Framingham Planning Board Meeting – June 18, 2026

The Framingham Planning Board met on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Memorial Building and remotely, with Chair Ted Cosgrove presiding. The meeting covered routine approvals, modifications to an existing cannabis facility condition, an informal discussion on a major residential project redesign, a public hearing for a new downtown development, and a zoning amendment update. Members present included Mitch, Sarkey, Tom, Steve, Elsiana, and Matt.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of June 4, 2026: Approved unanimously by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Councilor Liara Malik (Ward representative) spoke during the 121 Concord Street public hearing. She appreciated the non-flat roof design but expressed concerns about the proximity of ground-floor units to the street and whether outdoor patio space would be usable. She encouraged the board to walk the neighborhood to understand the context.

Discussion Items

• 78 Winch Street – ANR Plan: Brian Nelson of Metrowest Engineering presented a plan to divide an 8.1-acre R4-zoned parcel into three lots (4.6, 2.5, and 1.1 acres), each meeting frontage and area requirements. The board discussed a small shed (under 120 sq ft) on a property line, which would likely be removed. The plan was endorsed as approval under the subdivision control law not required. Motion passed unanimously.

• 231 Central Street – ANR Plan: Owner John Lambruno presented to split a lot into two parcels in the R1-8,000 district. Lot 2 is nearly 61,000 sq ft. A shared driveway was discussed, requiring a future easement and special permit. The board clarified that the endorsement only confirms frontage and area; it does not guarantee buildability. Endorsed unanimously.

• 250 Worcester Road – Request to Remove Condition 28 (Flagger): Christian Farah of Cresco Labs (Sunnyside dispensary) requested removal of the requirement for a professional parking lot attendant/flagger, originally imposed in 2018 due to traffic concerns. He stated current daily traffic is about 80 customers, with no congestion or complaints, and the vendor costs ~$100,000/year. Board members noted the condition was expected to be short-term, but the flagger had been kept for years. A motion to discontinue the condition was approved unanimously.

• 6375 Fountain Street – Modification Discussion (Informal): Representatives Chuck Berman and Joel Bargman presented a revised plan for the previously approved 250-unit project (PB 0524) that is now unfinanceable due to cost increases from rent control, new engineering guidelines, and passive house mandates (~$40-50K per door). The revised proposal demolishes the non-historic 63 Fountain Street building (declared ineligible for historic tax credits), removes the 14-foot plinth, lowers the building height by one story, reduces gross residential area (211,000 vs 267,000 sq ft), increases parking garage space, and adds 17 units (267 total, 30 affordable). The site layout changes improve green space and remove a problematic second driveway. The board discussed unit mix, parking, the loss of the restaurant and daycare, and the possibility of increasing affordable housing to 25% in one building to gain tax credits. Board members gave mixed reactions: some liked the lower height and simpler design, others were concerned about the loss of the historic building, daycare, and restaurant. Chair suggested exploring food trucks or temporary dining. The session was informal; the board requested a follow-up in July with more refined designs, including details on affordable housing and public access.

• 101-121 Concord Street / Kendall Street – Public Hearing (Major Site Plan Review): Catherine Garrahan of Bowditch & Dewey presented a new application for a 4-story, 48-unit all one-bedroom residential building (with dens and two bathrooms) on a 4-acre site in the CB district. The project includes demolition of an existing utility garage and two multifamily homes, reconfiguration of parking (220 spaces total, 78 reserved for the Amston Building), improved access from Kendall Street, stormwater management with a 30% reduction in peak runoff, and architectural features including private entrances for ground-floor units and gabled roofs. The board raised concerns: the building appears taller than the neighboring historic structures when viewed from Concord Street; the unit mix (40 of 48 units at 1,100 sq ft) raises questions about parking demand if units function as two-bedrooms; the design may not be contextual to the downtown. Chair proposed a group site walk before the next meeting. The hearing was continued to July 23, 2026, by unanimous vote.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Minutes approved unanimously.
• ANR Plans: 78 Winch Street and 231 Central Street endorsed unanimously as approvals not required under subdivision control.
• Condition 28 Removal: Approved unanimously for 250 Worcester Road.
• Fountain Street Modification: No vote taken; informal discussion concluded with a plan to return in July 2026 with further details.
• Concord Street Project: Public hearing continued to July 23, 2026; board will conduct a site visit in the interim.
• Zoning Amendment Update: Sarkey reported that the City Council approved a recommendation for 0.3 FAR per unit and a 35-foot height limit. The Waverley overlay district discussion will be deferred to September 2026. The board also discussed potential housekeeping amendments, including reducing the 28-foot drive aisle requirement.