SELECT BOARD –
(2 seats available - 3 year term)
The Select Board serves as the chief executive board of the Town, and as such, oversees all matters affecting the interest and welfare of the community. The Board exercises the authority vested in the Town not specifically assigned by law to any other board or office.
Colette Aufranc
Q1. As you may know, Wellesley has a greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction goal, a Climate Action Plan, and the Select Board’s Resolution to Address the Impact of Climate Change. The Select Board’s resolution calls on all Town departments to incorporate GHG reductions into their regular planning and budgeting. What would you do as a Select Board Member to accelerate this?
A1. I would institutionalize and elevate the actual work I have been doing these past three years on the Select Board. On joining the select board I co-led the development of the Sustainable Mobility Plan and I was one of only two Select Board members who worked on the development of the Climate Action Plan. I have been advocating for two and a half years for a full time staff position to look at transportation holistically and continue the work I have invested heavily in - this is what I mean by institutionalizing the actual work I have done.
Let me set out some specifics:
Transportation contributes to just under a third of our greenhouse gas emissions. There are two broad paths to reduce that - drive less and drive greener. Rather than driving a single occupancy vehicle, take public transport, walk, bike or rideshare. Rather than drive a gas powered car drive an electric or hybrid vehicle. Here is how I have helped and this is what I would continue to build on:
Let's start with the MBTA:
● I am Wellesley's representative on the MBTA Advisory Board. I sit on the Executive Board, am vice chair of the Commuter Rail Sub Committee, and a member of the Climate and Clean Energy Sub Committee.
Now, on to the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority, or MWRTA:
A2. I think it is paramount to recognize that all these important issues need to be advanced together - and I would add economic development to the conversation.
When I think of reducing GHG emissions I am mostly focused on improving transportation options as it continues approximately ⅓ of our emissions in Wellesley. The environment, housing, transportation and economic development go hand in hand. You cannot advance them independently - it's like four legs of a chair:
● If you build housing you need to be able to get to the housing - transportation. Housing without transportation is isolated, inaccessible and adds the burden of owning a car - otherwise you are effectively stranded. Housing and transit
● If you build housing you need services, recreational spaces and amenities close by or easily accessible, ideally by transit - open space, trails, playgrounds. Housing, economic development, open space and transit
● Sustaining a vibrant downtown needs several elements
○ an array of businesses, attractions and spaces where people want to go ○ a reasonable stock of housing in close proximity which allows people to go there in sustainable numbers,
○ ideally people close by that will walk or commute by transit
○ hours of operation that lead to vibrancy - don't shut down at 6pm!
○ Economic development, transit, open space, housing
To balance all these priorities we need collaboration in developing and implementing our strategic plans. That can be challenging given the decentralized nature of our government. I feel it is important when we develop future strategic plans we don't do them in isolation, that these plans should work together and conversations during plan development are critical.
Marjorie Freiman
Q1. As you may know, Wellesley has a greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction goal, a Climate Action Plan, and the Select Board’s Resolution to Address the Impact of Climate Change. The Select Board’s resolution calls on all Town departments to incorporate GHG reductions into their regular planning and budgeting. What would you do as a Select Board Member to accelerate this?
A1: I am deeply familiar with the climate resolution as I was chair of the Select Board in 2020 when the Board proposed the resolution to Town Meeting, and I helped draft the final language. Our thinking was that this resolution would provide guidance to Town boards, committees, and departments about the need to prioritize our Town’s climate goals in all our actions. I believe the resolution has helped generate both greater awareness and bolder initiatives. One clear example is in the all-electric renovation of our historic Town Hall building – a project I worked on for five years while I was on the Select Board, and the system for which I advocated. Furthermore, while Town government is only responsible for a small portion of overall greenhouse gas emissions, it is critical that we lead by example and support residents, businesses, and builders in making necessary changes to achieve zero emissions by 2050.
I have also supported numerous other sustainability initiatives over the past 13 years:
As a Select Board member, I will continue to support our Sustainability Director and Climate Action Committee in the implementation of the 2022 Climate Action Plan. That plan, along with our Sustainable Mobility Plan, Hazard Mitigation Plan, and upcoming Land Preservation and Strategic Housing Plans, offer a lot of exciting opportunities to increase walkability, cut pollution, reduce traffic, build greater resilience, and create climate-friendly housing options in Wellesley.
I am committed to promoting:
I will advocate for furthering climate objectives through public statements, cooperating with other boards and departments, budgeting support, publicity, grant opportunities, and education.
Q2. How would you balance and prioritize the following important issues: reducing GHG emissions, managing housing development, preserving open space and mobility issues?
