Election revives developer's hope

The Town Center project, which has sparked a heated debate in Wayland, could be revived now that residents have elected several candidates sympathetic to the project to key boards.

Stewart Millerd, who was ousted from the Board of Road Commissioners after serving six years, said residents had been swayed by a coordinated effort from the developer's supporters.

"They had a contingent out, and if the good Lord from heaven above had been running in my spot he couldn't have won," said Millerd, whose board took a stand against the project in 2005.

Millerd warned that with the new candidates in place, the developers will "do what they want, how they want, and when they want. There's no opposition to them and they'll have full control."

The proposal calls for building a $100 million mixed-use project with a grocery store, shops, a town building and open space on a 55-acre site along Route 20.

Supporters say the town desperately needs the municipal building, along with the payments and tax revenues the project would generate.

But detractors worry about the out-of-town traffic it would bring, and say it is too large. The developers had put the project on hold in January, citing resistance by the Road Commissioners and Planning Board.

Developer Charles R. Irving, a partner with KGI Properties of Boston, denied backing specific candidates but acknowledged that he was hoping for a change in the leadership of the boards.

"I'm sitting back and still waiting to see what happens. Will they change their leadership, will they change direction?" Irving said. "That's all we've been looking for."

He said it's a misperception that Save Our Services, a group of residents lobbying for the Town Center project, is an arm of the developer. "They don't speak for me," he said.

Irving, who lives in Wayland, acknowledged he has donated money to the group, which describes itself as a grass-roots organization that wants to preserve the quality of life in Wayland.

In pressing for the Town Center project, the group had sent out an e-mail to residents identifying candidates on the ballot who had been "supporters of our mission."

Lisa Valone, a founder and cochairwoman of Save Our Services, said she was pleased with the outcome of the election.

Two candidates mentioned favorably in the e-mail, Eric Knapp and Alan Shubin , were elected to the five-member Board of Road Commissioners, while a third, Kevin Murphy, was elected to the Planning Board.

With the three in the mix, Valone said, "hopefully the chairs will be changed."

Selectman Michael Tichnor , an outspoken proponent of the development, was easily reelected, drawing 1,000 more votes than challenger Steven Glovsky.

Valone said she hadn't communicated with developers about the election and said criticism of her group's slate of candidates as rubber stamps for the developers is "unfounded."

"The people who have been elected have been elected because they have really good backgrounds and they care deeply about Wayland," she said.

"They're there to do the right thing for Wayland."