Politics & Government

Zoning, Design Review Discussed at Planning Board Hearing

A quick look back at some discussion from Thursday's Planning Board hearing.

The Wayland Planning Board Thursday night held a public hearing to discuss articles proposed for the upcoming town meeting warrant, including efforts to adjust the zoning bylaw for the town’s Refuse Disposal District and establish a Design Review Board.

Increase the distance, limit the parking – An article related to the town’s Refuse Disposal District is under consideration in order to pave the way for a new public works facility to be built on River Road adjacent to the existing salt shed. Town Planner Sarkis Sarkisian stressed that this article addresses the zoning only and does not approve the construction.

The article would allow a building height of 40 feet in the district (a height requested by Weston & Sampson, the firm engaged to study building the project). It would also increase the setback from the current 15 feet to 50 feet, and allow for the site to accommodate office space, storage and parking of town-owned vehicles.

Property abutter Paul Doerr asked the Planning Board to limit the parking to only Department of Public Works vehicles and to consider a 150-foot setback. At this point, the changes would need to be amendments to the article that has been proposed.

Another resident who lives nearby asked that the height be limited to 35 feet as is typical for other buildings in town.

Doerr said he understands that the zoning article did not call for the approval of the construction of the building itself, but he wanted to be aggressive early on, recognizing “The zoning either opens the door or closes the door, one way or the other.”

He had previously asked the Permanent Municipal Building Committee and Weston & Sampson to consider moving the facility to the far side of the proposed site, away from his home.

Design Review Board – This article would establish an advisory design review board that would further the work of a Design Working Group that was approved by the Planning Board in April. The DWG has already created a set of design guidelines that would be used by the proposed Design Review Board to form advisory opinions related to commercial development in Wayland. The opinions would be geared toward promoting, enhancing and protecting development consistent with Wayland’s Master Plan.

Residents at the hearing raised concerns that the design review board would slow the process for small business owners to get their businesses up and running, but Bill Sterling, a volunteer for on the DWG, said the goal is to “assist in the review process.”

“Our effort was to try to make Wayland a better collaborator with development in town,” Sterling said.

Resident Sam Potter added that, in his experience as a developer, working with a design review board is preferable to not because it tends to streamline the process and create a better end product.

Sarkisian told Patch earlier on Thursday that he is organizing a gathering for March 5 at Wayland High School during which members of design review boards in other town’s can speak with Wayland residents about the typical work of such a board.

He said 48 communities in the Commonwealth have such boards and that most, including the one proposed for Wayland, are advisory in nature.

“The purpose is not to design the building – It’s refining,” Sarkisian said. ”[Currently] We don’t have design guidelines, we don’t have design review. We don’t have anything in our regulations that gives design direction.

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The Planning Board will continue the public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 28.


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