Woburn Committee Sends 504-Unit Pulte Homes Zoning Amendment to Full Council

GROVELAND — April 13, 2026 — Woburn ordinance committee advances 504-unit Del Webb age-restricted zoning amendment to full council. The Committee on Ordinances, Charter and Rules voted 4-0, with one absence, Monday to send a revised Pulte Homes of New England petition to the full City Council for its April 21 meeting after more than two hours of debate over density, tax revenue, and traffic. The amendment to Section 28 of the city's Transit-Based Overlay District would allow a 55-plus Del Webb condominium community on a 33-acre site, with the affordable set-aside raised at the last minute from 10 percent to 12 percent — or 61 of 504 units — following negotiations with the state. Petitioner attorney Joe Tye projected gross tax revenue of $2.885 million annually at full build-out, roughly eight years away at one building per year; a reduction of 29 units would cost the city an estimated $205,000 per year. Committee Chairman Councilor DeMurge argued the comparison that matters is against the currently approved commercial program, not zero: "Why are we actively trying to lower the amount of units that is going to hurt our tax revenue? At that point we should just say nope, we're going to leave it as commercial." Councilor Torrey, not a committee member, said he would vote against 504 units when the measure reaches the full council floor.