A statement From Mayor Hedlund in regards to the recent Congregate Care Home proposal on Merryknoll Road

A statement From Mayor Hedlund in regards to the recent Congregate Care Home proposal on Merryknoll Road.

I want to thank all the community members who attended last night’s meeting regarding the proposed Congregate Care Home on Merryknoll Road in North Weymouth. This project, proposed by Zoroaster Homes, LLC, would develop a two-story congregate living facility to assist elderly individuals near the Senior center. Without question, I welcome additional options for the Town’s aging population as this need is predicted to grow in the coming years, however, this is the wrong location for this proposed project.

Throughout my career in government, I have consistently opposed state and federal mandates that have whittled away the authority of local municipalities, Including the Fair Housing Act. In the past, we have faced a similar predicament related to Chapter 40B in regards to affordable housing, sober homes, and rehabilitation clinics. Most recently we have watched as communities across the Commonwealth, including Weymouth, have grappled with the impact of new MBTA zoning requirements that threaten the atmosphere of long-established towns.

This is a dangerous trend and I want to make it clear, that I oppose the project as currently proposed.

Today, my staff and I held an internal meeting to discuss Zoroaster Homes plans and what actions and steps the town can take to oppose this project. We have scheduled a meeting next week with Zoroaster Homes to voice the Town’s opposition to the proposal, and to seek a possible alternative site for the project.

I want to assure you that I intend to work with all Town departments including Planning, Conservation, the Building Department, and the Weymouth Fire and Police Departments to either prevent this project from moving forward completely, have it scaled back in size, or to take whatever further actions I can to limit the impact of this project on the surrounding residential neighborhoods. Although we must contend with existing federal and state law and mandates that govern this type of facility.

Thank you and I will keep you informed.

Mayor Hedlund.