FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 01/22/2025
For further information, contact:
Susan Scully Petroni
City of Framingham Public Information Officer
spetroni@framinghamma.gov
508-782-8629
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Gives City of Framingham Conditional Compliance For The MBTA Communities Act
FRAMINGHAM - Today, January 22, the Massachusetts Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) determined the City of Framingham is “conditionally compliant” for the MBTA Communities Act law.
“Congratulations! The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) has reviewed the district compliance application for the City of Framingham’s Central Business District (District). After careful review and analysis, EOHLC determined that Framingham is CONDITIONALLY compliant with Section 3A. EOHLC recognizes the diligent work by the City of Framingham to meet the requirements of the MBTA Communities Law. The City must submit an approvable economic feasibility analysis, supporting its inclusionary zoning requirements to remove the condition from the determination,” wrote EOHLC Secretary Edward M. Augustus, Jr.
Mayor Charlie Sisitsky received the letter tonight, January 22 at 7:30 p.m.
“This is excellent news,” remarked Mayor Charlie Sisitsky. “Submitting the City’s existing zoning, which was approved by Town Meeting in 2015, to the Commonwealth in December was a prudent decision. The City could NOT afford to forfeit state funding, or be subject to a potential lawsuit from the Attorney General’s office.”
The Commonwealth’s letter stated that City compliance is subject to the following requirements:
• Framingham must submit an Economic Feasibility Analysis consistent with the requirements of Section 72.04(1)(b)1b of the Regulations no later than 180 days after the date of this letter.
• EOHLC may establish a system to monitor compliance over time to ensure that approved districts allow multi-family housing in accordance with the criteria under which they were approved.
• Permitting conducted in connection with the additional factors listed above must not effectively reduce the estimated multi-family unit capacity of the District. If those factors reduce the estimated multi-family unit capacity of the District, EOHLC may revisit Framingham’s conditional compliance with Section 3A, and could require the City to remedy any deficiency with amendments to its zoning.
“My administration made no changes to the City’s existing zoning before we submitted it on December 23,” said Mayor Sisitsky.
What the Commonwealth deemed as conditionally compliant with the MBTA Communities Act only allows multi-family zoning under 30,000 square feet, and does not include mixed-use zoning within the Central Business District in Framingham.
The City’s submission is 100% within a half mile of the Commuter Rail station at Routes 135 and 126. While the Central Business District zoning, approved by Town Meeting members allowed up to 6,286 units, the City’s approval by the Commonwealth is for less than 5,400 units.
Mayor Sisitsky said “I have received feedback from residents south of Route 9 expressing a desire for amendments to the Central Business District zoning law, which was approved by Town Meeting. I will direct my administration to collaborate with the City Council and the Planning Board to make adjustments to the CB District, without affecting our compliance with the MBTA Communities Act.
Mayor Sisitsky said the conditional compliance approval from the Commonwealth does not prevent the City Council from proceeding with its public hearing on MBTA zoning in February 2025.
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