Littleton Planning Board Closes MBTA Zoning Hearing, Sends Bylaw to Town Meeting

LITTLETON — October 26, 2023 — Littleton Planning Board advances MBTA Communities zoning bylaw to town meeting and approves two subdivisions. The board closed a continuing public hearing on Article 19, the MBTA Communities Zoning Bylaw creating the King Street Comet District and Wilton Station MBTA Multifamily District, after adopting two technical amendments — reducing the minimum lot area per dwelling unit in section 173-253G from 2,500 to 2,300 square feet and referencing a newly endorsed approval-not-required plan for the 10.75-acre parcel near the commuter rail station. A consultant from Ennis Associates confirmed the state requirement that 20 percent of the town's 750-unit zoning obligation be sited within half a mile of the station "isn't changing." A board member reported that Littleton has received approximately $16 million in state grants since 2018, has $9.5 million in pending funding, and risks losing eligibility for 16 grant programs without compliance. The board also approved a three-lot open space subdivision at 555 Newtown Road (Skyview Lane) on a four-to-one vote over objections that the draft decision had not been reviewed, and unanimously approved a definitive subdivision plan for the 550 King Street King Street Commons project by Lupoli Companies after incorporating Board of Health comments and a lender-approved covenant. An odor management hearing for Sanctuary Medicinals at 245-234 Taylor Street was continued to November 16 after the board was unable to secure an independent odor peer reviewer.