The Zoning and Planning Committee voted to approve the following (see Report and watch NewTV video here):
- Appointment of Amy Dain to the Planning and Development Board
- Appointment of Scott Friedman to the Newtonville Historic District Commission
- 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
All other items were held.
The Committee received an update from Planning Director, Barney Heath, on Village Center Zoning outreach efforts. He stated that the committee would receive an update on feedback from the library exhibit and engagement efforts (which would conclude on October 16) at the first Zoning and Planning Committee meeting in November and provided a timeline for future committee discussions:
- October 24: Draft maps presented to Committee for discussion
- November 14: Data from recent community engagement and feedback tool presented to Committee and continued discussion with Councilors on maps, zoning text
- November 24 and December 12th: Deeper discussion on proposed zoning language, design standards
- January 2023: Continued discussion on draft maps, zoning text, etc. in committee and community meetings
The Committee was joined by the City’s Sustainability Team — Ann Berwick and Bill Ferguson, Co-Directors of Sustainability, and Liora Silkes, Energy Coach — for an update on the status of implementing Climate Action Plan measures and expanding municipal energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, specifically, on electrification, BERDO, measuring success, requirements for EV Charging Stations, and the possibility of an ordinance to regulate embodied carbon in new construction. The two-hour discussion follows a presentation previously made to the full City Council at their Committee of the Whole meeting on September 19 (see video here), and details can be found in the Committee’s Report.