Wayland residents debated and voted on key issues that will affect the town’s future during two nights of the annual town meeting on April 7 and 8. The key items that elicited the most discussion focused on the town’s operating budget, Wayland’s Route 20 commercial corridor, restaurant pre-order pickup windows, accessory dwellings and the development of two town-owned plots of land. Residents approved all but one of the town articles and amended two.
The 2025 Annual Town meeting introduced three new Consent Calendars: Financial, CPA and Administrative. Consent Calendars are used to expedite the meeting by voting multiple standard, non-controversial articles at the same time. Of the three, the Financial calendar, covering articles two to nine, was voted without a hold request to debate a specific article outside of the group.
The meetings on both nights ran until around 10:30 p.m. Attendance ranged from 200 to 402 varying on the time of the night and the article proposed. There are 5,380 residences and 10,548 Wayland Voters in Wayland.
The budget discussion (Article 10) underscored serious questions about fiscal sustainability. While residents passed a $108 million operating budget for Fiscal Year 2026 at a 3.49% overall increase both the town manager and Finance Committee members stated that future increases may be harder to control. Rapid growth in health insurance costs, retirement contributions and contractual obligations could force either deeper cuts or an override vote by FY27.
The approval of $12.93 million for the fiscal year 2026 capital budget will fund 29 projects for town and schools for $9.79 million and a combined nine projects for the Water, Wastewater and the Transfer Station for $3.14 million. Total FY26 spending approved is $120.9 million up from 112.0 million in FY25. As of December 2024, there was $20.2 million outstanding for which funds were appropriated in prior years for 115 capital projects. The town has been diligently working to close out these open capital projects.
Attendees approved the establishment of a Capital Improvement Planning Committee (Article 17) which is charged with year-round oversight of major projects. This committee will create a more transparent, data-driven environment for decisions like road repairs, water system upgrades and school building upkeep. This long sought budgeting process change comes amid heightened focus on the town’s water infrastructure, where upcoming PFAS-related projects could top $35 million. Future issues will need to be addressed which could contribute to financial increases as the committee confronts trade-offs between urgent repairs, mandated regulatory compliance and taxpayer constraints.
Town Meeting members were asked to approve multiple proposals that were created to address the empty storefronts and stagnant growth that has plagued the Wayland Route 20 commercial corridor. With the goal of securing state TIP funding in the future, the capital budget included $250,000 for early design of roadwork upgrades expected to cost $700,000 in construction. One resident attempted to remove this budget line item, arguing that the master plan for the corridor remains unfinished but supporters insisted the town must act promptly to compete for grant dollars. Questions were raised over whether corridor upgrades such as sidewalks and decorative street lighting will jumpstart economic development or spend taxpayer dollars without concrete results.
Town Meeting also passed a Restaurant Pre-Order Pickup Window Overlay (Article 20) after contentious debate. Proponents see it as essential for attracting fast-casual eateries especially those that rely on smartphone ordering and efficient pickup lanes. Critics worry about traffic clogs, as well as the specter of “fast food creep.” The Planning Board voted 2–3 against recommending the overlay, yet the Town Meeting approved it by a healthy margin.
Massachusetts’ new 2024 Affordable Homes Act requires municipalities to allow ADUs by right, so Wayland had to revise its existing bylaws. Article 19 required two motions. One motion set the ADU size limit at 900 square feet (or half the main dwelling, whichever is smaller) with standard septic, parking and setback rules. The second motion addressed affordable ADUs, requiring special permits and deed restrictions to keep them in the state’s subsidized housing inventory. A floor motion to amend Article 19 to broaden the scope of affordable ADUs by adding language to include not only those receiving assistance from the Wayland Housing Authority but also from any federal or state-funded housing assistance programs passed.
Three warrant articles focused on 195 Main Street, the former site of the Department of Public Works (DPW) garage. Article 34 asked town members to allocate $250,000 for soil and groundwater remediation at the site. This cleanup proposal was strongly supported with 97% of votes in favor. Article 36 was a resolution for a proposed use of the 193 to 207 Main Street site. Despite the decision to “pass over” a grass field feasibility study (Article 35) which was deemed premature until the site environmental issues could be addressed, attendees approved a non-binding resolution that the Select Board explore the potential for a multi-purpose indoor sports facility for all ages at the same location. The motion passed with a 74% approval vote.
Two articles, a proposed development of 212 Cochituate Road (Article 30) and banning the use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide (Article 28) were amended.
The town seized the four-acre lot at 212 Cochituate Road for nonpayment of taxes in 2013. Attendees articulated the need for affordable housing and expressed concern that the wording in the article was too general. After an extended debate, an amendment was proposed to ensure that any market-rate housing developments were accompanied by affordable or shared living housing. The original article stated that the Select Board could decide its use, either affordable housing and/or private use. With 73% of voters in favor, the amendment passed.
The Conservation Commission proposed banning the use of second generation rodenticides (SGARs) on town owned property as wildlife feeding on the dead rodents become casualties as well. The Select Board wanted to pass over the article due to conflicts with current bylaw found after the warrant went to press. Attendees plowed ahead and proposed a legally acceptable resolution in its place which was approved by majority vote. The resolution states that it is the sense of the town meeting to ban the use of SGARs at properties in the care and control of the Town of Wayland.
