Important documents

Click on the link under each document to view a PDF copy:

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   Protect Wayland letter to MassDEP re wastewater discharge permit - 8.19.2020

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• Mr. Zieff applied to MassDEP for a wastewater discharge permit, apparantly trying to avoid issues with millions of gallons of sewage next to Pine Brook and YMCA Camp Chickami.  
  We sent a letter to MassDEP along with sets of evidence and testimony.
  Click here to see our letter..
   

   Protect Wayland letter re HAC mediation: safety of children is not negotiable

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• Mr. Zieff, the developer behind the Monster 40B apartment complex, showed the first sign
  of flexibility during the HAC mediation session -- apparently offering to reduce the size of his apartment complex by 25%, from 60 to roughly 45 units.  This is far from the significant reduction needed to ensure safety for hundreds ohildren at YMCA Camp Chickami, or the
  protection of Pine Brook  Protect Wayland sent a letter to the ZBA and Town officials.  Public
  safety is not negotiable.
  Click here to see our letter..

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   Zieff's appeal to HAC

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• Mr. Zieff, the developer behind the Monster 40B apartment complex, refused to reduce the size of his huge apartment complex -- and appealed to HAC on 1 February.
  Click here to see Zieff's appeal pleading.
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   Final decision from the Wayland ZBA

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• After 18 months of hearings, repeated delays by the developer, Mr. Zieff, and careful deliberations, the volunteer members of the Wayland ZBA delivered a solid decision.   
  Click here to read the ZBA's decision

 

   Wayland Building Commissioner: Flood zone study required

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• The Wayland Building Commissioner sent a letter to the ZBA emphasizing that the flood zone
  study is required on the Monster site by federal and state laws and regulations.   
  Click here to read GBTU's letter to the ZBA

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   Trout Unlimited: Flood zone study needed

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• Greater Boston Trout Unlimited sent a letter to the Wayland ZBA on 14 August, emphasizing the need for a flood zone study to protect public safety, health and the unique Pine Brook
  environment.   
  Click here to read GBTU's letter to the ZBA
   

   ProtectWayland: Water quality expert to the ZBA -- fix the hydrogeo study

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• Our well known water quality expert, Scott Horsley, sent a letter to the Wayland ZBA highlighting the need for major fixes to the hydrogeo report (finally) delivered by Mr. Zieff.   
  Click here to read his letter to the ZBA

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   ProtectWayland: Letter to the ZBA -- a flood zone study is required

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• We sent a letter to the ZBA on 8 August, emphasizing that a flood zone study is definitely
  needed for this property -- which is covered by a 'high risk' FEMA flood zone.  Zieff recently
  refused to provide this study, after promising to deliver one for months.   
  Click here to read our letter to the ZBA

   

   ProtectWayland: Initial review of Zieff's hydrogeo study 

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• Geoffrey Larsen, the Wayland Building Commissioner, sent a letter to the ZBA on 10 July
  stating that a flood zone study is required under federal law and Massachusetts regulations,
  and should have been delivered earlier by Zieff.   Click here to read our initial review
   

   Wayland Building Commissioner letter: flood zone study required 

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• Geoffrey Larsen, the Wayland Building Commissioner, sent a letter to the ZBA on 10 July
  stating that a flood zone study is required under federal law and Massachusetts regulations,
  and should have been delivered earlier by Zieff.   Click here to read his letter 
   

   Zieff finally delivers hydrogeo study 

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• After six months of promises, Zieff finally delivered his hydrogeo study.  Wayland's peer reviewer and ProtectWayland experts quickly found missing pieces and error-ridden data; see our initial review, above.   Click here to see Zieff's hydrogeo study 
   

   OARS sent new letter to Wayland ZBA: vote NO on the Monster 40B 

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• The director of OARS sent a new letter to the Wayland ZBA emphasizing the threats created
  by the Monster 40B -- and asking the ZBA to vote NO.   Click here to read the OARS letter 
   

   Trout Unlimited sent new letter opposing Monster 40B 

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• The president of Greater Boston Trout Unlimited sent a new letter to the Wayland Zoning Board of Appeals opposing Mr. Zieff's huge 40B plan.   Click here to read the TU letter 
   

   YMCA sent powerful letter to the Wayland ZBA and Town departments

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• The President of the Metrowest Suburban YMCA, Jack Fucci, quickly sent a powerful letter to the Wayland ZBA and Town departments, emphasizing threats to YMCA Camp Chickami and
  decrying the practices of Mr. Zieff.   Click here to read the YMCA letter 

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   Zieff blows another deadline, refuses to answer questions or deliver flood zone study 

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• Mr. Zieff agreed to deliver three important documents to the Wayland ZBA by 14 June to prepare for the hearing on 28 June.  Nope!  He sent an email after the Wayland Building Department closed on the 14th, refusing to deliver the flood zone study or answer questions from Town departments   Click here to read Zieff's email and the attached documents. 

