Weston Select Board backs revised 255 Merriam compromise, endorses open-space bill

WESTON — January 7, 2020 — Weston Select Board backs revised 255 Merriam bylaw and endorses state open-space bill. Chair Chris Houston told the board on Jan. 7 he had brokered a compromise with the developer and abutters at 255 Merriam Street and 11 Hallett Hill that would shrink the project from 10 units under a 40B permit to eight under a revived Transit-Oriented Senior District bylaw, preserving one affordable unit, the historic red barn, and most of the trees. The earlier TOSD article drew roughly 60 percent support at town meeting but missed the two-thirds threshold. "We may have found a solution," Houston said, while noting the Planning Board's three non-recused members declined to meet informally. The board voted 3-0 to endorse the state Public Lands Preservation Act, with member Laurie urging that detail be moved from statute to regulation, and designated Town Manager Leon Gaumond as Weston's MMA voting delegate.