Letter: Planning Board weighs in on zoning bills

The Weston Planning Board submitted testimony on two items within the Economic Development Bond Bill currently before the Massachusetts Senate, “An Act Facilitating Site Plan Review” and “An Act Promoting Yes in God’s Backyard.”

The Planning Board’s points covered the following: “An Act Facilitating Site Plan Review” requires a 90-day timeline for action for large projects such as the multifamily and townhome units coming at 133 Boston Post Road under the recently adopted 3A zoning. Further, the Performance Standards proposed do not explicitly include several factors which can have large impacts on a site such as landscape buffers, site disturbance and earth movement and noise.

“An Act Promoting Yes in God’s Backyard” would allow multifamily housing by right at densities of 30 to 50 units per acre; far in excess of the 15 units per acre required by 3A. It also has no cap on this type of development, whereas both 3A and Chapter 40B had definite limits on the development. In short, this proposal circumvents Town Meeting authority over zoning.

The Planning Board’s testimony is on the Planning Board page – westonma.gov/571/Planning-Board and additional testimony can be submitted to Senator Michael Barrett at [email protected].

Weston Planning Board, Alex Selvig, Chair