Weston ZBA reaffirms landscaping approval for Habitat for Humanity Wellesley Street project

WESTON -- January 13, 2025, Weston ZBA closes landscaping condition on Habitat for Humanity 40B project. Sitting as a two-member panel, Chair Jane Fisher Carlson and member Steve Lerocque voted unanimously Jan. 13 to reaffirm that landscape plans L1, L2 and L3 dated June 7, 2023 comply with the comprehensive permit issued in July 2023 for the 1-11 Wellesley Street affordable homeownership project. Habitat's Katie Theodores said the LIP regulatory agreement remains under final review at the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, with a building permit application expected within weeks. The project was redesigned all-electric after Weston adopted the specialized energy code July 1, dropping HERS ratings to between 6 and 24. Lerocque disclosed an unrelated business relationship with site engineer Rob Gemma and agreed to file a disclosure form. Fisher Carlson called Habitat's submittals the most thoughtful 40B package the board had seen: "I wish all of the 40Bs could be like yours."