A2. These objectives must be considered together when evaluating any proposal, whomever the proponent might be. I will take a multi-disciplinary approach to greenhouse gas emissions reduction, housing, preservation of open space, and mobility. In my previous six years on the Select Board and as a three-year member of Advisory, I always looked for holistic solutions rather than seeing our goals as competing with each other. For example, I led the 2019 Unified Plan project which - for the first time - brought together members of our boards and committees, residents, and business owners to envision Wellesley’s future together. Moreover, the same day the Select Board approved the resolution on climate change in 2020, I led the Board in a discussion with Sustainability Director Dr. Martello, after which the Board voted to approve the Municipal Sustainable Building Guidelines.
Over the past three years, I’ve helped lead the Wellesley Civil Discourse Initiative, bringing community members together to talk about highly charged issues including race, education, and values. I will provide that same kind of leadership, cooperation, and collegiality in the years ahead as we face new challenges. We will need to come together to find balance and make progress.
Wellesley has a low percentage of land area considered open space, much of which is under private ownership and not protected. At the same time, a 2023 Housing Market Study for the Wellesley Housing Development Corporation, on which I sit, showed a large imbalance between existing supply of housing types and the actual demand. Housing for people and families in the workforce, below the Town’s current median price of over $2M; downsizing options for those who wish to sell a family home; less expensive homes for younger adults and families; and additional housing within Commonwealth income guidelines are the current top priorities.
Redeveloping existing buildings and impervious land areas, especially those near to public transit, would help satisfy our goals in the key areas of climate, open space, housing, and mobility. Low-density housing close to retail, commercial and medical services would promote economic health as well.
We can map out a bright future for Wellesley by engaging members of the community in discussion and decision-making, and I look forward to helping lead that process again on the Select Board.
Ann Mara Lanza
Q1. As you may know, Wellesley has a greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction goal, a Climate Action Plan, and the Select Board’s Resolution to Address the Impact of Climate Change. The Select Board’s resolution calls on all Town departments to incorporate GHG reductions into their regular planning and budgeting. What would you do as a Select Board Member to accelerate this?
A1. As a mother and social justice leader, I am a fierce advocate for preserving our planet for future generations. I have understood the importance of protecting our environment as far back as I can remember. As a child in Lincoln, MA, I sorted recyclables for our family. We took weekly hikes in the White Mountains and I attended overnight nature camp where I learned to respect everything in the natural world around me. I have a profound love and respect for our forest and our trees, and for their preservation.
This foundation has impacted the choices I’ve made in my 30 years in Wellesley. I chaired the Environmental Program when my son was at Schofield and helped restart the Reusables area at the RDF. I led the creation of an educational children’s garden at the Fells Branch Library, filled with native plants – an important link in our butterfly corridor. I was an early adopter of the MLPs renewable energy program, practice organic lawn care, and am the proud owner of one electric car and one new plug-in hybrid. As a member of the Select Board and Town Meeting, I have spoken in favor of, and voted for, every environmental initiative, from the plastic bag ban to the Opt-In Specialized building code. I am committed to working with our community to meet our greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction goals.
In 2020, as a Town Meeting Member, I supported the adoption of the Resolution to Address the Impact of Climate Change. It is critical that we use the lens of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for all our town projects. Our Facilities Management Department, under the direction of the Select Board, uses this lens today. The adoption, last year, of the Opt-In Specialized building code, takes us even closer to our goals of net-zero by 2050. Our Building Inspector, also under the direction of the Select Board, will ensure that new buildings follow this code.
In Wellesley, we have experienced staff helping us to make progress towards our GHG reduction goals through municipal actions, including sustainable building practices and transitioning to electric vehicles. Shifting the building practices and transportation habits of the private sector is a harder problem to solve. This is an area where we have a huge opportunity to accelerate our progress towards our climate goals. The adoption of smart housing policies would augment the work we are already doing.
Today, we have no staff or committee in town focused addressing the town’s housing needs. One of my goals for my second term on the Select Board is to expand our climate action beyond our town departments, by evaluating and establishing an interdepartmental, collaborative staff role focused on creating sustainable, affordable housing for our residents: a Community Housing Specialist.
This position would ask the questions: “What housing is best for Wellesley?” “Where should that housing be located?” and “How do we make it happen in a way that meets the goals of the community?” I envision that this role will be a link between the Planning Department, the Select Board Office, and our Sustainability Director. The way we choose to build housing has environmental consequences. Single family homes, as compared to multifamily homes, are a highly inefficient way to house people because they use more resources, impact a greater area of the town, and require cars to drive further distances. Denser housing, closer to public transportation or walkable to town services, will help to preserve our remaining open space and reduce our GHG emissions. I anticipate that the Community Housing Specialist will work collaboratively with other town staff to proactively find solutions for our housing crisis that that help us to reach our GHG goals.
It is only through working together that we will ensure a future for our children.
