Protects Franklin's wetlands, rivers, and open spaces. Reviews any construction projects near sensitive natural areas.
48 items across 8 meetings.
June 4, 2026 · agenda
📋 Proposed
Application to perform work within the wetland buffer zone at 10 Symphony Drive comes before the Commission for review.
📍 10 Symphony Drive, Franklin, MA
📋 Proposed
Request to modify an existing Conservation permit based on site alteration changes at a King Street property.
📍 King Street, Franklin, MA
📋 Proposed
Request to close out Order of Conditions SE159-878 at 37 Hancock Road, confirming permitted work was completed as required.
📍 37 Hancock Road, Franklin, MA
May 7, 2026 · agenda
📋 Proposed
Revised agenda posted for the May 7, 2026 meeting.
📋 Proposed
Applicant responds to prior commission comments on a culvert (drainage structure) replacement or modification near the Prospect Street/Nicholas Drive intersection.
📍 Prospect Street / Nicholas Drive, Franklin
📋 Proposed
Conservation review of the Donovan Estates project at 47 Partridge Street, with revised plans submitted.
📍 47 Partridge Street, Franklin
📋 Proposed
Notice of Intent (NOI — formal wetlands permit application) filed for a home addition at 110 Populatic Street, with stamped permit drawings submitted.
📍 110 Populatic Street, Franklin
📋 Proposed
Application documents (filing type CP-6) submitted for a project at 603 Old West Central Street; scope not detailed in agenda.
📍 603 Old West Central Street, Franklin
May 7, 2026 · minutes
🔄 Postponed
After-the-fact filing for emergency culvert repairs (plastic sleeves in brittle clay pipes, rip rap, washout fixes) plus proposed downstream wing-wall rebuild; continued to May 21 pending engineer review.
📍 Nicholas Drive/Prospect Street
✅ Approved
Approved with standard conditions plus added invasive-species management, flood-storage staging, and a requirement to inspect a submerged fence for possible removal.
📍 47 Partridge Street
🔄 Postponed
Plan to raze a deck, remove a 20-inch tree, and build a 547 sq. ft. accessory dwelling unit, deck, and patio within Populatic Pond's buffer; continued to May 21 pending more details and ZBA approval.
📍 110 Populatic Street
✅ Approved
Enforcement action extended 90 days.
📍 305 Union Street
✅ Approved
Prior minutes approved 6-0-0-1.
💬 Discussed
Developer's revised plan for a 10,000 sq. ft. daycare avoids wetland fill but heavily disturbs the 0-25 ft. no-touch buffer; Commission signaled it remains a very tough sell.
📍 603 Old West Central Street
💬 Discussed
Resident who cleared land and mulched near a wetland is letting chips dry before removing them as required.
📍 8 Bogastow Brook Lane
💬 Discussed
Members to sign up for Farmers Market tabling shifts (June 5 through October, Fridays 2-6 PM).
💬 Discussed
15 native saplings to be planted in June via a $850 consulting forester scope, requiring removal of some birches.
💰 $850 consulting forester scope
📍 Riverbend
✅ Approved
Adjourned at 9:21 PM.
April 23, 2026 · agenda
📋 Proposed
NOI (wetlands permit application) for Symphony Drive/Tanglewood Estates II is under review, with updated correspondence filed April 16.
📍 Symphony Drive / Tanglewood Estates II, Franklin
📋 Proposed
Applicant for 47 Partridge Street (Donovan Estates) filed a variance request and response to the town's peer-review engineer (BETA) comments on the wetlands plan.
📍 47 Partridge Street, Franklin
📋 Proposed
Minor Buffer Zone Activity (small project within wetland buffer, typically streamlined review) application for 10 Elizabeth Avenue, with plans and photos submitted.
📍 10 Elizabeth Avenue, Franklin
📋 Proposed
Minor Buffer Zone Activity proposed for the MECO right-of-way along Prospect Street.
📍 Prospect Street ROW, Franklin
April 23, 2026 · minutes
🔄 Postponed
Wetland permit review for this culvert repair was continued to May 7, 2026.
📍 Nicholas Drive/Prospect Street
✅ Approved
Wetland permit approved for this Cypress Real Estate residential development, with conditions including cutting back and plugging a neighbor's drainage pipe after certified-mail notice.
📍 Symphony Drive/Tanglewood Estates II
🔄 Postponed
Multi-house development needing stormwater basin, flood-storage work, tree removal, and a no-build-zone variance; continued to May 7 pending BETA peer-review response and conditions.
📍 47 Patridge Street
✅ Approved
Approved replacement of a single utility pole (P22) near wetlands by Massachusetts Electric, conditioned on using silt socks instead of straw wattles.
📍 Prospect Street Right of Way
✅ Approved
Resident approved to remove roughly 11 hazardous trees hanging over his house and garage, with stumps left in place or flush-cut.
📍 10 Elizabeth Avenue
✅ Approved
Prior meeting minutes approved.
💬 Discussed
Earth Day event at Fairmount Fruit Farm recapped; planning discussed for farmers' market table, June 4 Economic Development Committee meeting on permitting, and the inactive Norfolk County Conservation District revival (May 14 meeting).
April 9, 2026 · minutes
✅ Approved
Approved permit modification for a temporary construction access road using timber mats instead of gravel and a culvert, avoiding water diversion through the wetland; minor rutting to be smoothed after removal.
📍 160 Maple Street
🔄 Postponed
Continued to April 23 pending survey results; no new information presented.
📍 Nicholas Drive/Prospect Street
🔄 Postponed
New housing development reviewed; applicant agreed to cut and plug a neighbor's 4-inch drain pipe, add native plantings, and notify the abutter — Commission expects to vote April 23.
📍 Symphony Drive/Tanglewood Estates
✅ Approved
Approved with conditions requiring stockpile storage on paved surfaces, a native planting plan, and utility cross-sections before building permit sign-off.
📍 Lewis Street
🔄 Postponed
Continued to April 23 at the applicant's request.
📍 47 Patridge Street
✅ Approved
Approved an 8x8 vestibule and front-stair/walkway replacement; also addressed prior unpermitted work in the 25-ft no-touch buffer, with erosion controls and reseeding required.
📍 680 Pleasant Street
✅ Approved
Approved a 14x20-ft shed extending about 75 sq. ft. into the 100-ft buffer zone, abutting an existing pool patio.
📍 58 Daniels Street
✅ Approved
Approved removal of several pine trees, including a rotting tree, after a windstorm felled a large pine near the homeowner's shed; stumps to remain.
📍 8 Cardinal Drive
✅ Approved
Approved prior meeting minutes.
💬 Discussed
Upcoming Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting will review the part-time Conservation Director's budget; members invited to attend in support, dates not yet posted.
✅ Approved
Earth Day event coming up with seedlings, bee boxes, and a Riverbend tour; approved a $350 invoice for felling degraded trees to demonstrate forest stewardship.
💰 $350 invoice for forestry work
📍 Riverbend
💬 Discussed
Original signatures were lost; members who originally voted must re-sign the document.
📍 15 Liberty Way
💬 Discussed
Abutters are challenging the Commission's approval at MassDEP over stormwater flooding calculations, degraded-riverfront assessment, and well concerns; outcome pending DEP finding with possible court appeals.
📍 444 East Central Street
💬 Discussed
Members discussed two dams near Lincoln Street going to Medway; the town considers taking ownership too costly and legally complicated, per Town Attorney.
📍 Lincoln Street