Wayland Conservation Commission denies Coptic church project on Rice Road

WAYLAND -- April 15, 2026, Wayland Conservation Commission unanimously denies Coptic church redevelopment after seven-month review. The 7-0 votes under the state Wetlands Protection Act, Chapter 194 and Chapter 193 rejected St. Philopater Mercurius and St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church's plan to demolish its 169 Rice Road building and construct three new buildings, parking, a courtyard and sports field within a 200-foot riverfront area. Commissioner Luke Legere said the proposal could not be conditioned to meet performance standards; Vice Chair Shannon Fischer told the applicant "the stormwater issues could be much less challenging with a smaller project." Abutters' engineer John Chessia testified the applicant's HydroCAD model overestimated storage by failing to embed perforated pipes in stone. Attorney Jonathan Silverstein said the church complies with all state and local requirements and that the project size "cannot change."