Select Board fails to recommend Cochituate self-storage rezoning

WAYLAND -- March 18, 2024, Wayland Select Board splits 2-2-1, declines to recommend Cochituate self-storage rezoning. Article KK, a citizen petition led by Rebecca Stanitzi to rezone 193 Commonwealth Road for a roughly 100,000-square-foot retail self-storage facility, fell short of a recommendation after Tom Fay and Adam Gutbezahl voted yes, Chair William Whitney and member Ann voted no, and Carol Martin abstained. The Planning Board previously voted unanimously against the article and the Finance Committee opposed it 3-1, with town counsel warning it could be flagged for spot zoning. Gutbezahl pushed the petitioner on whether the bylaw guaranteed 3,500 square feet of community space would go to Arts Wayland, it does not, saying "I hope petitioners will stop using Arts Wayland when they're talking about this article." The board separately voted 5-0 to recommend MBTA Communities zoning Article T and authorized up to $12,000 for the Wayland Multicultural Festival.