Wellesley Town Meeting voted overwhelmingly last night to approve a greater level of scrutiny for plans to build large houses, or additions to existing houses.
The new zoning policy, which takes effect Jan. 1, will require anyone building a new house or addition that exceeds a certain size to go through additional layers of review by the town planning and design review boards.
Proponents said the proposal addressed the ever-increasing problem of oversized houses being built on small lots and the collateral damage of those projects on neighbors. Damages, they said, include drainage issues, loss of trees, impact on neighborhood character, and lighting.
Builders and some residents opposed the zoning amendment, saying it would add substantially to the cost of projects and violate the right of homeowners and landowners to do what they want with their property.
But the majority of those discussing the issue on the Town Meeting floor last night said the proposal reflected a fair and flexible solution to a longstanding concern that too many small lots in town were being encumbered with oversized homes.
In a seldom used paper ballot vote, Town Meeting voted 170-41 in favor of the proposal, easily clearing the two-thirds majority needed to pass.
Until the new review process takes effect, the planning board will hold hearings and develop regulations for implementation of the new policy, officials said.