Q2. How would you balance and prioritize the following important issues: reducing GHG emissions, managing housing development, preserving open space and mobility issues?
A2. We are living in challenging times. We are all familiar with the climate crisis, and we’ve lived through a global pandemic. Now, we read every day about our region’s housing crisis, with our growing population of homeless families. In some ways, Wellesley feels like an oasis, but we are not immune, and we cannot hide. To meet these challenges, we need to work together. They are all interrelated. Where we live and the effectiveness of our public transportation, impacts our health outcomes and our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We need to listen to each other and find solutions that balance our many priorities. We have smart people in Wellesley who have focused on reducing GHG emissions through municipal strategies. We have others who are working hard to preserve our open space and address mobility issues. What I bring to this discussion is a passion for addressing our community’s housing needs in a way that respects the importance our other critical priorities.
We have a real set of housing challenges in Wellesley. With skyrocketing housing prices and the loss of our small homes, we have very few local options for down-sizing seniors, young families, and the town’s workforce. This has resulted in seniors moving away, the closing of a neighborhood school, and a workforce with increasingly long commutes. We love our single-family homes, but they aren’t the most efficient way to live. Denser housing, close to public transportation, shops, schools, and other public services is the best way to reduce our GHG emissions and preserve our remaining open space. In a suburban town, like Wellesley, it is difficult to live a “car-free” lifestyle. We need to help our residents work towards a “car-lite” lifestyle, instead, relying on a combination of walkability, public transportation, and an EV automobile when necessary.
We have the opportunity in Wellesley to create “15 Minute Neighborhoods,” where residents can live a “car-lite” lifestyle because they have easy access to schools, stores, town services, and work. While the MWRTA services are a great start, they are not quite at the point where they can be relied on for everyday needs. Therefore, our best option is to encourage housing development close to our town retail centers and near our commuter rail stations. Wellesley Square and Wellesley Hills are ideal locations for developing “15-Minute Neighborhoods.” The MBTA Communities Act is all about providing this option for residents, by zoning for by-right multifamily housing by our commuter rail stations. We need to comply with this legislation by approving the new zoning at this Annual Town Meeting. Then, we need to educate housing developers to create the type of housing that best serves our residents, and our planet.
In 2020, I led a housing study for the League of Women Voters of Wellesley, using the lenses of sustainability and diversity, equity, and inclusion. We conducted first- and second-hand research, which resulted in a new LWVW position being adopted in 2021, enabling our local league to join the fight for more sustainable, affordable housing. The study concluded that we need “Affordable housing that is sustainable in planning, construction and ongoing maintenance with the goal of reducing fossil fuel use and improving the health of both the environment and residents…”
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are a good example of a simple, sustainable way to create housing. My first accomplishment as a member of the Select Board was the passage of an Accessory Dwelling Unit bylaw with the support of 90% of Town Meeting, something I was told could not be done. This bylaw provides a tool for making Wellesley a more affordable place to call home, with minimal impact on our open space, because ADUs are built on property that is already developed. These small housing units also utilize less resources than larger homes.
The tension between open space and housing is a challenging conversation in which I’m not afraid to take part. We need to preserve open space AND we also need to create sustainable, low GHG emitting housing. What are the tradeoffs that are worth considering? If we can create housing that enables a family to use one car, instead of two, reducing traffic and emissions, can ten mature trees be replaced with young trees? What if we are also replacing invasives with native species? I don’t have the answer, but one of my strengths is that I will engage in deep discussions with people with different perspectives: I bring people together to solve problems. I’m excited to continue this important discussion with partners in the Natural Resources Commission, Wellesley Conservation Land Trust, Sustainable Wellesley, and other concerned town residents. I ask for your vote.
Odessa Sanchez
Q1. As you may know, Wellesley has a greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction goal, a Climate Action Plan, and the Select Board’s Resolution to Address the Impact of Climate Change. The Select Board’s resolution calls on all Town departments to incorporate GHG reductions into their regular planning and budgeting. What would you do as a Select Board Member to accelerate this?
A1. If I were to be elected to the Select Board, there are a few ways that I would help to accelerate the resolution's goal to encourage all Town departments to incorporate GHG reductions into their regular planning and budgeting.
First we can recognize that the Select Board has a list of set FY24 priorities and a department work plan, that are overall board priorities that are evaluated every six months ( according to their website). As a Chair of the WHA Board, I led my board in keeping " Sustainability" on our agenda each month, regardless of there are new things to add, in effort to encourage the topic to remain a housing board priority and to spread awareness.
Another way to accelerate the resolution's goals, would be to dig deeper into the SB Transportation priority. It's good that the SB is currently evaluating the addition of a transportation staff position, but I believe the town should also reevaluate it's transportation blueprint. Find out from the residents, and transportation stakeholders, the different ways we get around town and find efficient methods of reducing the trips and traffic we see here.
