Wayland Planning Board urges Select Board to appeal contested building permits

WAYLAND — August 22, 2023 — Wayland Planning Board votes 5-0 to push Select Board to appeal building permits. The board on Tuesday directed Town Planner Robert to draft a letter asking the Select Board to authorize town counsel to appeal permits — most recently one issued Aug. 16 for converting a garage to a master suite — that members say increase gross floor area in violation of the town's zoning bylaw. Chair Annette Lewis and member Dan Hill said the developer had outbid Wayland at auction at an appraised value premised on the bylaw being enforced. "I can't imagine a case that's not more aggrieved than the town of Wayland by these decisions," Hill said. The board separately approved a 4-0 written decision on a preliminary four-lot subdivision at 13 Sherina Road and heard from Whittemore Place resident Rob Sherman that drainage flooding has persisted for three years against roughly $30,000 still held in a tri-party bond by Needham Bank.