Zoning and Planning Committee will meet in person (Council Chamber and Room 204) and virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, October 11 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:
- Appointment of Amy Dain to the Planning and Development Board
- Appointment of Scott Friedman to the Newtonville Historic District Commission
Chair’s Note: Discussion surrounding the following item will be limited to a brief update from the
Planning Department on the work to begin at our October 24 meeting, following the
current engagement period.
- Request for a review, discussion, and possible ordinance amendments relative to Chapter 30 zoning ordinances pertaining to Mixed Use, Business Districts, and Village Districts relative to the draft Zoning Ordinance.
Chair’s Note: The Sustainability Team will join the Committee for discussion of the following item focusing on climate action items that will require new zoning or zoning amendments, such as developing a Newton BERDO, working groups assessing regulation for EV charging, embodied carbon, requiring electrification of new construction and advances in MA Stretch codes, coming in January. The Climate Actions update provided to Council at the September 19, 2022 Committee of the Whole Meeting (Newton City Council | Committee of the Whole September 19, 2022 (newtv.org)) involved both extensive municipal programs as well as regulation, leaving little time for questions. Please bring your questions to this meeting!
- Request for an update from the Sustainability Team and appropriate staff on the status of implement Climate Action Plan measures, expanding municipal energy efficiency and renewable energy programs as follows:
- Newton Power Choice participation rates;
- Municipal power purchasing contracts for gas and electricity;
- Solar Power Purchase Agreement including operational and PV installations under construction, municipal energy consumption (DOER report);
- Green Communities grant funded efficiency projects to date,
- Energy Coach/”4 our Future” program; and
- Zoning ordinances both to increase building energy efficiency/renewables in the private sector and foster sustainable development patterns.
- Two reappointments to the Auburndale Historic District Commission
- Dante Capasso
- Paul Dudek
- Two reappointments to the Economic Development Commission
- Philip Plottel
- Marcela Merino
- Reappointment of Kathryn Kubie to the Newton Historical Commission
- Reappointment of William McLaughlin to the Zoning Board of Appeals
Finance Committee will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, October 11 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:
- Request to accept and expend a $67,272.72 Assistance to Firefighter grant through the Department of Homeland Security to conduct training on structural collapse props and to purchase a structural collapse prop structure.
- Request to accept and expend a $131,952.38 Fire Prevention and Safety grant through the Department of Homeland Security to conduct training for 30 members on Arson/Fire Investigation and to purchase fire investigation kits which include tools and PPE.
- Request to transfer $100,000 from the City’s Energy Stabilization Fund for the design of a new HVAC system to replace the existing chiller, cooling towers, and boilers with a heat pump chiller to convert the Newton Free Library building to be fully electric.
- Request to transfer the sum of $65,000 from the City’s Energy Stabilization Fund for the design of a new HVAC system that will convert the existing fuel system at the Pierce Elementary School to fossil free fuel HVAC system.
Public Facilities Committee will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Wednesday, October 12 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:
- Request for a grant of location to underground utilities on Kenmore Street to Lake Avenue to the location between 162 and 170 Lake Avenue and placing the vault on the property line to feed the buildings 162 and 170 Lake Avenue.
- Request to transfer $100,000 from the City’s Energy Stabilization Fund for the design of a new HVAC system to replace the existing chiller, cooling towers, and boilers with a heat pump chiller to convert the Newton Free Library building to be fully electric.
- Request to transfer the sum of $65,000 from the City’s Energy Stabilization Fund for the design of a new HVAC system that will convert the existing fuel system at the Pierce Elementary School to fossil free fuel HVAC system.
- Request to approve the renaming of a portion of Brandeis Road to Lion Drive. (The change would begin east of #131 and #132 Brandeis Road to the intersection of Greenwood.)
- Request to appropriate and expend $50,000 from the Special Permit fees (Austin and Lowell account) to improve safety for all users by constructing traffic flow changes at two intersections on Lowell Avenue, which is consistent with the intent of Condition 6 in Special Permit 175-21.