Thread by @FranklinMatters

Live reporting for the Economic Development subcommittee meeting to begin at 6
Agenda online -> franklinmatters.org/2022/09/econom… #edc0921

Franklin for All priorities on agenda part of the report was extracted here -> franklinmatters.org/2022/09/build-… #edc0921
Followed by downtown parking, always a tough topic

EDC steering committee opens, this has the 2 planning board members and 1 from ZBA; for the first part of the discussion... When parking comes up, on the 4 town council members will participate #edc0921

Town administrator Jamie Hellen talks to the timeline, or order of events, based upon the priorities set at the Aug 10 meeting for the Franklin for All project work #edc0921 timeline a work in progress as other state items are still in flux

Among work ahead, the open space, recreation plan, and master plan are due for updating next year #edc0921 so lots of overlap among the topics

Bryan Taberner, Dir planning & community development, speaks to his memo (part of the agenda package) to add to what was written. Shared parking will be difficult to manage overtime. #edc0921 Accessory dwelling units will need to have time spent on that

40r will require some additional expertise ($ available for) to help provide guidance on what has been done, could be, etc. #edc0921

Cobi raises point of not doing shared use parking due to it's complexity is not a good reason; esp given 3 studies now say we need to develop shared use parking #edc0921

Bryan not comfortable with it, Cobi not ready to give up on it. #edc0921 both recognize need to give the planning board a good guide to go by, there is only 1 sentence available today. Greg acknowledged there are some shared parking approvals already and they are watchful

Bruce likes memos and timelines adds some other points, #edc0921
40r density an issue as part of MBTA community, it is highly complex per Beth. Guidance released Aug 22; per Bryan, 40r is an MAPC recommendation and prioritized by this committee

Bryan wants to do the other items before 40r, the others will help resolve the housing, MBTA issues, etc. #edc0921 wants to allow multi unit by right up to a point and beyond that go for a special permit, that is easier to do with better gain

"we need to stop forcing businesses to provide parking downtown when we have available parking downtown" Cobi #edc0921 references the types of dwellings we need and are now illegal to build but are already among us. Bike ride thread ->
drive.google.com/file/d/1DG0iuZ…

Inclusionary and other items up for next meeting, likely November timeline
Moving to parking topic #edc0921
Other steering cmte members some left, some switches to audience

Parking map being talked to #edc0921

Drill down proposed parking map as shown in the chamber #edc0921

Currently the 2 downtown commuter parking lots have not been generating revenue with use esp post pandemic and drop in T riders; #edc0921 proposing kiosk based parking for those 2 lots on a first come first serve basis; would add 89 spaces to available

Davis Thayer lot off topic now as the future of the building future will begin to be determined beginning this fall. #edc0921 no overnight parking at lot; the library lot generally heavily used by library and for events on the Town Common
Kiosks on wait, 4 month leadtime

No police meter monitor person today, had left a couple years ago, could consider it in future as things develop and need confirmed. #edc0921

Lots for Sat/Sun would be free parking (akin to other communities)
#edc0921 would take time (after approval by Council) to set up, change signs, add handicap parking, etc. Unauthorized parking is a catch all category for the ticket book

Beth advocating for 2 hour parking not the 1 hour parking; Gary, Dean and their parking has been forgotten, the students are back, Dean is open, what is going on there. #edc0921 advocates for fines before the signs, etc. July is an estimate based on kiosk, etc.

West St resident advocates for including commuter parking in the East/West St area (as opposed to the Dean Students); also consider no overnight parking. #edc0921
Stephen P advocating 2 hours, not 1, not sufficient

Dan suggesting residential sticker for the Dean parking problem area #edc0921
No overnight parking will help, esp with the students. Pockets with chronic offenders, enforcement could take care of the pockets; 2 lots opening up will help with the back lots and hence main st

Has not heard of anyone who likes the 1 hour time limit, per Lisa & Downtown Partnership #edc0921 issue with handicap parking, some tags are for inability to go 200' without assistance, adding only the 2 is not sufficient for handicap needs

Dean students moving cars within the 2 hours, if only residential parking it would stop the students. #edc0921
Sheridan, bug blue signs required
Frongillo, appreciate this, listed his thoughts, may not be in proper order, need 2 more hearings if anything is approved, ...

Would also allow the administration to change the hours in addition to the rates (as currently proposed)
We didn't adjust the length of time on side streets #edc0921 Jamie - residential parking is a bigger process than we are prepared to deal with both staff and enforcement

Avenue to work with Dean and new leadership to develop a process, neighborhood meeting, etc. give the process a chance #edc0921 signage needs to be a piece of this. Jones not in favor of 1

It is a new concept of 1 hour, but with the other parking (89 spots) for the longer visits, that can get us the best of both #edc0921
Motion to amend for 2 hour, passes 4-0. Motion to amend all night parking when restricted to $50. Passes 3-1.

Jones disagrees with Frongillo proposal to empower Hellen to set the time, rates and hours; will likely come back to another meeting #edc0921

Sheridan amendment to add no overnight parking, not seconded
No after amendments, can move to approve as amended passes 4-0
#edc0921 motion to move rate table forward, passes 3-1
Section K passes 3-1
Motion to adjourn, passes 4-0

That's all for tonight catch you next time! #edc0921

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