Residents urge Select Board to preserve MassBay forest and confine development to parking lot

At the start of the meeting multiple residents used the Citizen Speak period to urge the Select Board to prioritize preservation of the forest on the MassBay parcel and to confine any development to the parking lot.

Deed McCollum urged the Board to hold a visioning session and to move the project forward collaboratively, warning that continued delays risk the long‑term preservation of the forest and increase future costs. Ann‑Mara Lanza, speaking for Building Better Wellesley, called for balancing three priorities — the forest, the college, and housing — and questioned whether litigation spending is wise when collaborative approaches might achieve community goals. "She stated that 180 units is not necessarily an unreasonable number and encouraged residents to view a comparable 180‑unit project near the Woodland train station as an example," the speaker said.

Laura Robert asked the Board to consider the forest’s ecological function as part of a roughly 80‑acre contiguous ecosystem and recommended the town retain an expert consultant to assess impacts such as artificial lighting, wind effects, and invasive species risks. Leslie Hanrahan raised concerns about the state's Affordable Homes Act and its effect on local review and environmental protections. Other commenters, including Jen Grover, Dennis McKay, and Brian King, urged preservation on ecological and recreational grounds and pressed the Board to pursue feasibility studies and legal options if necessary.

The comments were received by the Board; no formal action on the MassBay parcel was taken at this meeting. Chair Freiman acknowledged the comments and the need to continue collaborative planning.