Wayland Town Meeting approves Route 20 housing density increase, 87-72

WAYLAND — May 5, 2026 — Wayland approves Route 20 density and height increase over Select Board opposition, 87-72. Town meeting on Tuesday narrowly passed Article 25, raising the Route 20 West Multifamily Housing Subdistrict cap from 20 to 32 units per acre and maximum height from 35 to 58 feet, despite opposition from the Select Board (2-3), Finance Committee (1-3-2) and Economic Development Committee. Planning Board Chair Annette Lewis argued post-MBTA financial feasibility studies showed the prior limits were "essentially" unbuildable; Select Board member Tom Fay countered that "new buildings will stand for likely 100 years," and member Anne Brensley said the town was "essentially just handing this to a developer with no leverage." Earlier, voters approved an expanded ADU bylaw 142-8 and rejected a long-term facilities inventory bylaw 32-78. Town Manager Michael McCall warned of a likely operating override "in the next one or two fiscal years."