Setting the agenda in Westwood

The Planning Board race solidified as one of newcomers versus experience at a candidates forum yesterday, with David Feyler and Jason Lee plugging their fresh ideas, and Steven Rafsky and incumbent Steven Olanoff highlighting their decades of service on Westwood boards.

Two of the four will be elected to three-year terms April 28.

Rafsky, 54, emphasized his experience since 1989 on the Finance Commission, Planning Board and Economic Development Advisory Board, among others, saying that on them all, "I've tried to do my best to do what was in the best interest of Westwood."

"If you return me to the Planning Board, I promise to carry out the will of the town," said Rafsky, a board member from 1990 to 1997. "I use my experience to represent you."

"I can appreciate people's experience, but also feel that Westwood is going to be going through some new changes," said Feyler, 45. With developer Cabot, Cabot & Forbes having obtained its special permitting for Westwood Station in December, "it might be a good time for new faces and for new ideas," said Feyler.

"I'm not the most eloquent speaker, but if you ask me a question I'll give you a straight answer," Feyler told the more than 50 people who turned out for the forum at First Parish Hall. The Westwood-Walpole League of Women Voters hosted the event for candidates in the town election.

The Westwood Station project was the prime topic of discussion in the Planning Board forum, even though no work is being done on the site of the 4.5-million-square-foot mixed-use development as CC&F looks for a construction loan.

Numerous huge mounds of dirt and gravel mark the University Avenue site, whose vast expanses also include tubing, some inert construction trucks and equipment, and pools of water.

Three of the candidates agreed Westwood Station is the biggest issue facing the Planning Board in the next year, with Olanoff, 64, saying the area needs to be stabilized "if they're not going to be working on it."

"The biggest issue facing the Planning Board is making sure that we do what we can to finish the Westwood Station project so that we can give stability to the town's finances," said Rafsky, who was one of the key people to push the redevelopment of University Avenue.

"We need to get something built and we need tax revenue," Feyler said.

Lee, 39, argued that with the project on hiatus, "now is the time to address the other issues that have been put on the table because of Westwood Station," including infrastructure and a new library.

Lee, a 1988 Westwood High graduate, said that since his run for selectmen last year he has been very active on the Economic Development Advisory Board and Westwood Community Access Television.

"By bringing on new people, like myself and perhaps Feyler or even Mr. Rafsky back to the board, that could present some new ideas," Lee said. "Now is really the time - given the economic conditions and all the excuses that you will hear of Westwood Station - to bring on someone who's got ideas that are outside of the box."

Pointing to his work as a commercial developer and technology consultant, Lee said, "I bring those ideas to the table. I have the energy, the passion."

Feyler said he hoped that either he or Lee is elected "to show other residents that, you know what, you can run for office in Westwood, and you can get on."

Olanoff accentuated his 18 years on the Planning Board, as well as many years on the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and the Regional Transportation Advisory Council.

"My regional activities keep me informed of the latest issues in planning and zoning. Every year I've introduced changes and improvements to our zoning bylaws to address various issues important to the town," he said.

"Experience makes a difference," Olanoff said, "and now it's more important than ever to bring the Westwood Station project to its successful realization - maintaining the highest standards of environmental protection, livability, economic vitality, so it remains a truly smart growth development."

Also speaking yesterday were Selectman Nancy Hyde, who is running unopposed for a third term, and Board of Assessors candidates John Rose and Mark Murphy, who was appointed to that board last year.

The only other contest this spring is between Lee and Michael Walsh for the Housing Authority, but Walsh did not attend yesterday.

Daily News staff writer Edward B. Colby can be reached at 781-433-8336 or ecolby@cnc.com.