Architect Oscar Mertz will step into the Needham Planning Board seat vacated by architect Natasha Espada. Mertz beat his opponent, Gary Lesanto, by about 1,170 votes. The preliminary count was 3,314 to 2,143.
It was Mertz’s second run at the seat. “I have to say it’s a humbling experience to win an election. I lost before, so I’m grateful for the chance to work for the town and contribute. I’m very excited to get to work and to bring us all together,” he said.
Mertz brings an extensive background in planning and commercial design. He also brings his experience in the Needham community, serving on or advising committees on everything from MBTA zoning to tree preservation to public housing. He spent the past year as a member of the Large House Study Review Committee, which will present him with a unique opportunity and challenge: The Planning Board is in the middle of reviewing that committee’s recommendations with an eye toward proposing bylaw revisions to Town Meeting next fall. At recent meetings, some of the analysis and recommendations of the Large House committee have been met with skepticism by people who will now be Mertz’s colleagues.
Planning Board member Justin McCullen, who will likely be the board’s next chair, was welcoming. “I look forward to working with Oscar and to bringing his experience and perspective to the Planning Board as we continue to address zoning and development issues that shape Needham’s future,” he said. “Together, we’ll focus on decisions that support the needs of our residents and local businesses.”
Lesanto, Mertz’s opponent in the race, has proposed several modifications to the recommendations that were well-received by both Mertz and the board.
“We really have to fine tune the things that we need to bring to Town Meeting, and so I’m looking forward to doing that with Gary and others,” Mertz said.
The Large House bylaws will ultimately be a smallish part of Mertz’s Planning Board’s work. The board sets the broad agenda for Needham’s building and development — both residential and commercial — through zoning and planning bylaw recommendations. It also reviews project-level plans, requests for zoning variances, and details from parking to traffic impacts to the shadows new buildings cast on their neighbors.
“I want to get up to speed on what is already on the docket, the projects that are in front of the Planning Board,” Mertz said. “Then to start to think about how we can plan for planning, because we need to make time to look ahead.”
“Right now my goal is handling what we have in front of us. Responsibly, thoughtfully, and then figuring out how we want to plan together to move forward.”
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