Planning Board continues Greatland life-sciences zoning hearing as peer reviews lag

WESTON — April 28, 2021 — Weston Planning Board signals Greatland life-sciences zoning may not be ready for May Town Meeting. Chair Alicia Primer told applicant Kevin Sheehan that residents have repeatedly called the process rushed and that "Weston is not a town that rushes things." Town planner Imai reported an acoustical peer reviewer near contract but no air quality peer reviewer yet engaged. Greatland projects more than $1.2 million in annual new tax revenue — roughly 30 percent of the town's $3.9 million fiscal 2022 budget increase. Member Stephen Oppenheimer flagged that the proposed Office and Research Development B district would allow 45-foot buildings plus a 25-foot mechanical penthouse not counted toward height — "a difference between 40 feet and potentially 70 feet." A housing component was reduced to 20 units, to be enforced through a development agreement. The board separately heard Land's Sake's $5 million, net-zero rebuild of its 40 Acre Field operations, designed pro bono by Payette.