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.