Letter: Support for the HYM development

We at Engage Weston support the HYM proposal for the roughly 35 acres of land that Regis is definitely selling. 

Regis has multiple bidders. The highest bids were from 40B developers; HYM the next highest.

There are good things about the HYM project:

• It expands our senior housing options. More Weston residents and grandparents can live in Weston even as they need assistive services.
• It fits our town’s character, by limiting the visibility from the street and from abutters, and protecting 50% of the property as open and 20% as forested.
• It keeps us compliant with 40B affordable housing requirements or could improve our position with up to 27 affordable units offsite. Every option improves protection against 40B developments.
• It forestalls 40B developments on that site. There could be multiple 40Bs, each 200+ units. If we reject HYM, 600 or more units could be built there.   Remember, until Weston reaches 10% affordable housing, 40B developers only need to propose a development to the state and it is locked in no matter if Weston reaches 10% affordable housing later. 

Regis has indicated that 40B developers made offers even after Regis selected HYM. Clearly, 40B developers believe 40B projects can succeed on this land – despite some claims of the opposite. Engage Weston takes seriously this 40B risk, and feels it is far better  to accept the less disruptive and more positive HYM proposal.

The HYM/Regis purchase agreement expires in December 2026. Both parties have said they won’t extend it if we reject it in November, Engage Weston strongly encourages Weston residents to attend Town Meeting and vote in favor of HYM’s project.

Alan Day, North Avenue