   

   Wayland Board of Health votes against the Monster: 5-0 

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• ""...Eden Management as of this date has failed to provide data and access that permits the Board of Health to grant the developer's waiver requests"  Click here to read a copy of the Board's memo to the ZBA on 11 April. 

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   Zieff is not prepared and cancels ZBA hearings -- twice 

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• After a series of delays and broken promises, Zieff asked the ZBA to cancel the 40B hearing in March, then said he will not be ready for the hearing in April.  Zieff also promised to send the ZBA an "outline" of the missing documents he will deliver and when.  This outline was supposed to arrive last week.  (2 through 6 April.)  Surprise!  No outline.  Here is a copy of Zieff's letter of 23 March to the ZBA with his latest promise. 

   

   ProtectWayland experts and attorney present - ZBA hearing, 27 February, 2018

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• ProtectWayland's water quality expert, environmental expert and attorney made powerful
  presentations, along with Tom Largy, past President of Greater Boston Trout Unlimited. 
  New evidence on significant health threats to children at Camp Chickami was included.
  Click on these three links for:  (1) our presentation, (2) the letter from Scott Horsley, water quality expert and (3) the letter from Luke Legere, ProtectWayland's attorney.

 

   ProtectWayland opposes Monster V2 plan - ZBA hearing, 25 January, 2018

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• Mark Hays presented the basic problems and risks in Monster Version 2
  This initial review covers basic problems with the new version of Zieff's 40B Monster, which
  mirror the problems in his original design -- including the tallest and most massive building
  in Wayland, major traffic congestion and safety risks, pollution of Pine Brook, increased flood risks and threats to hundreds of children at Camp Chickami.

   

   Zieff unveils Monster Version 2 plan - ZBA hearing, 20 December, 2017

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• Zieff's team previewed their new "Version 2" plan for the Monster apartment complex
  We hoped that Zieff listened to Wayland's concerns, appreciated the threats to children at Camp Chickami, read the Wetlands and Rivers Protection Acts, and would reduce the size
  of his project.  Unfortunately, no.  Zieff's Version 2 still has 60 units.  Instead of the longest and most massive building in Wayland, Version 2 would be the tallest and most massive. Some problems are even worse than before, e.g. traffic impact.

   

   Temple Shir Tikva letter highlights concerns - 20 December, 2017

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• Leadership at Temple Shir Tikva delivered a powerful letter to the ZBA
  The value of Pine Brook and flooding threats to children at Camp Chickami are highlighted
  in this powerful letter from Rabbi Danny Burkeman and Executive Director Susan Altman.

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   ProtectWayland presentations to Wayland ZBA - 29 November, 2017

 

We finally had an opportunity to present major arguments and evidence against the Monster,
with ProtectWayland's environmental scientist, civil engineer and attorney.  These documents and reports were created by the environmental scientists, civil engineering firm and legal firm retained by ProtectWayland.  The 40B law forces town citizens to pay for their own experts and evidence -- to counter experts hired by the developer.  ProtectWayland members made significant donations to cover this cost:

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Environmental report, Ecosystem Solutions Inc.

Environmental review of Pine Brook, EBT Environmental Consultants Inc.

Civil engineering review of the Cascade plan, Comprehensive Environmental​ Inc.

Legal review of the Cascade plan, McGregor & Legere PC
 

   New: Wayland Town Planner highlights problems - 29 November, 2017

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• Sarki Sarkisian presentation on design problems with Monster apartment complex
  Wayland's Town Planner, Sarki Sarkisian, gave an excellent presentation at the ZBA hearing
  on Wednesday, 19 November -- highlighting a number of major problems with the design
  of the Monster apartment building.
   

   Zieff's traffic study - major errors and omissions - 7 November, 2017

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• ProtectWayland report on Zieff's traffic study
  If you commute toward Boston every morning on Route 20, guess how fast Zieff's traffic
  study claims you are going?  Stop-and-go?  5 mph?  Nope.  They claim the average speed
  is 27 to 28 mph, and 45% are driving 30+ mph !!  We knew there were problems with their
  data when we read this, and found the reason: they were using the wrong equipment.

