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Planning & Community Development
The Department of Planning and Community Development's mission is to plan and implement policies and initiatives to fulfill the land use-related goals of the people of Franklin. We make every effort to maintain the character of the community while enhancing its economic, recreational, and social vitality.
The Department of Planning and Community Development's (DPCD) activities and services include:
- Economic development
- Subdivision and site plan review
- Public transportation
- Historic preservation
- Downtown revitalization
- Zoning by-law and subdivision regulation development
- Grant writing
- Open space preservation
- Brownfields redevelopment
- Transit-oriented development
- Sustainable development including use of smart growth concepts
DPCD balances its approach to these initiatives through long-term planning and public participation.
Department of Planning and Community Development Department Presentation (PDF)
Visit these pages to access information pertaining to each:
- Planning Board - Applications, forms, meeting agendas, meeting minutes, meeting schedules, and other Planning Board-related information.
- Conservation Commission - Local and State wetland resources, meeting agendas, meeting minutes, hearing schedule, and other Conservation Commission-related Information.
- Design Review Commission - Application, Sign Bylaw, meeting dates, and other Design Review Commission-related information.
- Technical Review Committee - Meeting schedule and other Technical Review Committee-related information.
- Franklin Development - Economic Development material, information on the Town's Priority Development sites, Economic Opportunity areas, and other economic development-related information.
- When are public hearings?
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The Planning Board must hold a public hearing on almost every item before it: for example, before adopting or amending subdivision control rules and regulations, subdivision reviews, and site plan reviews. Notice of the hearing must include the date, time, place, and subject matter and must be published in a newspaper once in each of two successive weeks with the first publication being not less than fourteen days before the date of the hearing.
- What is an Approval Not Required Plan (ANR)?
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Also known as an "81-p plan" or "Form A plan", it is a type of land division which does not require a formal review process by the Planning Board. Generally, all lots shown on an ANR plan must have frontage on an existing public way, except in the case of land transfers between properties. The plan is then entitled to endorsement by the Planning Board as "Approval Not Required" without notification of abutters or a public hearing. The plan is then recorded at the Registry of Deeds.
- What is a subdivision?
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A subdivision is the division of a tract of land into 2 or more lots, which generally requires the creation of 1 or more roads. The Planning Board, in a public hearing, reviews subdivision plans, notice for which is given in the newspaper and to abutters within 300 feet of the project. The Planning Board reviews subdivision plans to ensure the adequacy of the new roads, drainage, utilities, and lots being created. The Planning Board has only limited authority over the construction and placement of buildings within subdivisions.