Wayland Planning Board readies December public forum on MBTA zoning bylaw

WAYLAND -- November 28, 2023, Wayland Planning Board readies Dec. 11 forum and edits draft MBTA zoning bylaw. Chair Anette S. Lewis, Albert I. "Ira" Montague Jr. and Jennifer Steele, with member Dan Hale joining later, unanimously approved Nov. 14 minutes and spent most of the meeting line-editing a press release, forum invitation and consultant Judy Barrett's draft bylaw ahead of a Jan. 15 state submission deadline and a May 2024 Town Meeting vote. Members cut a "750 units" reference from outreach materials, with Lewis saying "we probably need more than 750." Steele insisted the materials clarify that the state law targets "market rate housing units" and "is not a program for creating affordable housing." The board flagged a three-and-a-half-story Town Center height, debated densities ranging from 13 to 32 units per acre across proposed districts, and questioned a 90-day constructive-approval clause in the draft.