Weston ZBA unanimously approves variances to split historic Case Estates parcels

WESTON -- February 4, 2026, Weston's Zoning Board of Appeals cleared the way Wednesday for the sale of three decaying historic structures on the Case Estates property. The three-member board voted 3-0 to approve variances for lot size, street frontage, and side setbacks at 133 Wellesley Street, allowing the town to divide a single parcel into two undersized lots, 30,204 square feet and 29,823 square feet, well below the District A minimum of 60,000 square feet and with frontage of roughly 90 and 125 feet against a required 250 feet. Town Manager Leon Gaumond told the board that prior requests for proposals attracted no viable bids in part because buyers wanted individual structures rather than combined lots, calling the variance "the path of least resistance" to finally disposing of the Rand House, Schoolhouse, and Hillcrest Stable before another winter of deterioration. Town Counsel Amy Kwesell of KP Law argued the unusual presence of pre-1959 historic structures on each proposed lot satisfied all three prongs of the MGL Chapter 40A, Section 10 variance standard. The board accepted those arguments unanimously, with Associate Member Tristan Colangelo noting he arrived skeptical but was persuaded by the documented history of failed sales attempts.