The Wellesley Board of Selectmen has called the proposed 90-unit 40B residential housing unit for Delanson Circle “too intense” for the less-than-1.5-acre plot on which it would stand across from the Tailby parking lot used by commuter rail customers. The town has used such language in arguing against a 40B proposal at 680 Worcester St. as well.
The proposed “Wellesley Crossing” project for Delanson Circle, an offshoot of Linden Street, has actually been downsized from 95 to 90 units, but that’s still too much according to the BoS letter, which you can read in its entirety below. The developers, who revised their project application last month, plan to offer 18 affordable units as part of the 5-story complex, which they say will have a common courtyard and community room. Their pitch is that the project would be attractive to those using public transportation given its proximity to the Wellesley Square train station.
(See also: Wellesley’s Affordable Housing Challenge video)
In its letter to MassHousing, the quasi-public outfit that the developers are making their bid to, the Wellesley BoS cites numerous concerns. These include the project’s size being disproportionate to surrounding structures, pedestrian safety issues, stormwater management issues and parking/traffic worries. The town would also like to see more of the units being affordable.
Wellesley has been scrambling to get a Housing Production Plan in place to help convince the state that it is indeed taking serious steps to get at least 10% of the town’s housing stock to an affordable level. That’s the threshold required for the town to be able to fend off what it deems as hostile 40B projects that allow developers to avoid abiding by the usual zoning rules. The town has been emphasizing in its formal comments about proposed 40B plans its past and current efforts to encourage sensible development of affordable housing in Wellesley.
Thank you BoS for protecting our town against greedy developers and meddling politicians. Anyone that supports affordable housing be forewarned — these politicians and developers are conspiring. What’s in it for them? Money and power. Meanwhile it is our community that will have to live with the negative side effects of the 90 unit development where currently there are 5 homes.
BRAVO selectmen!!!
Affordable housing is a JOKE. Forget the state. Since when does anyone have a right to live anywhere? I want to live in Beverly Hills does that mean that Beverly Hills is obligated to provide me “affordable” housing at the expense of degradation of the fabric of the town???
Really, who is behind this idea of affordable housing? It isn’t just dumb, it just does not make any sense. People live in communities that they can afford to live in – that’s how the world works. What is this France? Why make it more complicated? We just open ourselves and our communities up to the negative side affects of messing around with the free market – “hostile development” projects anyone??? Great idea. That will end well. Can’t wait.
Wellesley is overcrowded as it is. Have people not been frustrated at the traffic? Look at the intersection at Weston and Linden now — and some people want to build 90 unit apartment buildings with every unit have 2 more cars that will need to go through that intersection daily. Good idea…NOT
I think Wellesley should find a way to keep fighting off this state mandated BS. Let the free market sort itself out and then everybody will have a place to live in this fine state – it might not be their first choice, but let’s all remember, not everybody gets a trophy in the real world.
So good job Selectmen, keep on fighting for our community. Thank you.