Design board approves four signs, pauses Albion Road house
Wellesley's Design Review Board approved four commercial sign permits and continued review of a 9,524-square-foot house proposed for 35 Albion Road.
Design Review Board · Meeting of October 7, 2026
Wellesley's Design Review Board approved four commercial sign permits and continued review of a 9,524-square-foot house proposed for 35 Albion Road. The board signed off on signage for Momentum Dance's 161 Studios, Discover Strength, Penguin Coding School and Cross Insurance, each with minor sizing or alignment conditions. A fifth sign application, for fitness brand PVOLVE, was continued after member Mark Wendell objected to an aluminum backer panel, calling it less clean than neighboring storefronts; the vendor agreed to mount letters directly to the facade and cut letter height to 16 inches.
On the Albion Road house, architect Tref LaFleche said the project removes 28 trees, including two large black oaks, to fit an oversized stormwater system built "40 percent" above code at neighbors' request. Wendell said the rear facade was "a very vertical building right now" with "not much mass that's being broken down," and the board voted unanimously to continue the review pending a redesigned facade and new tree-protection details.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,812 words
Source: the Design Review Board meeting of October 7, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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