Historic District Commission Weighs In On Public Green Project

With talks well underway for the nearly two-acre Wayland Town Center Public Green, the Historic District Commission said Thursday night that it is overall pleased with the direction the project is heading.

Gretchen Schuler, chair of the HDC, updated commission members on the most recent iteration of the plans and pointed out that the green has the opportunity to connect several elements of town, including several historical features.

While nothing final has been decided, the involves creating two hills or knolls on the property with a flat area between.

HDC members said they were pleased to see an emphasis placed on landscaping and preserving open green space given the abundance of hardscape that the Wayland Town Center project will feature in buildings and parking lot.

"Tree placement is important," Schuler said. "Specifically, ensuring that the view into the park is clear and that the visual connection between these two hills is clear."

Schuler said Twenty Wayland, the developer of Wayland Town Center, will supply 25 trees for the Public Green in addition to grading and providing some additional landscaping. Discussions about the specifics of that landscaping are expected to occur at the next Town Center Green Design Advisory Committee meeting on Aug. 23.

"Looks like the kind of thing I hoped for," said HDC member George Ives, looking at design renderings of the location.

Alternate member Kathie Steinberg pointed out that the green provides an opportunity to connect sections of Wayland that have previously been a bit disjointed.

"It’s just how all these elements of the town are going to hold together," Steinberg said. "The sidewalks are a key, key element. The potential – hooking up with this, with the river – and then hooking it up with the historic district."

Schuler agreed and said she hoped the various groups responsible for those elements would come together to create that connection.

Facilitating collaboration among various town groups is an important opportunity for the Town Center Green Design Advisory Committee, according to chair Colleen Sheehan.

"We’ve been able to bring together so many voices already," Sheehan said in a previous interview with Patch. "It's a really awesome opportunity to look at bringing Wayland together."

Sheehan explained that the advisory group will work with Wayland selectmen and the Finance Committee in the coming days to secure funds for the full build-out of the space. Town Meeting, Sheehan explained, will ultimately vote on the funding for the various aspects of the green.

Because of the funding structure, the Wayland Public Green will be outfitted in phases, Sheehan said.

The Town Center Green Design Advisory Committee wants to continue receiving public input and feedback, Sheehan added. The committee hopes to place conceptual designs at the and for viewing.

"The ideas are great and we want to continue this," Sheehan said. "We want to reach more people."