Planning Board Endorses ANR for Simpson Park Land

Planning Board · Meeting of September 3, 2026

Framingham Planning Board splits city land to open safer Simpson Park access. The board, chaired by Ted Cosgrove, unanimously endorsed an ANR plan for 499 Central Street, a parcel bought with roughly $1.4 million in Millwood development affordable-housing funds, to create parking near a future park entrance. Members continued two special permit cases to September 17, including a 1001 Worcester Road mixed-use conversion opposed by tenant Stuart Palocchi, who warned reduced parking would push staff and residents onto Concord Street: "Who pays is the other residents, the other tenants, and people parking on the street." The board approved a one-day special permit for a Saxonville Mill fundraiser and heard an informal Easley Farm preservation concept cutting a proposed development from 50 to 30 units on 12 of the farm's 112 acres, with Cosgrove noting he has applied for a $1.7 million state grant.

Board members also debated a revised 63-75 Fountain Street plan featuring a 181-unit and a 94-unit building, a 2,700-square-foot waterfront restaurant, and parking proposed below both central-business and mixed-use zoning requirements.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,672 words

Source: the Planning Board meeting of September 3, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.