Walden Files Second Plan for Marist Property, Citing Educational Purpose

Walden Behavioral Care first went through the town's zoning process and was turned down for a special permit.

But last week, the Waltham company now has filed a second plan with the Town of Framingham under the state's Dover Amendment law.

Walden Behavioral Care would like to turn the former Marist property into a non-profit, educational center, under the Dover Amendment law.

The Waltham company had its attorney's file a letter with the Town of Framingham on Friday, said one of the Zoning Board members.

If the Pleasant Street project is approved as an educational use, it would qualify for the Dover amendment and no zoning approvals would be necessary.

The first plan called for a main building for inpatient care with 24 beds for patients with eating disorders, 24 beds for patients with mood disorders and offices for 20 Walden staff. Plus a smaller building with offices for human resources, finance, billing and accounting departments. Walden then planned to apply for a 16-bed residential two-story, 12,000-square-foot facility to treat adults who are obese or have binge-eating disorder, a 16-bed, 12,000-square-foot two-story residential facility for adolescents and a 10,000-square-foot, one-story building for program offices, and intake and aftercare services.

The new plan includes the old plan plus construction of a Center for Research and Education.

A therapeutic and educational on-site program would allow adolescents and adults to learn strategies and techniques to fully recover from their disorders, wrote Walden's lawyers in the letter to the Town of Framingham.

In October, the Framingham Zoning Board of Appeals voted 2-1 to approve a special permit for Walden's first plan. However, an unanimous vote was needed, and chair Phil Ottaviani voted against the special permit.

Walden had 30 days to appeal the decision and in a joint appeal with the Marist Fathers of Boston, filed one in land court on the final day. The first court date is scheduled for January 22.

Residents had submit a petition with more than 500 signatures against the first plan.

Framingham Patch first reported in May of walden's plans to come to Framingham and purchase and develop the Marist property.