Planning Board endorses MBTA overlay, rejects Cochituate self-storage article

WAYLAND -- March 12, 2024, Wayland Planning Board backs MBTA overlay, kills Cochituate self-storage petition. After a four-hour hearing March 12, the board recommended Town Meeting approve a four-sub-district multi-family housing overlay totaling roughly 52 acres to comply with the state MBTA Communities act, and voted 5-0 against a citizen's petition to rezone 193 Commonwealth Road for retail self-storage. Chair Anette Lewis said Wayland had no choice but to be "judged by the model," noting consultant Judy Barrett ran each parcel through the state's compliance tool and the work was funded by about $49,000 in grants. The board accepted Town Center owner Zurich's request to raise lot coverage to 28 percent and density to 27 units per acre. Vice Chair Robin Borgestedt called the storage proposal's village-design language "lipstick on a pig," and resident Mike Lowry warned the town would pay to defend the spot zoning.