The Planning Department is scheduled to unveil the first round of Village Center Zoning districts (Version 1.0) at the Zoning and Planning Committee meeting (in person: Council Chamber/Room 204; virtual: Zoom link) TONIGHT at 7PM (see agenda). The Planning Department has not yet released the maps to the Councilors or the public in advance of the meeting (as required by the Rules of the Council – Section 5, C(1) see page 12) but did issue this Planning Memo, which states that “Physical maps of version 1.0 will be displayed at City Hall November through December and available online following the ZAP meeting.”
Regarding Village Center Zoning: Councilor Wright received this response from the Planning Department in response to questions and comments she raised on September 9, 2022 regarding the Village Center zoning framework. Letters from members of the community regarding Village Center Zoning can be found here.
Two items are on the Finance Committee’s agenda for tonight’s virtual (Zoom link) meeting at 7PM:
- A request to authorize the Mayor to appropriate $60,826.31 for McKinney-Vento and Foster Care Transportation funds from the General Fund to the School Department
- A 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 Ave, consistent with the intent of Special Permit #175-21, Condition 6.
The meeting of the Commission on Disability’s Funding Subcommittee has been canceled (see Meeting Cancellation Notice).
Newton Cultural Council will discuss the adjudication process at its meeting (in-person: 1294 Centre Street; virtual: Zoom link) tonight, October 24 at 5:30PM (see agenda).
The Land Use Committee will meet (in-person: Council Chamber; virtual: Zoom link) on Tuesday, October 25 at 7PM. The agenda includes discussion of Woodland Golf Club (sport courts, warming hut and parking), an Irish Dance School (for-profit educational use), and the Crafts Street Senior Housing with Services Development.
Julia Pflager, Assistant Supervisor of Youth Services for Children, for the Newton Free Library will meet with the Library Board of Trustees at their meeting (Trustees Room) on Wednesday, October 26 at 4:30PM (see agenda). The Committee will also receive a Capital Improvement Update and an update on its recent Spring Fling event (more fully discussed at the Development Committee‘s meeting on Wednesday, October 26 at 3PM – see agenda) and an update on Buildings and Grounds.
The Zoning Board of Appeals will meet for a second time this month, this time to open the public hearing on the Northland Charlemont 40B proposal. The hearing (in-person: Council Chamber; virtual: Zoom link) will take place on Wednesday, October 26 at 7PM (see agenda and Meeting Packet). The request is for a comprehensive permit to construct a nine-story, mixed-use development with 410 residential units (103 affordable), 486 parking stalls, and approximately 10,689 square feet of ground-floor commercial space on 6.98 acres of land located at 160 Charlemont Street and 56 Christina Street.
The City of Newton will hold an online meeting on October 27 at 6PM to gather public comments on the City’s draft of the updated Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan. The focus of the plan is to identify projects that will improve accessibility in Newton. The draft of the updated plan will be made available to registrants of the webinar. Register here. For questions or to request a reasonable accommodation, email jfairley@newtonma.gov.
Representatives of Endless Energy — the home retrofit company contracted by the City as a recommended contractor — will provide a presentation to the Newton Citizens Commission on Energy at its virtual (Zoom link) meeting on Thursday, October 27 at 7PM (see agenda). Presenting for Endless Energy will be Matt Kidd (CEO), Rick Connaughton (oversees the Mass Save side of the company), and John Shulda (Master Electrician, experienced in the EV world). The Commission will also have a brief overview of NCCE projects, status of BERDO, a discussion about ideas regarding retrofitting Newton’s residential sector, and a discussion about tracking progress in implementing the Climate Action Plan.
The Sustainable Materials Management Commission will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Thursday, October 27 at 7PM (see agenda) to receive an update on Big Belly and the Victor Stanley public waste receptacle programs, to discuss a proposed private hauler ordinance, and to hear results of a customer survey by Black Earth.
The Newton Historical Commission will meet virtually on Thursday, October 27 at 7PM (Zoom link) to review 10 Requests for Total Demolition: 40 Windsor Road, 34 Brookside Avenue, 462 Waltham Street, 64 Columbus Street, 123 Otis Street, 10-12 Elliot Terrace, 156 Grant Avenue, 293 Albemarle Road, 61 Esty Farm Road, and 624 Saw Mill Brook Parkway; 2 Requests for Partial Demolition- 321 Craft Street and 362 Otis Street; and 3 Requests to Waive the Demolition Delay: 35 Mignon Road, 25 Beecher Place, and 100 Varrick Road. The Commission is also scheduled to review the delegation of items to staff and the Chair of the Commission and review standards for Oak Hill Park. See agenda.
Items to note on this week’s Traffic Council agenda for its virtual (Zoom link) meeting on Thursday, October 27 at 7PM include:
- Request for an accessible parking space on Lowell Ave.;
- Request to make permanent a trial increasing the number of Tiger Permit Parking Permits from 150 – 170 with 165 being charged $60/each and 5 to be transferable free placards;
- Request to review and modify West Newton Village Center parking along Watertown, Washington, Waltham, Chestnut, and Elm Streets,
- Make permanent the 15-minute take-out/pick-up space in front of Paddy’s Public House;
- Create temporary parking for senior programs temporarily housed at the Brigham House and the Hyde Community Center;
- Discuss and possibly create metered parking on Centre Street just north of Pearl Street; and
- Add a stop sign at the intersection of Winchester Road at East Side Parkway.
The Newtonville Area Council will meet virtually on Thursday, October 27 at 7PM (Zoom link).
The Election Commission will hold public testing of the Accuvote/ballot machine in the Cafeteria, Basement Level of City Hall, on Friday, October 28 beginning at 9:30 AM — and possibly continuing on Monday, October 31 at 9:30 AM if necessary — in preparation for the upcoming State Election on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 (see Notice).
This week’s road construction schedule can be found here.