Council refers Clarks Hill and Eagle Rock zoning amendments to planning board, agrees to advertise public hearings

The Framingham City Council voted to advertise and refer two proposed zoning amendments—Clarks Hill and Eagle Rock—to the planning board for public hearings, the council’s chair said Tuesday.

Councilor Long explained the referral is required under Massachusetts law and said the council’s motion asks the city to both advertise public hearings and simultaneously refer the amendments to the planning board for its recommendation. “Any zoning amendment has to be referred to the planning board for public hearing because they are a recommending board only,” Long said.

Several councilors pressed for clarity on sequencing. One councilor argued that, in some MBTA communities, the council’s public hearing has typically been held after the planning board issues its recommendation; others said holding them simultaneously is a common local practice and lawful under Mass. Gen. Laws Chapter 48, giving constituents two venues to engage.

The council voted in favor of considering items 2 and 3 together and then approved the motion to advertise and refer both zoning amendments to the planning board. The motion passed on roll call.

Councilors said the planning board’s recommendation will be required before the council can take a final vote on any zoning amendment. Residents interested in the proposals were advised to monitor both the planning board and city council hearing schedules so they can participate.