Weston Planning Panel Approves DEI Study, Debates Land Use Draft Direction

WESTON — November 24, 2025 — Weston's Unified Planning Committee reviewed a DEI benchmarking study and a new land use draft at its November 24 meeting, with both items generating substantial debate but no formal policy decisions. A study by intern Laura and committee member Melanie Larson found Weston has no paid municipal DEI staff, no formal town-level DEI committee, and no equity audit, placing it behind peer towns such as Wellesley, Wayland, Concord, and Lincoln, all of which have published reports or active municipal committees. Robert Scott pressed for concrete recommendations fitted to Weston rather than peer-town averages, arguing the committee's job is "to recommend what Weston might consider." The land use subcommittee's rewritten draft — replacing a Barrett Group version members called boilerplate — flagged the potential sale of religious and academic institutional land, including properties tied to Regis College and Pope John, as a near-term planning emergency. The committee is now roughly two months past its original October target for wrapping this phase and set its next meeting for December 22.