Franklin MAtters Weekly: 'Twas the week before Christmas, in all Franklin town, Everyone was waiting for the decision to come down

'Twas the week before Christmas, in all Franklin town

Everyone was waiting for the decision to come down

ZBA public hearings were complete, now fully closed

All comments made, residents could only sit posed

The new Council had voted to change their mind

And drafted the letter to which they readily signed

Would it make a difference, the TA said no

The State said likewise, but what does the Council know

The ZBA will make their decision soon reviewing

The exemptions one by one, residents patiently stewing

The developer team will be on edge, calculator at hand

Anxiously waiting, where will the mitigations land

When will we find out, and will that be the end

Or will it be appealed with a filling quickly penned

In the meantime, let’s enjoy the seasonal glow

Have a round of cheer, the sun will still rise tomorrow

With apologies to Clement Moore, the major decision on the 444 East Central development proposal should be forthcoming from the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting at Tuesday's meeting. Note, with the public hearing closed, there may not be an opportunity for comment from the public either before or after the decision is made.

For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendar at Franklin.news where each day, that day's events are posted on the top of the page, the TV and radio schedules are on the bottom, and all the other goodness falls in-between.

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1610-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-12-21-25/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 12/19/25, 6:30 PM ***

Charles River Pollution Control District Meeting

Monday, December 22 Time: 3:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12222025-2067

ZBA Meeting

Tuesday, December 23 Time: 6:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12232025-2057

Senior Center

Closed all day, December 246

Public Library

Closes at 2 PM December 24

All Town and School facilities closed December 25

Senior Center

Closed all day, December 26

Public Library

Regular hours, 9 AM to 5 PM - December 26

Public Library

Regular hours, 9 AM to 5 PM - December 27

*** Looking back at the week that was ***

Planning Board met on Monday, December 15 as scheduled, the Franklin TV video is available -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DovJ17h2e0c

Town Council met on Wednesday, December 17 for another 4 hour session to close out the calendar year. The recap and Franklin TV video can be found ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/12/town-council-closes-out-year-approving.html

ZBA met for 30 minutes on Thursday, December 18 on a different topic this time, the Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHzHv26ryV0