Design Review Board Continues Mosque Mortuary Case, Approves Two Others With Conditions

WAYLAND — September 4, 2024 — Wayland's Design Review Advisory Board approved two applications and continued a third at its September 4 meeting, ending just before 8 p.m. The board unanimously continued the Islamic Center of Boston's proposed mortuary and funeral service hall at 129 Boston Post Road after civil engineer Bruce Ringwald was unable to provide complete material specifications, color selections, or a landscape screening plan — the project architect was on vacation. The board also unanimously approved a phase-one campus plan for Veritas Christian Academy at 162-172 Cachetua Road, presented by Chris Blessin of Tepe Architects, subject to design comments that included concern about the all-white exterior palette on buildings visible to abutters and a call for sunshading devices consistent with Wayland's Green Community status; the plan involves removing more than 200 trees and eventually developing up to 380-student capacity over 15 to 20 years. A third unanimous approval covered the rebuilding of the fire-damaged commercial block at 116-120 Main Street, where designer and engineer Eric Rumpf agreed to reduce the height of a continuous EIFS sign band by approximately one foot and submit a full material and color storyboard before final sign-off.