Framingham subcommittee backs revised demolition-delay rules, sends changes to full council

The Framingham City Council Rules, Ordinances and Ethics Subcommittee voted May 27 to recommend revised language for the city's historic demolition-delay ordinance to the full City Council and declined to make a separate recommendation on whether the rule should remain a general ordinance or be converted into a zoning ordinance.

The recommendation takes forward proposed changes crafted by the Historic Commission and presented by Paul Silva, chair of the Historic Commission. The proposal would raise the age threshold from 75 to 80 years for triggering review, remove separate definitions for "demolition" and "demolition by neglect," and change delay periods so that ordinary qualifying properties would face a 12-month delay and Cultural Resources Index (CRI) properties would face an 18-month delay while preservation options are pursued.

The change matters because it affects how and when property owners must submit demolition permits for review and how long the city may delay demolition to seek preservation alternatives. "We just wanna protect old houses in Framingham…