Wayland disability-housing panel weighs flexible RFP for four-acre Cochituate site

WAYLAND — December 8, 2025 — Wayland panel hears innovators urge flexible models for 212 Cochituate disability housing. The 212 Cochituate Road Advisory Committee on Dec. 8 took testimony from Bob Swain, founder of High Spirit Community Farm in Great Barrington, and MassAbility Commissioner Toni Wolf as it works toward a recommendation to the Select Board. Swain said each of his three houses runs about $350,000 a year and pays live-in caregivers a starting package worth roughly $80,000, including a $40,000 salary plus room and board. Wolf urged the panel to issue an RFI rather than a prescriptive RFP and to design for universal accessibility, saying "people with disabilities want everything what everyone else wants." Member John Thomas pushed to drop the term "shared living" from any solicitation, calling it too narrow. Stephanie agreed to draft the report for the panel's Dec. 17 meeting; Melmark is scheduled for Jan. 8. The committee adjourned at 8:04 p.m.