Franklin planning board adopts fourth‑round affordable housing plan, urges township endorsement

The Franklin Township Planning Board voted to adopt the township's fourth‑round housing element and fair‑share plan and recommended the governing body endorse the plan before the June 30 deadline.

Chris, the board's planner, told members the state initially assigned a higher obligation but that a challenge by builders and subsequent negotiations left Franklin with a court‑set prospective construction obligation of 243 affordable units and a separate rehabilitation obligation of 48 existing units. "We had an obligation of 527 units" in the prior round, he said, and "we settled on 243 units" for the prospective obligation.

Why it matters: Adopting and submitting the plan starts the administrative process that can provide the township temporary protection from so‑called builder's‑remedy lawsuits while the municipality works toward compliance. Planner Chris emphasized the practical constraints: the planned capacity assumes access to sewer in the targeted service area and a willingness by developers to extend sewer lines when necessary; without sewer availability, large‑scale multifamily construction is unlikely.

What the plan proposes: The planner said the municipality can meet most of the prospective obligation on a single large parcel in the northern planning area (a site previously involved in a solar‑project dispute) by modestly increasing allowable density in the business district (from about six units per acre to eight–10 units per acre). He said the plan also relies on Boston County's home‑repair program to satisfy the 48‑unit rehabilitation obligation over the coming decade.

Board and public scrutiny: Board members pressed staff on legal exposure if the town missed the June 30 filing window and whether developers must have a concrete plan before suing; staff and the solicitor said courts generally favor a concrete developer proposal but that filing and moving forward with a plan typically reduces the immediate risk of builder‑remedy litigation. A board member disclosed an ownership interest in two parcels discussed for housing and stated they would abstain from related votes; a resident, Cindy Mks, expressed frustration about the timing, local infrastructure (roads, drainage), and the disclosure of the board member's ownership interest.

Details and next steps: The board's vote to adopt the plan was passed by majority roll call after one recusal; the planning board does not, by itself, adopt the ordinance changes—its action forwards the housing element to the township committee for endorsement and for inclusion in the town's submission to the court. The planner recommended adoption to meet the statutory timeline and said the governing body is expected to endorse the plan at its next meeting.