Next, the Select Board is included in Economic Development, so I would support using public feedback and input from the business community in creating a Sustainability analysis of the business community. Find out how we can support each business to reach their own greenhouse gas reduction goal.
Additionally, realizing how important Housing is to the GHG emissions reduction plan, as SB member, I would use my board experience to work with the Housing Task Force to contemplate a new Housing plan to not only look at potential sustainable projects, but also determine how proposals can be executed without causing hardships and with environmental justice consideration.
Finally, The town of Wellesley announced a climate action plan that relies heavily on seeking individual actions by residents to help the town meet an ambitious goal of net- zero emissions by 2050. The appointments of individuals seeking positions and or policy decisions made, should be carefully selected to match any potential environmental goals, as long as the determination doesn't sacrifice the quality of life for any residents.
Q2. How would you balance and prioritize the following important issues: reducing GHG emissions, managing housing development, preserving open space and mobility issues?
A2. First I would acknowledge that some in town feel very differently about how those four issues should be prioritized. As a Select Board member, I would start by reviewing the Select Board departmental work plan and set town goals. The top priorities of the Select Board Departmental Work Plan are Operations, finance, and economic development. I believe preservation of open spaces needs to be number one, as it helps the environment and our town image. Mobility concerns should come next, as we must make all of the residents aware of the recent changes and improvements. Managing housing development is next , and then reducing GHG emissions, which in actuality is connected to all the other environmental efforts, so all initiative's should benefit regardless of the priority placement.
(2 seats available - 3 year term)
The Select Board serves as the chief executive board of the Town, and as such, oversees all matters affecting the interest and welfare of the community. The Board exercises the authority vested in the Town not specifically assigned by law to any other board or office.
Colette Aufranc
Q1. As you may know, Wellesley has a greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction goal, a Climate Action Plan, and the Select Board’s Resolution to Address the Impact of Climate Change. The Select Board’s resolution calls on all Town departments to incorporate GHG reductions into their regular planning and budgeting. What would you do as a Select Board Member to accelerate this?
A1. I would institutionalize and elevate the actual work I have been doing these past three years on the Select Board. On joining the select board I co-led the development of the Sustainable Mobility Plan and I was one of only two Select Board members who worked on the development of the Climate Action Plan. I have been advocating for two and a half years for a full time staff position to look at transportation holistically and continue the work I have invested heavily in - this is what I mean by institutionalizing the actual work I have done.
Let me set out some specifics:
Transportation contributes to just under a third of our greenhouse gas emissions. There are two broad paths to reduce that - drive less and drive greener. Rather than driving a single occupancy vehicle, take public transport, walk, bike or rideshare. Rather than drive a gas powered car drive an electric or hybrid vehicle. Here is how I have helped and this is what I would continue to build on:
Let's start with the MBTA:
● I am Wellesley's representative on the MBTA Advisory Board. I sit on the Executive Board, am vice chair of the Commuter Rail Sub Committee, and a member of the Climate and Clean Energy Sub Committee.
- On the commuter rail the T has really made an incredible transition to “clock face scheduling” where trains come at dependable intervals every hour, no big midday gaps, service runs later in the evening, and there is all day service at the weekends. Wellesley has been advocating for this change in schedule for years. My job is to keep engaged in current developments and advocating for infrastructure changes that would allow for more frequent service - the “triple track”
- The triple track is a capital project the T has been planning for some time. It would add a track between Framingham and Newton which would allow for more frequent service and faster service. This project is currently funded at 30% through design. I have been working with Rep Alice Peisch and my counterparts in Natick to ensure the Capital Delivery team at the MBTA engaged in discussions with the community about design and planning. Should this project advance to full funding all wellesley stations would be upgraded to be fully ADA accessible. The timeline, which is funding dependent, is expected to be 8-10 years. I will work with the T and counterparts in Natick to stay involved and updated as this project develops.
- ADA access at our train stations can’t wait 10 years. I have been working with our local and federal legislative delegations to raise this priority, work through the regulatory complexities and seek funding to provide interim ADA access while we wait for a triple track project. Not only would this allow our residents with disabilities fuller access to public transit, it would reduce the need for drivers to take our residents to and from work and social activities. I have strong connections with the MBTA staff working to investigate interim solutions and I would like to continue this important work.
- The commuter rail is expensive - The MBTA has proposed a new Low Income Fare Program. The MBTA Advisory Board has a statutory requirement to review and report on proposed MBTA fare changes.The Advisory Board is creating an ad hoc Fare Changes Review Committee. I advocated to have committee members represent different riders from all modes, all income, age and mobility levels as we get underway with this work. I would like to continue to support the work of the Advisory Board as it executes its statutory rights.
