The Full City Council will meet in person (Council Chamber) and virtually (Zoom link) on Monday, September 19 as a Committee of the Whole at 6:30PM. The agenda includes the following:
- Discussion with the Climate and Sustainability Team to receive an update on their current work progress on the Climate Action Plan and BERDO (Building Energy Reporting and Reduction).
The Council will then convene for their regularly scheduled meeting at 7:45PM. (See Reports Docket and New Docket).
Land Use Committee will meet in person (Council Chamber) and virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, September 20 at 6PM. The agenda includes the following:
- Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to allow the construction of an attached garage with living space above, further extending the nonconforming front setback and further reducing the nonconforming open space at 39 Floral Street (See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo).
- Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to allow a for-profit education use at 1221-1227 Centre Street (See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo)
- Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to demolish the existing dwelling and allow four single-family attached dwellings in two buildings, to allow three stories, and to allow a driveway within 10 feet of the rear lot line and parking within 20 feet of the front and rear lot lines at 120 Norwood Avenue (See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo).
- Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to allow additions to the basement, first and second stories of the existing dwelling, further extending the nonconforming height at 1 Ridge Road (See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo).
- Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to allow parking in the front setback and to allow a second front entrance at 154 Oliver Road (See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo).
NOTE: The Planning and Development Board will join the Land Use Committee for the Walker Center requests.
- Request to rezone 136-144 Hancock Street (Walker Center) (See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo)
- Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to allow multi-family dwellings, to allow single-familym attached dwellings, to allow a reduced rear setback, to allow reduced lot area per unit, to alter and extend a nonconforming side setback, to waive parking stalls, to waive perimeter screening requirements and to waive lighting requirements at 136-144 Hancock Street (Walker Center) (See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo)
- Request to rezone 7 parcels as follows: 34 Crafts Street, 36 Crafts Street, 38 Crafts Street, 48 Crafts Street, and 50 Crafts Street from Manufacturing to Business 4 and 19 Court Street and 21 Court Street from Multiresidence 1 to Business 4 (See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo).
- Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to allow an Elder Housing with Services facility, to allow a development in excess of 20,000 sq. ft., to allow a seven-story building, to allow a building 84 feet in height, to allow parking within the side setback, to reduce the required parking stall width, to reduce the required parking stall depth, to reduce the required parking stall depth for accessible stalls, to allow a reduced drive aisle width for two-way traffic and to waive the lighting requirements at 34, 36, 38, 48, 50 Crafts Street, 19-21 Court Street (See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo).
Programs and Services Committee will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Wednesday, September 21 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:
- Appointment of Petr Chovanec to the Commission on Disability
- Appointment of Shawn Fitzgibbons to the Board of License Commissioners
- Request to revise and amend Chapter 21, Art. III Trees (sec. 21-60 through 21-89) to extend tree protection to all trees 6 inches DBH (diameter at breast height) and greater within the City (with no exempt lots); to update tree removal permits, fees, and compensation; and to strengthen protection for existing and replacement trees – City Council proposal
- Request to review and amend Chapter 21, Art. III, Division 3, Tree Preservation to increase replacement requirements for larger trees, add protections for smaller trees, limit removal of trees without replacement, enhance procedures for protecting trees, increase payment required for trees cut without replacement, protect trees on lots adjacent to construction, provide Tree Warden with additional professional input on trees on private properties – Mayor’s proposal
- Request for revisions and amendments to Chapter 21 to extend tree protection to all trees 6 inches DBH (diameter at breast height) and greater within the City, with no exempt lots, and to suspend tree removal permits effective immediately, for one year, unless sooner repealed or amended by the City Council. This moratorium shall not apply to emergency removal of trees determined by the tree warden to be dead or hazardous, or causing significant disruption of public utility service.
Public Facilities Committee will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Wednesday, September 21 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:
- Request to appropriate and expend $50,000 from Special Permit fees account, Austin and Lowell, to improve safety for all users by constructing traffic flow changes at two intersections on Lowell, Ave, which is consistent with the intent of the Special Permit #175-21, Condition 6
- Request to appropriate and expend $4,120,000 and authorize a general obligation borrowing of an equal amount for the construction and engineering services for the City of Newton Pump Station Rehabilitation CIP Project 1 and design for Project 2 and authorization to apply any premium received upon the sale of the bonds or notes, less the cost of preparing, issuing, and marketing them, and any accrued interest received upon the delivery of the bonds or notes to the costs of the project and to reduce the amount authorized to be borrowed for the project by like amount.
- Request amendments to the City of Newton Ordinances regarding trash and recycling (Chapter 11 and Chapter 17) to allow the City to create a mattress recycling program needed to comply with a significant upcoming change in MassDEP regulations for mattresses
- Request to transfer $250,000 from Building Improvements Account (for under $75K projects) to a new account.
- Request to accept a recommendation from the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) to appropriate $75,000 in Community Preservation Act funding from the FY2023 Historic Resource Reserve Fund to complete the first phase of the Jackson Homestead Basement Restoration Project by hiring a preservation consultant to develop plans to remediate the existing water and humidity issues in order to preserve the historic structure and protect its important collections.
Public Safety and Transportation will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Wednesday, September 21 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:
- Request approval of a detail of sufficient number of police officers and staffing hours for each polling place to preserve order and to protect the election officers from any interference with their duties and to aid in enforcing the laws relating to elections. The Chief of Police, in consultation with the City Clerk, will report on the State Primary details and provide a plan for providing police officers at polling locations in the number required by the City Clerk to meet this obligation.
- Request for triennial renewals of six (6) bus licenses for Mass General Brigham.
- Request for four (4) new triennial bus licenses for Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
