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Framingham subcommittee weighs smaller Central Business District to meet MBTA compliance
Summary
The Framingham City Council Planning & Zoning Subcommittee discussed shrinking the Central Business (CB) District from roughly 212 acres to an area of about 10 acres as part of an effort to meet MBTA Communities Act requirements and control building heights and density.
The Framingham City Council Planning and Zoning Subcommittee discussed reducing the size of the city’s Central Business (CB) District and preparing a third‑party economic feasibility study required for MBTA Communities Act compliance.
Councilor Long said the subcommittee has a public hearing scheduled for April 1 and that the city is prioritizing an economic feasibility study to maintain compliance. Sarki, the city’s economic development director, told the subcommittee the city is “working and trying to have Framingham State assist us because it has to be done by a third party.”
Subcommittee members described concern that the current CB District—about 212 acres—includes many small residential lots and argued a smaller district could reduce allowable heights and densities adjacent to existing neighborhoods. Sarki showed a map of a proposed smaller district “approximately a 10 acres” that, he said, would meet the state’s formula for unit yield if building heights were limited to about four stories.
Members debated what should happen to parcels removed from the CB District if the reduction is adopted. Councilor Long suggested those properties should “revert back to their original zoning” to create a buffer of lower height and density without adding a new zone. Sarki and others noted the subcommittee has not yet set precise height or density limits for either the reduced district or the areas that would remain outside it.
The subcommittee also discussed process: Sarki recommended showing the proposed boundary changes to the state before taking final action to confirm the city would remain in compliance, and Phil (staff) said he would put a formal referral to the planning board on the subcommittee’s agenda so the planning board can review the map and criteria.
Why it matters: MBTA Communities Act compliance affects where and how many multifamily units a community must allow, which in turn shapes redevelopment, neighborhood scale and eligibility for certain state grants. Subcommittee members repeatedly framed the CB review as a tool to balance state compliance with local control over height and special permits.
The subcommittee did not take a final vote on the CB boundary at the meeting; members agreed to refer the proposal to the planning board for review and to continue the discussion at later meetings.
