Wellesley, mulling legal action against state, postpones MassBay planning workshop
The town of Wellesley on Thanksgiving Eve announced postponement of the visioning workshop it planned for Dec. 8 to provide the state with input ahead of requesting proposals from developers to build housing on MassBay Community College property. The move was prompted by the town’s consideration of legal action against the Commonwealth.
While the town has been promoting the Dec. 8 session since early November, as we reported earlier this week the Select Board also included an executive session (aka, behind closed doors) item on its Nov. 24 meeting agenda “to discuss strategy with respect to potential litigation with the Commonwealth regarding the disposition of surplus MassBay Community College land.”
The state has deemed 45 acres of MassBay property—a 5-acre parking lot and 40 acres of forest—as surplus and ripe for redevelopment under its Affordable Homes Act aimed at addressing the region’s housing shortage.
Some in town see the state’s plan as a win for housing, the school, and possibly the environment, if a conservation restriction is put on the forest land. Many of those who live in the area have raised concerns about traffic and more that could result from any such plan. (A lawn sign campaign has begun urging protection of the entire 40-acre forest.)
State legislators representing Wellesley recently shared a brief update on the Commonwealth’s developing housing plans for the MassBay property that abuts Centennial Reservation. The state is well aware of concerns in town about protecting the forested land that makes up about 90% of the 45 acres in question, and is open to protecting much of it, per the update.
According to the update provided on Wednesday by the town, “there is significant uncertainty regarding the role the Commonwealth intends the Town to have on the vision for the project including density, design, and open space. The Town has also received conflicting and incomplete information from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EHOLC) and the Department of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM). At this time, Town officials have determined that delaying the visioning workshop is the only option.”
Due to potential litigation, the town says it can’t provide additional information. Updates about a possibly rescheduled workshop will be shared if and when a new date is set. Questions or comments can be directed to OaklandStreet@wellesleyma.gov
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