- The Commuter Rail Sub Committee meets quarterly with leadership and the T and Keolis,the operator of the system, to get updates on rail electrification and how our municipalities can support and be prepared for this transition. I have built relationships with senior leadership at the T and Keolis and would like to transition those relationships to a transportation and mobility manager should that position be approved. That will take a year to transition.
- The Climate and Clean Energy Sub Committee recently worked with the Conservation Law Foundation to produce a report on Bus Electrification and how the T procurement process fits into that timeline. The committee reviewed the report, gave feedback, and through the advisory board adopted the report and presented it to the T with further recommendations. I would like to continue engaging with the T to understand their transition plans and support the work they are doing.
Now, on to the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority, or MWRTA:
- After joining the MWRTAs Advisory Board the RTA announced it was closing the route 8 Wellesley circular bus and replacing it with the “Catch Connect” micro transit alternative. The Catch Connect is just like uber or lyft but run by the MWRTA - it will pick up and drop off anywhere in Wellesley and select destinations like Woodland T station, Newton Wellesley Hospital, Natick Community center (where you can connect to bus routes) and Needham Heights MBTA - which is ADA accessible.
- The Catch Connect is a shared ride service and fits our goal of reducing single occupancy vehicles. Two of the Catch Connect service vehicles are electric. That means lower GHG emissions
- Ridership has grown from 0 to over 4,200 rides a month. To build that ridership I have met with leadership at Babson College, Wellesley College, Mass Bay College, spoken at several PTO meetings, the Council on Aging, Wellesley Housing Authority, multiple public meetings focused on transit and several internal Wellelsey meetings with social workers and department heads. I always carry with me business cards with QR codes on the service and hand them out to businesses and residents - I have handed out hundreds of these cards.
- The MWRTA applied for and was awarded a significant grant to plan for transition to Electric vehicles. I worked to provide a letter of support for this application. MWRTA was the only RTA who were successful in this application and received $1 million for planning (for more see this article).
- I worked closely with the MWRTA administrator and our Legislative delegation to increase state funding to fair levels in comparison with other regional transit agencies. This was a huge win for MWRTA and its state funding increased from approx $3.5m a year to $9m. That means evening and weekend service for Wellelsey and expansion of service over time. That means more ridesharing and lower GHG emissions
- I have spent more than three years building relationships at MWRTA. I feel its critical to transition this work to a staff member and I have advocated for a transportation and mobility manager to do just that. Transition will take a year assuming the position is approved in the budget put forth to town Meeting. ● Walking and biking as opposed to driving - lowers GHG
- I have worked with Catherine Mirick of the School Committee to reinvigorate our engagement in Mass DOT’s Safe Routes to Schools program. All our schools are now enrolled in the program. Wellesley successfully received grant funding of approximately $80,000 for new covered bike racks at Wellesley Middle School. I have worked with dedicated residents, Safe Routes to schools, and the Wellesley Police department to run bike education training for middle school aged children.
- I have worked with our trails committee and regional trails bodies to work on closing identified gaps in the trails system and make connections to other communities. This is where regional connections really matter. I am Wellesley's representative on the Metro Area Planning Council where I work with my counterparts in 10 neighboring communities in our regional collaborative. Our regional collaborative has quarterly meetings focused on trails connections and funds a staff resource to assist in this work.
- We have a grant for $50,000 to develop a safe routes to school master plan - this will be a “less stress” walking and biking map of town. Again - I have been advocating for a staff position that can do this work and support the bike initiatives all across town.
A2. I think it is paramount to recognize that all these important issues need to be advanced together - and I would add economic development to the conversation.
When I think of reducing GHG emissions I am mostly focused on improving transportation options as it continues approximately ⅓ of our emissions in Wellesley. The environment, housing, transportation and economic development go hand in hand. You cannot advance them independently - it's like four legs of a chair:
● If you build housing you need to be able to get to the housing - transportation. Housing without transportation is isolated, inaccessible and adds the burden of owning a car - otherwise you are effectively stranded. Housing and transit
● If you build housing you need services, recreational spaces and amenities close by or easily accessible, ideally by transit - open space, trails, playgrounds. Housing, economic development, open space and transit
● Sustaining a vibrant downtown needs several elements
○ an array of businesses, attractions and spaces where people want to go ○ a reasonable stock of housing in close proximity which allows people to go there in sustainable numbers,
○ ideally people close by that will walk or commute by transit
○ hours of operation that lead to vibrancy - don't shut down at 6pm!
○ Economic development, transit, open space, housing
To balance all these priorities we need collaboration in developing and implementing our strategic plans. That can be challenging given the decentralized nature of our government. I feel it is important when we develop future strategic plans we don't do them in isolation, that these plans should work together and conversations during plan development are critical.
