Open Space & Recreation

Acquisition & Management Plan

Promote maintenance and use standards for Town-owned land, set usage goals for parcels with clear open space or recreational value, and strategically target parcels, portions of parcels, development rights, and easements for acquisition.

Classify all the land owned by the Town into one of these categories:

  • Conservation Land
  • Town Forest
  • Subdivision Open Space
  • Recreation Areas
  • Town, Schools and other buildings with playground facilities
  • Unrestricted - Full Access
  • Access limited sites (Well sites, Department of Public Works, etc.)

Adopt a Use and Management Plan for each land classification to include:

  • Proposed Uses
  • Alternative Uses
  • Usage Goals
  • Development Plan
  • Maintenance Schedules
  • Easement and Acquisition Plan (1, 5 and 10 years)
  • Linkage Plans
  • Public Information and Education Plans
  • Uniform Signage, both on and off-site
  • Parking Plan
  • Plan

Landowner Incentives

Create private landowner incentives for granting access to or through their lands to help the Town to create a network of trails and access routes linking open space and recreational parcels for the use and enjoyment of all residents.

  • Incentives for private landowners, both individual and developers, to encourage them to participate in a planned networking of trails and/or open space acquisition, as identified above, to include but not limited, to the following:
  • Paid-for conveyancing of either easement or open space parcel;
  • Like-Kind Exchanges of either easement or open space parcel;
  • Third party purchase of either easement or open space parcel;
  • Gift tax/Charitable Deduction benefit to property owner;
  • Property tax abatement benefit to property owner;
  • Transfer of Development Rights, with bonus for identified parcels.

Standard Signage & Maps

Establish a standard signage system and a map/guidebook to identify access points to public lands.

  • Create and publish a map or a guide to recreation, conservation, and open space land in Franklin, and make it available to the public.
  • Initiate a standard sign system.
  • Join with the local schools to create a partnership for the production and emplacement of the signs, as well as the clearing of the paths.

Transfer Fee

Seek state authority to adopt a real estate transfer fee to be applied to the amount over $100,000 of each real estate transfer to fund the development of land for recreation uses and the acquisition of open space, conservation land, land for public drinking water supplies, bicycling and walking trails, and recreational lands.

Recommend Town Council schedule a referendum on the question of establishing a real estate transfer fee and, if successful, file a petition with the General Court to allow the Town to assess a real estate transfer fee, under these general guidelines:

  • Fee imposed on Seller at time of sale and recording of Deed.
  • Fee payable to Town, but not assignable to general fund, but only to Land Bank Trust Fund.
  • Funds can only be expended for acquisition of open space or conservation land; trail easements; recreational land, public drinking water supplies or any related acquisition activity to include but not limited to appraisals, legal, survey and design costs.

Transfer of Development Rights

Amend the Zoning By-laws to allow densities-by-right to be transferred from undeveloped parcels to properties more suitable for development, thereby preserving undeveloped parcels in their natural or existing state.

Amended Zoning By-Laws to allow property owners to build on one parcel at a greater density by limiting development on another parcel elsewhere. The restricted parcel shall have a permanent deed restriction recorded against it, and the receiving parcel shall receive a special permit to develop at the new density.

Density Bonuses

Amend Zoning By-laws to allow density bonuses of 10% additional lots upon petition showing compliance with design or planning goals to be set by the Town, for example, subdivisions which provide a large percentage of open space or make a number of units available through an affordable housing program.

Amend the Zoning By-Laws to permit up to 10% more lots than that allowed under the existing zoning, by Special Permit issued by the Planning Board, provided that the development plan indicates two or more of these:

  • The proposed subdivision abuts an open space corridor overlay or provides an alternative route which is acceptable to the Conservation Commission and the Planning Board.
  • At least 50% of the total area of the parcel shall be dedicated to publicly accessible open space.
  • At least 10% of the units proposed shall be an acceptable affordable housing program and maximize the set aside for Franklin residents.
  • A neighborhood playground is proposed to be constructed on land donated by the developer.