Framingham council withdraws MBTA-era CBD submission after heated debate, asks administration for new map

Framingham City Council voted unanimously on June 3 to withdraw a recent submission to the state related to the Central Business (CB) District zoning map and instructed the administration to bring a revised map to the Planning & Zoning Subcommittee for further work.

The vote capped a three-hour council debate that focused on whether shrinking the CB District to remove side streets would put the city out of compliance with the MBTA zoning law and the state's conditional approval. Councilor Christine Long, who made the motion that had been on the floor, said the goal was to "take it off the side streets and maintain the height" of downtown buildings while protecting adjacent residential neighborhoods.

Supporters of the reduced map said it would protect modest, 2— to 2——/2—story neighborhoods from six—story development spilling into side streets and would create clearer, more cohesive downtown boundaries. Opponents (and several councilors and the city solicitor) warned the proposed shrinkage might jeopardize the city's conditional compliance with the MBTA zoning law and that last—minute materials and legal concerns arrived too late for deliberation.

Councilors ultimately approved a motion to withdraw the administration's submission by an 11—0 vote. The council then passed a separate motion directing the administration to present a revised map, focused on removing CB zoning from side streets while preserving core downtown density, to the Planning & Zoning Subcommittee at its June 16 meeting.

Planning staff and outside consultants told the council the city had received conditional approval from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) earlier and that the submission under discussion was intended to replace a prior conditional filing. City staff also reported a draft economic feasibility study by Framingham State University would be submitted for review soon; councilors asked that planning staff and the mayor's office work with the subcommittee on a proposed revised map.

The council's actions tonight leave the current CB District in place while the administration and planning subcommittee work on the narrowed map requested by members. The council was explicit that if it did not receive a revised plan and adequate analysis before the state deadline, the prior submission would remain in effect until superseded.

Councilors said they expect additional public hearings and further drafting before a new submission is sent to the state.