Marjorie Freiman
Q1. As you may know, Wellesley has a greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction goal, a Climate Action Plan, and the Select Board’s Resolution to Address the Impact of Climate Change. The Select Board’s resolution calls on all Town departments to incorporate GHG reductions into their regular planning and budgeting. What would you do as a Select Board Member to accelerate this?
A1: I am deeply familiar with the climate resolution as I was chair of the Select Board in 2020 when the Board proposed the resolution to Town Meeting, and I helped draft the final language. Our thinking was that this resolution would provide guidance to Town boards, committees, and departments about the need to prioritize our Town’s climate goals in all our actions. I believe the resolution has helped generate both greater awareness and bolder initiatives. One clear example is in the all-electric renovation of our historic Town Hall building – a project I worked on for five years while I was on the Select Board, and the system for which I advocated. Furthermore, while Town government is only responsible for a small portion of overall greenhouse gas emissions, it is critical that we lead by example and support residents, businesses, and builders in making necessary changes to achieve zero emissions by 2050.
I have also supported numerous other sustainability initiatives over the past 13 years:
- I chaired the Advisory Committee which voted unanimously to support the Sustainable Energy Plan;
- I served on the committee for renovation of the Fuller Brook Park, which included invasive plant removal, stormwater improvements, preservation and restoration of existing trees, and enhancements to native plants and vegetation cover;
- I co-chaired the Steering Committee for the Unified Plan which included strategies and actions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing the use of renewable energy, promoting waste reduction and eliminating toxic products; and building resilience to extreme weather events and climate change;
- As a member of the School Building Committee, I strongly supported net-zero ready construction of Hunnewell and Hardy while on the School Building Committee;
- Last year at Town Meeting, I voted to adopt the Municipal Opt-In Specialized Energy Code.
- support the Municipal Sustainable Building Guidelines; and
- support the voluntary renewable energy program.
As a Select Board member, I will continue to support our Sustainability Director and Climate Action Committee in the implementation of the 2022 Climate Action Plan. That plan, along with our Sustainable Mobility Plan, Hazard Mitigation Plan, and upcoming Land Preservation and Strategic Housing Plans, offer a lot of exciting opportunities to increase walkability, cut pollution, reduce traffic, build greater resilience, and create climate-friendly housing options in Wellesley.
I am committed to promoting:
- Electrification and non-fossil-fuel construction in any appropriate municipal project and any development created through a public/private partnership;
- Expansion of the Town’s smart growth projects to create greater walkability, in conjunction with protection and preservation of natural resources and open space;
- Adaptive reuse through redevelopment of existing buildings to create more housing options;
- Installation of EV charging stations as I did with the renovation of Town Hall; and
- Expansion of sustainability planning in municipal events.
I will advocate for furthering climate objectives through public statements, cooperating with other boards and departments, budgeting support, publicity, grant opportunities, and education.
Q2. How would you balance and prioritize the following important issues: reducing GHG emissions, managing housing development, preserving open space and mobility issues?
A2. These objectives must be considered together when evaluating any proposal, whomever the proponent might be. I will take a multi-disciplinary approach to greenhouse gas emissions reduction, housing, preservation of open space, and mobility. In my previous six years on the Select Board and as a three-year member of Advisory, I always looked for holistic solutions rather than seeing our goals as competing with each other. For example, I led the 2019 Unified Plan project which - for the first time - brought together members of our boards and committees, residents, and business owners to envision Wellesley’s future together. Moreover, the same day the Select Board approved the resolution on climate change in 2020, I led the Board in a discussion with Sustainability Director Dr. Martello, after which the Board voted to approve the Municipal Sustainable Building Guidelines.
Over the past three years, I’ve helped lead the Wellesley Civil Discourse Initiative, bringing community members together to talk about highly charged issues including race, education, and values. I will provide that same kind of leadership, cooperation, and collegiality in the years ahead as we face new challenges. We will need to come together to find balance and make progress.
Wellesley has a low percentage of land area considered open space, much of which is under private ownership and not protected. At the same time, a 2023 Housing Market Study for the Wellesley Housing Development Corporation, on which I sit, showed a large imbalance between existing supply of housing types and the actual demand. Housing for people and families in the workforce, below the Town’s current median price of over $2M; downsizing options for those who wish to sell a family home; less expensive homes for younger adults and families; and additional housing within Commonwealth income guidelines are the current top priorities.
Redeveloping existing buildings and impervious land areas, especially those near to public transit, would help satisfy our goals in the key areas of climate, open space, housing, and mobility. Low-density housing close to retail, commercial and medical services would promote economic health as well.
We can map out a bright future for Wellesley by engaging members of the community in discussion and decision-making, and I look forward to helping lead that process again on the Select Board.
