After Delay Effort, Wayland Town Meeting OKs MBTA Communities Zoning

WAYLAND, MA — Wayland has joined the growing number of towns across the state approving new zoning rules to comply with the state MBTA Communities law.

The town's zoning plan passed at the second night of Town Meeting Tuesday with about 65 percent in favor, despite an effort by some residents to call for a special fall Town Meeting to focus solely on the zoning plan.

Like some towns, Wayland is complying with the law by adding multifamily zoning on top of existing multifamily developments, including Alta Oxbow, Town Center and the office/industrial park along the Boston Post Road at the Sudbury line.

The town placed a fourth zone over Coltsway, a small condominium community with 18 residents off of Mainstone Road. Some Coltsway residents planned to ask to delay a vote on Tuesday, but a motion to vote was called before that request could be made.

Under the law, Wayland is considered an "adjacent community" because it borders communities like Framingham and Natick with Commuter Rail stations. But like all other communities covered by the law, Wayland had to create zones with a minimum gross density of 15 units per acre, and no age restrictions.

Over the last two weeks, towns including Canton, Sudbury, Hull and Acton have all approved MBTA zoning at spring Town Meetings.