Weston Planning Board unanimously backs Fitchburg rail trail feasibility study

WESTON -- May 21, 2025, Weston Planning Board backs feasibility study for shared-use path along Fitchburg rail line. The board voted unanimously Wednesday to support in principle a study that would examine building a walking and biking trail alongside the MBTA Fitchburg commuter line from Kendall Green station through Lincoln to Concord, at no immediate cost to Weston, with funding to be sought from the Boston Region MPO in its September grant cycle. Chair Leslie Glynn called it "a really interesting idea" and noted the trail's proposed alignment intersects with the Boston Properties parcel central to the town's ongoing 3A housing discussions. The board also voted 5-0 to appoint a community member named Marga as its liaison to the Weston Unified Plan Committee, ending weeks of debate over whether a non-board member could fill the role. In a split 4-1 vote, the board declined to require the owners of 8 Hidden Road to reduce an extensive lower lawn as a condition of approving a pool addition to the 2017 house, with Glynn the lone dissent, framing the issue through a Land Court ruling that requires the board to treat such properties as if under fresh review.