Board OKs Waterfield parking gate move, 4-1

Planning Board · Meeting of October 20, 2026

Winchester's Planning Board approved disputed design changes to the 25 Waterfield Road apartment project and heard a revived pitch to acquire Forest Ridge by eminent domain. The board voted 4-1, with Brian Vernaglia dissenting, to let developer Civico Development relocate a parking access gate to capture 15 extra spaces plus three EV chargers; a related cornice-removal change passed 4-0. Conservation Commission Chair Tracy Olson said a new $2.85 million appraisal and up to $1.675 million in combined state and federal grants support taking the 13.7-acre Forest Ridge parcel for Fall Town Meeting's Article 20, with an estimated $135,000 annual debt service equal to 6.6 percent of fiscal 2027 CPA funds.

Member Keri Layton objected that the Waterfield gate "goes from an open space looking in there to a gated off appearance." The board also cleared a Rocky Ledge Terrace subdivision modification 4-0 and found 114 Church Street eligible for a simple-majority Town Meeting rezoning vote, 4-0, both with one member recused.

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Source: the Planning Board meeting of October 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.