Weston ZBA peer reviewer faults open space in 200-unit 40B design

WESTON — August 3, 2021 — Weston ZBA pushes back on 200-unit South Avenue 40B at architecture hearing. Design peer reviewer Clifford Boehmer told the board on Aug. 3 he is "not convinced that the level of exterior open space available for use of the residents is adequate" on the 9.54-acre site, where Hanover Company proposes a four-story, 480-by-256-foot building with 343 garage spaces and 66 units oriented onto an interior pool courtyard. Abutters' architect Cheryl Tougias of Spalding Tougias showed the footprint exceeding Weston High School's football field, requiring an eight-and-a-half-foot retaining wall around most of the property. A letter from planning consultant Lou Mercurio of 502 South Ave. calculated a 0.58 floor area ratio against a 0.04 neighborhood average and 19.8 units per acre against a town policy preference of four. Applicant Jonathan Buckman granted a 30-day extension to the end of October; Chair Jane Carlson said seven weeks may be needed. Next sessions: Aug. 24 (MODFLOW) and Sept. 8 (construction management and fiscal impact).