Details Announced for Medfield’s 40B Informational Meeting on Feb. 28

With many residents voicing concern over Chapter 40B and particularly the proposed 96-unit affordable housing apartment complex on West Street, Medfield town officials agreed at the Feb. 7 Board of Selectmen meeting to hold an informational public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 28.

Details of that meeting were recently announced on the town’s website, indicating it will be held in the Blake Middle School auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Town counsel Mark Cerel will join town officials to explain Chapter 40B, Medfield’s current affordable housing status, the 96 apartment units proposal on West Street and answer questions from residents.

The meeting is the result of public discussion that took place at Denise Garlick’s “State of the State” address on Feb. 1 and the Feb. 7 Board of Selectmen meeting.

“[On Feb. 1] Mike Sullivan and I attended a meeting with Denise Garlick, who was delivering a presentation on how legislation occurs and there was a tremendous amount of discussion that evening about the 40B process and the particular project proposed on West Street,” said Board of Selectmen chair Osler Peterson. “Mike and I agreed it made absolute sense to have an informational meeting for residents in town and we would try to set that up.”

Peterson said the meeting on Feb. 28 will provide a more appropriate forum for a “real, in-depth discussion on 40B and the West Street project” than a selectmen meeting. The middle school auditorium was recently booked as the venue for the hearing because town officials are anticipating a large audience.

“If my e-mail is any indication, we will need the auditorium,” said Assistant Town Administrator Kristine Trierweiler.

Town Website Publishes 40B Information Page

Medfield Board of Selectmen chair Osler Peterson reported on his blog, “Medfield 02052” the town of Medfield has published information on its website regarding 40B and the proposed 96-unit affordable housing apartment complex on West Street.

Peterson writes:

"The town website has a new set of pages related to G. L. c. 40B developments and the 40B proposal for the West Street site.

It is nicely done (thanks Kris Trierweiler) and contains links to DHCD, CHAPA, and elsewhere, as well as providing a document that lays out the history of the 40B projects on West Street (nicely prepared by the Zoning Board of Appeals’ Norma Cronin – thanks Norma!) tracing the initial 40B application for a 19 unit condo project back to 2003."