State Officials OK Wayland's New Housing Production Plan

WAYLAND, MA — Wayland has met the state minimum for affordable housing under a key state housing law, allowing the town to potentially fend off new large housing developments.

The state Office of Housing and Livable Communities last week certified Wayland had met the minimum 10% threshold of affordable housing stock under the 40B law, putting the town in "safe harbor" status. With the town above that 10% line, local officials can more easily reject or revise permit applications for large housing developments.

Wayland's housing plan will remain certified through June 2025. The town could lose safe harbor status, however, if any affordable units become ineligible under state guidelines.

"With Safe Harbor status, the town can now focus on how to best manage growth in way
that fits into the character of the community. The certification letter from the state is a testament
to the hard work of many town volunteers and staff. We hope to continue to grow our SHI to the
point where we are comfortably above the 10% threshold with hard work and innovative
approaches to housing," Town Manager Michael McCall said in a news release.

Wayland achieved its safe harbor status largely due to the opening of the new Alta Oxbow development — a multifamily complex along the Boston Post Road formerly known as River's Edge. The building has 55 affordable units, although residents in some of those unit recently faced the prospect of sharp rent increases.

Wayland's Zoning Board of Appeals in July also granted a permit for a 60-unit affordable housing development for people over age 62 at a Saint Ann Church property at 124 Cochituate Road.