Ann Mara Lanza
Q1. As you may know, Wellesley has a greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction goal, a Climate Action Plan, and the Select Board’s Resolution to Address the Impact of Climate Change. The Select Board’s resolution calls on all Town departments to incorporate GHG reductions into their regular planning and budgeting. What would you do as a Select Board Member to accelerate this?
A1. As a mother and social justice leader, I am a fierce advocate for preserving our planet for future generations. I have understood the importance of protecting our environment as far back as I can remember. As a child in Lincoln, MA, I sorted recyclables for our family. We took weekly hikes in the White Mountains and I attended overnight nature camp where I learned to respect everything in the natural world around me. I have a profound love and respect for our forest and our trees, and for their preservation.
This foundation has impacted the choices I’ve made in my 30 years in Wellesley. I chaired the Environmental Program when my son was at Schofield and helped restart the Reusables area at the RDF. I led the creation of an educational children’s garden at the Fells Branch Library, filled with native plants – an important link in our butterfly corridor. I was an early adopter of the MLPs renewable energy program, practice organic lawn care, and am the proud owner of one electric car and one new plug-in hybrid. As a member of the Select Board and Town Meeting, I have spoken in favor of, and voted for, every environmental initiative, from the plastic bag ban to the Opt-In Specialized building code. I am committed to working with our community to meet our greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction goals.
In 2020, as a Town Meeting Member, I supported the adoption of the Resolution to Address the Impact of Climate Change. It is critical that we use the lens of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for all our town projects. Our Facilities Management Department, under the direction of the Select Board, uses this lens today. The adoption, last year, of the Opt-In Specialized building code, takes us even closer to our goals of net-zero by 2050. Our Building Inspector, also under the direction of the Select Board, will ensure that new buildings follow this code.
In Wellesley, we have experienced staff helping us to make progress towards our GHG reduction goals through municipal actions, including sustainable building practices and transitioning to electric vehicles. Shifting the building practices and transportation habits of the private sector is a harder problem to solve. This is an area where we have a huge opportunity to accelerate our progress towards our climate goals. The adoption of smart housing policies would augment the work we are already doing.
Today, we have no staff or committee in town focused addressing the town’s housing needs. One of my goals for my second term on the Select Board is to expand our climate action beyond our town departments, by evaluating and establishing an interdepartmental, collaborative staff role focused on creating sustainable, affordable housing for our residents: a Community Housing Specialist.
This position would ask the questions: “What housing is best for Wellesley?” “Where should that housing be located?” and “How do we make it happen in a way that meets the goals of the community?” I envision that this role will be a link between the Planning Department, the Select Board Office, and our Sustainability Director. The way we choose to build housing has environmental consequences. Single family homes, as compared to multifamily homes, are a highly inefficient way to house people because they use more resources, impact a greater area of the town, and require cars to drive further distances. Denser housing, closer to public transportation or walkable to town services, will help to preserve our remaining open space and reduce our GHG emissions. I anticipate that the Community Housing Specialist will work collaboratively with other town staff to proactively find solutions for our housing crisis that that help us to reach our GHG goals.
It is only through working together that we will ensure a future for our children.
Q2. How would you balance and prioritize the following important issues: reducing GHG emissions, managing housing development, preserving open space and mobility issues?
A2. We are living in challenging times. We are all familiar with the climate crisis, and we’ve lived through a global pandemic. Now, we read every day about our region’s housing crisis, with our growing population of homeless families. In some ways, Wellesley feels like an oasis, but we are not immune, and we cannot hide. To meet these challenges, we need to work together. They are all interrelated. Where we live and the effectiveness of our public transportation, impacts our health outcomes and our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We need to listen to each other and find solutions that balance our many priorities. We have smart people in Wellesley who have focused on reducing GHG emissions through municipal strategies. We have others who are working hard to preserve our open space and address mobility issues. What I bring to this discussion is a passion for addressing our community’s housing needs in a way that respects the importance our other critical priorities.
We have a real set of housing challenges in Wellesley. With skyrocketing housing prices and the loss of our small homes, we have very few local options for down-sizing seniors, young families, and the town’s workforce. This has resulted in seniors moving away, the closing of a neighborhood school, and a workforce with increasingly long commutes. We love our single-family homes, but they aren’t the most efficient way to live. Denser housing, close to public transportation, shops, schools, and other public services is the best way to reduce our GHG emissions and preserve our remaining open space. In a suburban town, like Wellesley, it is difficult to live a “car-free” lifestyle. We need to help our residents work towards a “car-lite” lifestyle, instead, relying on a combination of walkability, public transportation, and an EV automobile when necessary.
