Wellesley 40B housing development action about to heat up again

At least publicly, the 40B scene in Wellesley has been much quieter than last summer. But a rapid fire series of meetings next month will bring 40B developments aimed at boosting the town’s affordable housing stock and developers’ bank accounts back to the forefront.

Of course this time around, the 40B developments are being discussed while a housing production plan designed to give the town more say over how affordable and other housing is fast moving toward completion. The public is invited to weigh in now, and the Board of Selectmen and Board of Planning hope to formalize the plan by the end of next month.

As for the 40B projects that have been proposed, here’s the status of all pending 40B Comprehensive Permit Applications being considered by the Zoning Board of Appeals:

• 16 Stearns Road and 680 Worcester Street:
  • Two applications were recently received for these projects.
  • The public hearings for these applications are scheduled to be opened at the ZBA meeting on Thursday, September 6 at 7pm in the Juliani Room in Town Hall. Deliberations on these applications are not expected at this meeting. Rather, the hearings would be continued to a future to-be-determined date.
  • Materials are currently posted on the ZBA web page, and will be added soon to the 40B page.

• 148 Weston Road:
  • The public hearing on this application will be reopened at the ZBA meeting on Tuesday, September 11 at 7pm in the Great Hall in Town Hall. A full discussion, deliberations, and opportunity for public comments is expected at this meeting.

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• 135 Great Plain Avenue
  • The public hearing on this application will be reopened at the ZBA meeting on Thursday, September 13 at 7pm in the Juliani Room in Town Hall. A full discussion, deliberations, and opportunity for public comments is expected at this meeting.

• Delanson Circle:

• • The public hearing on this application will be reopened at the ZBA meeting on Thursday, September 13 at 7pm in the Juliani Room in Town Hall. Given other agenda items, approximately 30 minutes is expected to be dedicated to this application; however, discussion, deliberations, and opportunity for public comments is expected, too.

Planning Director Michael Zehner says that one other possible 40B, at 136 Worcester St., that’s pending project eligibility.

 

MORE: A look back at Wellesley’s early 40B (Anti-snob Zoning Act) disputes

Wellesley’s Affordable Housing Challenge video)