agreements: Lavitman, who owns a company specializing in historical home renovation, states he was not aware of any agreements or provisions made between Framingham and the previous owners before we bought the property.
Early ideas submitted: A rough idea of the future of the house was presented to both boards. The pencil drawing shows the house with a potential one and two more units attached.
Here are the facts:
The owner clearly stated demolition is not an option.
Existing 2 car garage and horse barn were built in 1950, making them both not part of the original structure.
While one drawing shows two additional units along with the house, Levitman stated he only wants one additional unit.
Additional unit would be on the same footprint as the existing garage and barn, but with a second floor.
Exterior of the building would keep with the historical nature and style of the existing house.
The property on the right side of the house looking from the street is owned by the City of Framingham.
What the commissioners thought: General consensus from both Commissions was on the importance of saving the structure. Some acknowledged the need to make it financially viable for the owner, but wanted to ensure the structure kept to the character of the house. Lavitman wanted a sense from both commissions that he was headed down the correct path before he invested more money into an architect.
Next steps: Both Commissions want to see more refined drawings and a site plan for the Hemenway House. Their next meeting is May 14. The owner said he will be at the meeting with additional plans for them to review.
Attention neighbors: Lavitman said brush clearing will occur within the next 3 weeks to make the property more presentable and stop the encroachment on the house.
What is the Background: The John Hemenway House - built in 1741 - is one of the last examples of 18th century construction in Framingham. In August 2017 the city was informed of an intention for demolition. The Historic Commission issued a one year delay. In the meantime the Historic Commission and the Council made the house an official historic district in March 2019.
The agreement made at the time allowed the buyers to subdivide the land, sell the Hemenway House, and build new construction in the back. The Zoning Board of Appeals determined only one house could be built on the subdivision.
Recent Crime News
As longtime readers know, I do not write about crime. However, this has been a very intense week for our city with two suspicious deaths and a horrible car accident.
Man found dead behind business at Framingham's Shoppers World in apparent homicide, DA says (NBC 10 Boston)
Victim in Framingham suspicious death investigation IDed as Conn. man (NBC 10 Boston)
Two people hospitalized in critical condition after single-car crash in Framingham (MetroWest Daily News)
Earth Day Postponed
The 12th annual Earth Day Festival got rained out last Saturday. But don’t be sad! It is rescheduled to this Saturday, April 27 on the Framingham Centre Common from 11 am to 3 pm.
Come on down and celebrate with live music, environmentally friendly businesses, artisans and non-profits, and fun activities for kids.
I’ll be at the Friends of Framingham Trails tent - stop by and say hi!
Tremblay Meets with Coburnville Tripoli Neighborhood Association Tonight
The Civic Week Ahead
Tuesday, April 23
10:00am: Retirement Board Agenda
Wednesday, April 24
Thursday, April 25
7:00pm: Planning Board Agenda
In Closing…
Happy Earth Day and Happy National Parks Week! The weather looks good this week so I hope you get a chance to enjoy the outdoors and the many gems found in our city.
See you next week.
Believe in Framingham,
-Mary Kate