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   Wayland Conservation Commission opposes the Monster - 6 November, 2017

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• ConCom letter to the Wayland ZBA
  The Wayland Conservation Commission sent a strong letter to the Zoning Board of Appeals
  highlighting how Zieff's plan would violate the Wetlands and Rivers Protection Acts, which
  supersede the 40B law.

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   Powerful OARS letter highlights risks to Pine Brook - 27 October, 2017

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• OARS letter to the Wayland ZBA
  The Executive Director of OARS -- the organization that protects the Sudbury, Assabet and
  Concord Rivers -- sent a powerful letter to the Wayland ZBA highlighting the importance of
  Pine Brook and laws that should protect it from aggressive developments like the Monster.

   

   YMCA highlights risks to hundreds of kids at Camp Chickami - 25 September, 2017

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• West Suburban YMCA letter to the Wayland ZBA
  The YMCA hired their own engineer to review the developer's plans, and sent a letter to the
  Wayland ZBA highlighting the risks to hundreds of children at Camp Chickami.  Jack Fucci,
  President of the YMCA, also spoke at the September ZBA hearing.
   

   The original 40B Comprehensive Permit application - 25 July, 2017

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• Comprehensive Permit application
  This is the full application that a developer files with the Wayland Zoning Board of appeals
  to launch the formal review of a project.  The first public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday,
  22 August at 7:30pm in the large hearing room at the Wayland Town Building.  Zieff renamed
  his project from "Brookside" to "Cascade".
   

• Development plan and maps
  These plans show how the Monster will be designed and located on the site, including the underground garage and septic system.  This version was reduced to the size of an 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper.  The Wayland ZBA website has the original large format version.
   

• The biggest building in Wayland
  Zieff's new plan would be the biggest building in Wayland -- more massive than Wayland
  High School or the Stop 'n Shop in Town Center.  In fact, it would be the largest building along Route 20 for 35 miles -- from Worcester to Watertown.  Does this concrete monster belong in Wayland?
   

• Environmental problems with Zieff's plan
  Construction of this huge apartment complex would come within 2 feet of Pine Brook -- one of three remaining clean, cold water streams that are essential for Eastern Brook Trout and other species. This ProtectWayland.org document highlights key problems. 
   

1. June - 2016:  Zieff's original site approval application for the 'Brookside' apartment complex
   This is the first step in the 40B process: a 'Site Approval Application' submitted to MassHousing, outlining the project the developer wants to build.  Zieff's plan was approved by MassHousing.
   In public meetings during 2017, Zieff emphasized this original plan, the size and number of units, etc -- so he did not change his mind.  
    

2. June - 2016:  Pine Brook Neighborhood Association letter to MassHousing  A good letter to MassHousing listing their concerns with Zieff's proposal.  
    

3. July - 2016:  Wayland Board of Supervisor's letter to MassHousing 
   The Wayland BoS sent a letter to MassHousing listing their concerns. Note the comments about the septic system and conditions at the site.  
    

4. September - 2016:  Wayland Historical Commission letter This interesting letter highlights the historical significance of the site.  Did you know that one of the oldest native artifacts in Wayland was found along Pine Brook by a homeowner, when he dug a hole to plant a tree?  
   Important note: DO NOT pick up your shovel and dig around Pine Brook!  There is a registered archaeological site in the area and amateur 'treasure hunting' will destroy valuable information about the people who lived in Wayland hundreds and thousands of years ago. 
    

5. September - 2016:  Wayland Housing Partnership letter  Our Housing Partnership's letter emphasizes the need for more affordable units the meet the needs of our community.
     

6. February - 2017:  Wayland Housing Partnership meeting minutes  Steven Zieff presented the
   'Brookside' plan at this meeting.  A number of us attended, and Zieff was assertive, to say the least.  The Housing Partnership added these notes at the end of the minutes:  "Post meeting note: Upon hearing of Mr. Zieff’s behavior at the meeting, the Wayland Police Chief suggested that any such future behavior on the part of Mr. Zieff would warrant a call to the police and his removal from a public meeting."
    

7. June - 2017:  Final plan with setbacks for Pine Brook and wetlands  A series of meetings were held with the Wayland Conservation Commission to determine the boundaries of Pine Brook and adjacent wetlands.  This was critical, to finalize the set-backs required under the Massachusetts Rivers and Wetlands Protection Acts.  A site visit with the Conservation Commission expanded the boundaries in Zieff's original plan, which will limit the area he can build on.  Maps are included.
    

8. June - 2017:  ProtectWayland letter to the Sudbury Valley Trustees   This is an example of one of our letters to local organizations, sent to the SVT.  The impact on Pine Brook, the Sudbury River and Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge will impact everyone in Wayland and everyone who values our environment across Massachusetts.