Highlights of May 21 Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Hearing on Washington & Swanton

ZBA Chair Dorothy Simboli invited Select Board member Mike Bettencourt to speak first. He remarked on the real sense of partnership existing between the town and Melanson Development which will hopefully result in redeveloping a long-vacant property into a 60-unit, mixed income building with ground-floor commercial space and on-site parking.

Ms. Simboli gave an overview of the 40B Comprehensive Permit process, which allows the ZBA to grant a single permit - covering zoning as well as other aspects of the project like stormwater management and traffic - to save time and cost. After additional hearings, Chair Simboli and fellow ZBA members David Feigenbaum and Mark Anderson will vote on the permit.

After Melanson presented, the audience heard some questions and concerns, expressed through letters and in person, about pedestrian safety, traffic, insufficient parking, and neighborhood safety during any environmental cleanup. It was notable that no one objected to implementing the entire project. 

The ZBA will require third-party “peer reviews” by qualified consultants for traffic and architectural design, and the town engineer will evaluate the stormwater plan; other aspects like site landscaping may involve peer review as well. The ZBA will hold future hearings focused on these topics.

Your support matters! THREE actions you can take to support this project:

• Attend the next hearing on June 24 at Town Hall. See the notice here. For future hearing dates, check the Town Government Calendar or ZBA “Active Matters” webpage
• Put your support in writing! How does the proposal for Washington & Swanton respond to our town's needs for housing and commercial development? Email ZBA’s administrator Carla McGrath at cmcgrath@winchester.us
• Stay informed! Follow Winchester News coverage or view hearing recordings on WinCAM.

Since these are public hearings with a written record, it is important to demonstrate that the project is supported by both residents living throughout the town and a range of organizations and town boards as meeting “community needs."

For inspiration, read how Voters Support More Action to Boost Housing, New Poll Finds. Public support for adding housing is strong – and, it's important to note whose voices are heard at local hearings.

The next “Affordable Housing 101” online training from the Municipal Engagement Initiative team at Citizens Housing & Planning Association (“CHAPA”)' is also on Tuesday, June 24th from 6:30pm to 8pm.

This training session is intended as a primer for anyone who wants to learn more about how affordable housing is produced, funded, and preserved in Massachusetts. It is free and open to the public. Register here.

Please note: This session is not intended to help individuals find affordable housing for themselves or their families. You can find affordable rental opportunities through the Housing Navigator and affordable homeownership opportunities through My Mass Home.

Launch of CPA Pilot Program

On June 7, the Winchester Committee on Community Preservation (WCCP) announced the launch of a Community Preservation Act (CPA) pilot program. The CPA was passed by Winchester voters in November 2024. A next step was the creation of a committee that would manage the application process for funds that may be used for affordable housing, historic preservation and open spaces and recreation.

The Affordable Housing Trust is planning to request funds for renovating a small town-owned property on Forest Street to create an affordable housing unit.

A public hearing is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, June 26, for the WCCP to gather community input on funding priorities.

As with the hearings on Washington & Swanton, your presence online or in-person at this public hearing, and your comments or questions in support of affordable housing as a priority, are encouraged!

Below are some key dates for this pilot program:

• June 19 - Application and instructions are set to be available online at the WCCP website
• June 26 - Public hearing is tentatively scheduled to learn more
• July 7 - Initial applications due, to be refined with the WCCP over the month of July
• August 1 - All applications due.

To contact the WCCP directly, email WinchesterCCP@gmail.com.