October 20, 2024

 

Dear Neighbors for Better Planning,

 

On the eve of October 21’s Special Town meeting, there are several crucial considerations that all town residents should be aware of and invested in.  This is why I am writing to you today.

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Housing continues to be a “hot” topic in Wellesley. As you know Neighbors for Better Planning was founded out of concern that its Town Meeting Members and government leaders claim that they are developing “a framework for respectfully managed growth and development,” many residents do not believe this is what is happening.  After almost two (2) years Wellesley is still lacking a fully endorsed policy by which urban development in our Town is planned and appropriately evaluated. 

 

Housing is an emotional issue for everyone when the current environment insists that a “housing crisis” must be resolved within statewide mandated terms. It is challenging to find the best solution to this crisis when people's feelings about their neighborhoods matter but are undervalued in local urban development decision-making. This is why Neighbors believe that our residents’ voices should be regarded as a crucial element in this comprehensive process. The Town should assess our actual housing needs along with the financial and practical constraints that exist in expanding these housing options.  Unfortunately, the current process is still a one-off applications process whereby developers present and the town approves with no strategic thought being formalized or recognized.  As developers approach Town committees, no overall assessment has been done on the permanent impact of any of these developments on Town resources or our environment.

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 Neighbors For Better Planning is concerned that zoning changes are being embraced for emotional rather than data driven reasons. This approach begets random Zoning changes approved without adequate cost/benefit analysis, a minimum requirement for any urban development plan – now and in the future.   We encourage residents to examine and participate in the below important Town decisions so your voices may be heard regarding the following special Town Meeting. Your voices must be heard.

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Town Meeting:

TM has several important zoning articles being voted on. Articles 16-17 are being presented for re-zoning approvals.

• Article 16 was voted against recommending by The Advisory Committee.

• Article 17 was voted for recommending by The Advisory Committee

Both these would add multi-family housing to their respective locations

 

Strategic Housing Task Force:

This Task Forced was formed last Spring. Neighbors has a seat on this Task Force along with Town Committee chairs and other interested parties. This Task Force has been charged with developing a New Strategic Housing Plan for Wellesley. The Select Board hired Barrett Consulting to assist in this charge. We have been meeting for several months; a Town wide questionnaire has been developed by The Barrett Group. The questionnaire is now live.  It is vital that all residents and their family members click on the above link to complete this questionnaire. Your voices must be heard. The Town will correlate your answers and bring themto two open meetings. The first Open Meeting is at 6PM on November 14 (in person meeting) located at The Wellesley High School Cafeteria. The second meeting will be November 19 (which will be on ZOOM). The Task Force requests that all attendees sign up for these participatory meetings in advance. More information about this will be available on the Town website later.

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Please reach out to us if you have any questions,

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Katie Schuller

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