Winchester planning officials are looking to streamline the procedures behind special permits and site plan reviews. The Planning Board on April 7 proposed making changes to a section of the zoning bylaw “to refine the procedures, standards, and criteria associated with special permits and site plan review in order to
Town officials have approved waivers of regulations for a residential and commercial development project at Washington and Swanton streets. The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) on March 19 approved the waivers for a 40B project at 278-292 Washington St. and 12 and 16-20 Swanton St. in a special meeting preceding
Whether to legalize short-term rentals or Air Bed and Breakfast (AirBnBs) or Vacation Rentals by Owners (VRBOs) was the subject of conversation during a recent Planning Board meeting. Some exist in Winchester, although how many is vague. Legalization would involve possible changes to the bylaws and zoning bylaws to address
The river restoration plan for the Aberjona River in Davidson Park has been revised using nature based techniques that can be installed with minimal disturbance to wetland resources. It will include rock weirs to create step-like increases in the water level during typical flow conditions to counteract cascades resulting from
The Winchester Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) seems to have all the information it needs to make a decision on a proposed Chapter 40B apartment proposal at the intersection of Washington and Swanton streets. “It’ll be sort of wrapping things up tonight and moving forward on deliberations,” ZBA Chair
The Planning Board has unanimously approved a special permit for a proposed residential building at 10 Converse Place/33 Mt. Vernon Street at five stories with no affordable housing. The permit includes a number of conditions, including a payment in lieu of providing on-site affordable housing from the developer and
The Planning Board unanimously approved tentative plans for a five-story residential building at 10 Converse Place/33 Mt. Vernon Street — with a number of issues still needing to be resolved. “This seems to be the direction this thing is going,” board member Nicholas Rossettos said, referring to the original plans
Spreading the word about tobacco products and vaping takes a lot of work. But a recent seminar by the Mystic Valley Public Health Coalition is hoping to give Winchester residents the right information. “Whenever there’s new product, we try to get the word out to communities and schools,” Maureen
The size of a proposed residential building at 10 Converse Place/33 Mt. Vernon St. continues to be a major sticking point in the deliberations of a Special Permit by the Planning Board. “Six stories is too far,” member Keri Layton said at a meeting Jan. 13. “It doesn’t
What type of commercial space would be best for a planned development at 278-292 Washington St. and 12 and 16-20 Swanton St.? That was the question raised at an ongoing review and public hearing on the project by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). It’s a topic that has
In June 2022, town officials endorsed an ecological restoration project for the Aberjona River through Davidson Park that mimics the original riverine environment. On Dec. 3, the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) and the town held a Davidson Park Stream Restoration Update meeting about the project. Plans of one kind
A large number of residents gathered at Town Hall last week to speak before the Planning Board about the mixed-use residential/commercial development at 10 Converse Place/33 Mt. Vernon St. The meeting was the latest in an ongoing public hearing about the project. The board will once again reconvene
The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) is continuing a public hearing on plans for a proposed Chapter 40B building at Washington and Swanton streets to Dec. 10. The two sites at 278-292 Washington St. and 16-20 Swanton St. are abandoned commercial spaces, including a dry cleaners and a Mexican grille.
The Winchester Planning Board has approved a Special Permit for a 13-unit residential building at 972 Main St. that will include an affordable housing unit and a commercial area. The decision allows Treetop Development, owned by Sid Gehlot, to demolish the former commercial/industrial building that once housed a muffler
The Planning Board has approved a conditional height waiver of 69 feet for a proposed 34-unit development at 10 Converse Place/33 Mt. Vernon St. The approval comes after ongoing negotiations between the town and developer Paul Ognibene on issues over the number of affordable units, materials to be used,
The Planning Board continued deliberations on a 13-unit condo development proposal at 972 Main St., the site of an abandoned muffler shop at the corner of Glenwood Avenue, to at least mid-October rather than vote at their meeting Tuesday, Oct. 7. “I was ready to vote with conditions, but we
