Wayland EDC recaps town meeting wins on MBTA zoning, energy code

WAYLAND — May 17, 2024 — Wayland EDC chair discloses ethics complaint over self-storage zoning push. Economic Development Committee Chair Rebecca M. Stanizzi told the panel Friday that someone "dropped a dime to the state ethics commission" over her support of Article 27, a citizen petition to rezone a Route 20 parcel for retail self-storage; the State Ethics Commission cleared her to speak as an individual. Town meeting referred the article for further study to the Finance Committee, Planning Board, Design Review Board and Select Board. Members also recapped passage of MBTA Communities zoning by roughly a two-thirds vote and approval of the specialized energy code. Town Planner Robert Hummel said the state acknowledged some towns are "gaming the system" with non-viable districts. The state will repave a Route 20 stretch before June 30; Dunkin' corporate has blocked a proposed franchise at the former Bank of America drive-through. Next meeting June 14.