Planning Board approves 173–179 Union Ave site plan and multiple special permits with design conditions

The Framingham Planning Board on the March meeting approved a major site plan review and three special permits for a multi‑family development at 173–179 Union Ave, including relief for compact parking spaces and for a building larger than 30,000 square feet. The board voted to adopt a set of design and operating conditions — recessed balconies, elimination of a loading area on the south side, added landscaping and a retaining‑wall shift, transformer screening, and one compact space reserved for building staff — as part of the approvals.

The action matters because the project prompted extended debate about scale and neighborhood fit while complying with current zoning. Neighbors and several board members said they were troubled by the building’s size and proportionality to adjacent houses; other members said the revised design and additional buffering made the proposal acceptable under the existing CB zoning.

Applicant representative Ray Bogus told the board the design reduces compact parking and tandem sets from the prior submission. “We now have 72.13% standard spaces and 27.87% compact spaces,” Bogus said, adding the plan shows 44 standard spaces and 17 compact spaces and nine sets of tandem parking (18 tandem spaces).

After discussion the board voted to approve the major site plan review with standard provisions and the following special conditions: exterior balconies recessed (recessed two‑foot projection on exterior balconies), removal of the loading zone on the south side with that area converted to landscaping, relocation of the retaining wall away from the property line toward the building to increase the landscape buffer, the architectural bump‑out to remain, a large non‑invasive tree and additional planting in the landscaped area, one compact space closest to the building entry signed for building staff only, and landscape screening around the transformer’s final on‑site location. The board also approved the special permit for multi‑family structures over 30,000 square feet, a special permit granting compact parking relief, and a separate inclusionary housing action under the City of Framingham inclusionary housing bylaw committing six affordable units (about 13% of the project). The board voted to reduce a required parking aisle width from 28 feet to 24 feet for this project.

Board members debated proportionality and context: several members said the site is adjacent to downtown and other multi‑story buildings, while others said the project’s massing is out of scale with immediately adjacent single‑family homes. The applicant emphasized design changes from previous hearings — stepped fifth floor, recessed balconies and expanded landscaping — and said construction costs and current building codes limit the ability to shrink the project further without jeopardizing feasibility. Several board members praised the applicant’s responsiveness and the design improvements while noting continuing concern about scale.

The board closed the public hearing before voting. A 21‑day appeal period was announced; the approvals become final when the executed decision is filed with the city clerk.

Votes at a glance: major site plan review — approved (yes:5, no:0, abstain:0); special permit (multifamily >30,000 sq ft) — approved (yes:5); special permit (compact parking relief, including tandem) — approved (yes:5); inclusionary housing provision (six units) — approved (yes:5); aisle width reduction (28 ft to 24 ft) — approved (yes:5).