Planning Board defers most decisions in first Zoom meeting, advances Merriam zoning

WESTON — March 25, 2020 — Weston Planning Board pauses non-urgent permitting in first all-Zoom meeting. The March 25 hearing, run by Acting Chair Alicia, continued the 255 Merriam Street active-adult zoning amendment and concept plan to April 15, with a working session set for April 7 at 5 p.m. Members tentatively agreed to cap residential gross floor area at 25 percent and building coverage at 15 percent of tract area, with planning board waivers up to 28 and 20 percent, and set Sept. 1 as the cutoff for new Active Adult Residential Community proposals. Developer Jeff Engler defended the bylaw as effectively unusable for other parcels, telling the board "this plan is worse for me than the 40B plan." The board approved a site plan for a new house at 31 Beach Road but continued a contested well-requirement debate over builder Jonathan Parkman's 79 Black Oak Road garage finish to April 15.