We have the opportunity in Wellesley to create “15 Minute Neighborhoods,” where residents can live a “car-lite” lifestyle because they have easy access to schools, stores, town services, and work. While the MWRTA services are a great start, they are not quite at the point where they can be relied on for everyday needs. Therefore, our best option is to encourage housing development close to our town retail centers and near our commuter rail stations. Wellesley Square and Wellesley Hills are ideal locations for developing “15-Minute Neighborhoods.” The MBTA Communities Act is all about providing this option for residents, by zoning for by-right multifamily housing by our commuter rail stations. We need to comply with this legislation by approving the new zoning at this Annual Town Meeting. Then, we need to educate housing developers to create the type of housing that best serves our residents, and our planet.
In 2020, I led a housing study for the League of Women Voters of Wellesley, using the lenses of sustainability and diversity, equity, and inclusion. We conducted first- and second-hand research, which resulted in a new LWVW position being adopted in 2021, enabling our local league to join the fight for more sustainable, affordable housing. The study concluded that we need “Affordable housing that is sustainable in planning, construction and ongoing maintenance with the goal of reducing fossil fuel use and improving the health of both the environment and residents…”
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are a good example of a simple, sustainable way to create housing. My first accomplishment as a member of the Select Board was the passage of an Accessory Dwelling Unit bylaw with the support of 90% of Town Meeting, something I was told could not be done. This bylaw provides a tool for making Wellesley a more affordable place to call home, with minimal impact on our open space, because ADUs are built on property that is already developed. These small housing units also utilize less resources than larger homes.
The tension between open space and housing is a challenging conversation in which I’m not afraid to take part. We need to preserve open space AND we also need to create sustainable, low GHG emitting housing. What are the tradeoffs that are worth considering? If we can create housing that enables a family to use one car, instead of two, reducing traffic and emissions, can ten mature trees be replaced with young trees? What if we are also replacing invasives with native species? I don’t have the answer, but one of my strengths is that I will engage in deep discussions with people with different perspectives: I bring people together to solve problems. I’m excited to continue this important discussion with partners in the Natural Resources Commission, Wellesley Conservation Land Trust, Sustainable Wellesley, and other concerned town residents. I ask for your vote.
Odessa Sanchez
Q1. As you may know, Wellesley has a greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction goal, a Climate Action Plan, and the Select Board’s Resolution to Address the Impact of Climate Change. The Select Board’s resolution calls on all Town departments to incorporate GHG reductions into their regular planning and budgeting. What would you do as a Select Board Member to accelerate this?
A1. If I were to be elected to the Select Board, there are a few ways that I would help to accelerate the resolution's goal to encourage all Town departments to incorporate GHG reductions into their regular planning and budgeting.
First we can recognize that the Select Board has a list of set FY24 priorities and a department work plan, that are overall board priorities that are evaluated every six months ( according to their website). As a Chair of the WHA Board, I led my board in keeping " Sustainability" on our agenda each month, regardless of there are new things to add, in effort to encourage the topic to remain a housing board priority and to spread awareness.
Another way to accelerate the resolution's goals, would be to dig deeper into the SB Transportation priority. It's good that the SB is currently evaluating the addition of a transportation staff position, but I believe the town should also reevaluate it's transportation blueprint. Find out from the residents, and transportation stakeholders, the different ways we get around town and find efficient methods of reducing the trips and traffic we see here.
Next, the Select Board is included in Economic Development, so I would support using public feedback and input from the business community in creating a Sustainability analysis of the business community. Find out how we can support each business to reach their own greenhouse gas reduction goal.
Additionally, realizing how important Housing is to the GHG emissions reduction plan, as SB member, I would use my board experience to work with the Housing Task Force to contemplate a new Housing plan to not only look at potential sustainable projects, but also determine how proposals can be executed without causing hardships and with environmental justice consideration.
Finally, The town of Wellesley announced a climate action plan that relies heavily on seeking individual actions by residents to help the town meet an ambitious goal of net- zero emissions by 2050. The appointments of individuals seeking positions and or policy decisions made, should be carefully selected to match any potential environmental goals, as long as the determination doesn't sacrifice the quality of life for any residents.
Q2. How would you balance and prioritize the following important issues: reducing GHG emissions, managing housing development, preserving open space and mobility issues?
A2. First I would acknowledge that some in town feel very differently about how those four issues should be prioritized. As a Select Board member, I would start by reviewing the Select Board departmental work plan and set town goals. The top priorities of the Select Board Departmental Work Plan are Operations, finance, and economic development. I believe preservation of open spaces needs to be number one, as it helps the environment and our town image. Mobility concerns should come next, as we must make all of the residents aware of the recent changes and improvements. Managing housing development is next , and then reducing GHG emissions, which in actuality is connected to all the other environmental efforts, so all initiative's should benefit regardless of the priority placement.