Planning Board Approves Tree Removal for Central Street Water Main With Restoration Conditions

Planning Board · Meeting of August 13, 2026

Framingham Planning Board approves tree removal for Central Street water main, bids farewell to six-year member. The board voted unanimously August 13 to allow the Department of Public Works to remove four trees from the public right-of-way and one tree on private property at 745 Central Street to install a new 24-inch water main, with conditions requiring photographic documentation of an existing stone wall before disturbance, replacement planting consistent with city ordinance (including a 5.5-inch tree previously below the replacement threshold), and City Tree Warden Rebecca directing where replacement trees are sited along the Central Street scenic road corridor. Bill Sadowitz, the city's project manager, and Kara Kelleher of West End Sampson presented the project; Kelleher attended by video call.

Outgoing member Tom Bowie, completing his second full term, pressed the board to hold the city to the same replacement and documentation standards it would demand of a private contractor: "Are we holding ourselves as a city accountable to the same requirements that we would hold a private citizen to?" The board also received a preview of two fall zoning initiatives from planning staff, including a Waverly Street overlay district tied to a new 13-percent-affordable condominium project at 733 Waverly Street and a new Golden Triangle overlay district designed to facilitate potential campus expansion by TJX Companies at 3 and 5 Speen Street.

In the full story:

• Background and stakes
• The question before the board
• Substantive content
• The deliberation
• Procedural steps and outcome
• Implications and what is next
• The complete report — 2,106 words

Source: the Planning Board meeting of August 13, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.