Planning Board — January 7, 2026

What was decided

The draft minutes record eight members present: Theodore Chase, Robert LaCorte, Marc Dancy, Jennifer Rangnow, Meher Rafiq, Charles Brown, Robert Thomas and Chairman Orsini. Councilman Anbarasan was absent.

• Reorganization, each 8-0: Dr. Michael Orsini chosen as Chairman and Charles Brown as Vice Chairman; the firm of Clarkin & Vignuolo appointed Board counsel for 2026; Meher Rafiq, Robert Thomas and Chairman Orsini named to the Minor Subdivision Committee.
• Davidson Properties, LLC (PLN-23-00007): approved, 8-0 (motion Chairman Orsini, second Mr. Thomas). For: Dr. Chase, Mr. LaCorte, Mr. Dancy, Ms. Rangnow, Ms. Rafiq, Vice Chair Brown, Mr. Thomas and Chairman Orsini; against: none. Preliminary and final major site plan, conditional use approval and “C” variances (total side yard setback, drive aisle width, parking lot drive and parking lot setback, but not loading zone width) for a 35,510-square-foot warehouse at the rear of the existing building at 230 Davidson Avenue (Block 468.01, Lot 20.01, B-I zone). Conditions: comply with all staff and outside-agency reports, provide sidewalks, reconcile the tree-replacement numbers, look into the no-idling signs, and limit trucks using the site to the WB-50 size. See warehouses.
• Baldwas Realty LLC (PLN-22-00009): an extension of time to January 3, 2027, 8-0.
• Odin Dhun, LLC (PLN-24-00007), a 16-lot subdivision at 295 Cedar Grove Lane, was heard and carried to January 21, 2026. Ernie Leves of Como Drive asked about water and sewer connections and the fence along neighbors’ rear lines.

The Davidson Properties hearing

The draft minutes record that the applicant’s attorney, Matt Flynn, said the application was deemed complete before the passage of an earlier ordinance (printed in the draft minutes as “Ordinance 439122”) and so was a permitted conditional use in the B-I zone, because the project was at least 500 feet from residential property and served by public water and sewer. The site is about 4.82 acres with an existing building of about 13,000 square feet in light manufacturing use, which was to remain.

• Sidewalks. Mr. Flynn first asked for a sidewalk waiver. Mr. Thomas said people walk in the roadway on Davidson Avenue, where there is bus service, near a restaurant and a possible affordable housing project, and that it was time to insist on sidewalks on at least one side. Chairman Orsini agreed, and the applicant said it could add them without new variances. Vice Chair Brown asked for a walkway from the road to the building.
• Trees and no-idling signs. Dr. Chase asked that existing trees in the rear be kept, that a no-idling sign go above the middle loading dock as the Environmental Commission asked, and that the State-specified no-idling sign be used. The engineer said 177 trees would be planted and kept alive.
• Traffic. The applicant’s traffic engineer supported a 24-foot drive aisle and said the site was designed for the WB-50 truck; traffic would enter from and exit to Davidson Avenue toward Route 287.
• Variances. The applicant’s planner, Paul Ricci, said the proposed coverage was about half of what is permitted and that the benefits of the setback variances outweighed any detriment under the C-2 criteria.

No member of the public spoke on the application.

The Master Plan reexamination

Under new business, the draft minutes record Planning Director Mark Healey describing his first draft of the ten-year reexamination of the Master Plan and development regulations, last done in March 2016. He proposed a work session on January 21, a revised draft, and a public hearing on February 18, 2026, and noted the January 14 special meeting on the B-I zone study. See master plan reexamination.

Records

• Agenda · Packet · Draft minutes (attached to the February 18, 2026 agenda; approved that night)
• Video on Granicus (3:00). Granicus publishes no captions for Franklin meetings; this page follows the draft minutes.