Weston Planning Board advances $12 million town center streetscape toward November vote

WESTON — September 26, 2018 — Weston Planning Board reviewed a $11 to $12 million town center streetscape and utility project aimed at a November 27 special town meeting vote. Town Center Planning Committee Chairman Steve Barot told the board that 100 percent construction plans are nearly complete and a public bid advertisement is targeted for mid-October, with a $1 million to $2 million utility cost placeholder still contingent on final figures from Eversource, Verizon, Comcast, and Town Fiber. Civil engineer John Nicolai of Mitch Engineering outlined traffic design changes including a new four-way stop at Church, School, and Boston Post Road and a net gain of 10 parking spaces across the project area, from 272 to 282. Landscape architect Skip Burke presented a native, ecologically diverse tree-planting philosophy for three open-space nodes — Knox Park, a town square anchored by a 24-inch red oak, and a terraced seating area — but board members pushed back, saying the vision lacked pictorial representations needed before a public vote. The board also advanced a site plan application for an approximately 7,000-square-foot residence at 8 Lawrence Road and approved scenic road and continuance actions unanimously.