Wayland ZBA dismisses Planning Board appeal of Launcher Way permits as untimely

WAYLAND -- December 12, 2023, Wayland ZBA dismisses Planning Board's Launcher Way appeal as time-barred. The board voted unanimously Tuesday to accept the Planning Board's withdrawal, without prejudice, of its challenge to building permits issued in May and June for Homes by Forge's renovation of 12 former Army cottages. Planning Board member Dan Hill argued the conversions of attached garages expanded the roughly 900-square-foot homes to 1,300–1,600 square feet, violating a 2018 bylaw barring living-area increases on pre-existing nonconforming rental tracts. Town Counsel Amy Kessell told the board "the 30 days is the 30 days, and that's it," with the latest appeal window having closed around July 4. Forge attorney Mark Bobrowski, citing Connors v. Annino, said "this is over." The Planning Board will now seek enforcement under Chapter 40A, Section 7, which Kessell said carries a six-year window.