Planning Board closes 3A hearing, defers recommendation vote to Dec. 2

WESTON -- November 26, 2024, Weston Planning Board closes 3A hearing but defers recommendation, trims plan to 751 units. The board voted unanimously Tuesday to reduce density on the Charles River Recovery parcel from 10 to nine units per acre, cutting three units after resident Georgette Baghdadi of 190 North Ave. argued the draft bylaw should not exceed the state's 750-unit minimum. Vice Chair Sean Lanier called 750 units "too much for Weston to absorb," while Chair Leslie Glynn said the draft "is as good a law compliance option that you're going to get." Member Alex Selvig's motion to recommend against adoption died for lack of a second; the board tabled the recommendation to a 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 special meeting to seat absent Member Jing Yu. Consultant Jen Goldson presented a revised housing needs report projecting 604 new units needed by 2040, or 488 at Weston's historical 2.6 percent homeowner vacancy rate. Town Counsel Jonathan Murray warned that a failed Town Meeting vote triggers a two-year bar on resubmission absent affirmative Planning Board support.