Wayland ZBA approves Sherman's Bridge rehab, continues contested shed case

WAYLAND — July 14, 2026 — Wayland ZBA approves Sherman's Bridge rehabilitation and defers Stonebridge Road shed case. The Zoning Board of Appeals voted 5-0 Tuesday to grant the Department of Public Works a special permit under Article 17 for the town's joint project with Sudbury to replace Sherman's Bridge's four-inch timber deck with a seven-inch glulam assembly. Consulting engineer Pete Engel of TEC told the board the added thickness produces 285 cubic feet of fill within the FEMA floodway — about 0.36 percent of available flood storage in the right of way — with a no-rise certificate signed by both towns' floodplain administrators. Chair Thomas William White also reported town counsel guidance that Wayland's bylaw permits sheds in any yard within setbacks, but continued the retroactive shed case at 22 Stonebridge Road to Sept. 8 after applicant Robert Haskins asked for time to consider his options. "We can't render a decision on any of this because we don't have graphic evidence," White said. The August 11 meeting was cancelled for lack of quorum.