Planning Board Closes Hearing on Senior Housing Plan

In this report: Key decisions · Next dates · Full report · Sources

What happened

The Planning Board unanimously closed its hearing on the HYM/Regis senior housing proposal at 300 Wellesley Street after the Select Board declined to place it on the fall Town Meeting warrant. Board members voted to add discussion of a proposed senior-living overlay bylaw to a future meeting agenda, aiming to develop a framework for future senior housing projects. The board also approved two property amendments and continued hearings on three other matters.

Key decisions

• 📜 Senior-living overlay bylaw discussion scheduled. The board voted 5-0 to place discussion of a proposed senior-living overlay bylaw on a future meeting agenda. The discussion will focus on process and scheduling along with substantive topics, with the aim of developing durable principles for governing future similar projects. (Vote 5-0). Read case details
• 📋 Senior housing hearing closure. The board voted 5-0 to close the public hearing on the HYM/Regis senior living proposal after the Select Board declined to place it on the fall Town Meeting warrant. The closure ends formal review of this specific application; it cannot return to the board's docket unless and until a new hearing is noticed. (Vote 5-0). Read case details
• 📋 Pool pergola and patio amendment approval. The board voted 5-0 to approve amended plans for a pool pergola and patio. The amendment reduced outdoor lighting from 11,358 to 8,353 lumens to comply with a town lighting bylaw, removed one declining 12-inch maple, and added five trees. (Vote 5-0). Read case details
• 📋 Driveway expansion approval. The board voted 5-0 to approve a 620-square-foot driveway expansion designed to resolve chronic drainage and muddy conditions behind the garage. The design includes a trench drain and infiltration system engineered for a 100-year, 8.67-inch, 24-hour storm event, with no trees removed. (Vote 5-0). Read case details
• 📋 Approval Not Required plan signed. Board members signed an Approval Not Required (ANR) plan splitting a Newton Street property into a front lot retaining Newton Street frontage and a back lot gaining frontage on Pheasant Trail. ANR plans require no board vote. Read case details
• 📋 Hearing continued to November 4. The board voted 5-0 to continue the hearing to November 4, 2026, at the applicant's request. (Vote 5-0; Next: Nov. 4). Read case details
• 📋 Hearing continued with no set date. The board voted 5-0 to continue the hearing with no fixed return date at the applicant's request. Board members found the matter too open-ended to schedule and said the town would re-notice a hearing if needed. (Vote 5-0). Read case details
• 📋 Hearing continued to November 4. The board voted 5-0 to continue the hearing to November 4, 2026. (Vote 5-0; Next: Nov. 4). Read case details

Next dates

• Nov. 4: Continued hearings on two properties

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Full meeting report

The complete, section-by-section account of the meeting, 3,554 words, for members.

Correction (Oct. 30, 2026): An earlier version of this story said four trees would be added. The plan adds five.