Zoning and Planning – 11/14/2022 Report

The Zoning and Planning Committee voted to approve the following (see Report and watch video on NewTV):

• Two reappointments to the Urban Design Commission:
  • Michael Kaufman
  • Visda Saeyan

All other items were held.

The Committee discussed a request to amend Chapter 30, Newton Zoning Ordinance, to allow animal service establishments by right in BU1 and BU2 zones. Economic Development Director, John Sisson, explained the genesis of the item when a pet grooming establishment wanted to locate in Newtonville, however, such uses are not currently included in the use tables of the Zoning Ordinances. The Committee voted to hold the item (7-0, Baker not voting) and set the public hearing date for December 12.

In addition, the Committee received an update from the Planning Department regarding the recent community engagement initiatives for the proposed Village Center zoning (community engagement network, feedback tool, library exhibit (in-person and online), and equitable focus groups (renters and younger demographic). According to the Planning Department, the feedback tool received 1,078 completed submissions. More specifically,

• Scale question: 1,078
• Mapping question: 919
• Parking question: 966
• Demographics: 975

The Committee report notes: “This tool did not require identification so as to increase accessibility, but Stanford noted that these results are valid and nefarious actors did not have a substantial impact on the main conclusions.” (See also Planning Department presentation where the Stanford Crowdsourced Democracy Team states: “The highest number of responses for a single address was 25, and 8 IP addresses were used for 5 or more submissions.” But added, “This is not unusual and could simply point to public access points such as a library, coffee shop or even a large family.”

With regard to the demographics of respondents:

• Focus groups: Renters (8); Disability community (4); Young people (16); Tabling and facilitated library events: Indigenous Peoples Day; Chamber of Commerce young adult event; Youth Commission and 4 Newton North High School class visits (100 students)
• Community Engagement Networks: Groups – arts, transportation, enviro, housing, business (14); City Commissions/councils (4); Community/affinity groups (10); faith-based institutions (5); Area Councils (4); Neighborhood Associations (5); Neighborhood block-based groups (31); School-based groups – students and parents (7)
• 1160 respondents to survey question regarding which village center spends time in – Top 3: Newton Centre (83.5%); Newtonville (78.7%); West Newton (64.8%)
• 975 respondents to survey demographic questions:
  • Homeownership: Own home (92.4%); Rent home (7.6%)
  • Age: 18-44 (14.8%); 45-64 (38.8%); 65 and older (46.4%)
  • Race: White (84.8%); Black (1.4%); Asian (5.5%); Other (1.5%)
  • Disability: Unsure or prefer not to answer (6.8%); Yes (11.4%); No (59.2%); No answer (22.6%)

With regard to Scaled Zoning Districts, there were 1,078 responses.

Option	Results
Doesn’t go far enough	8%
Appropriate/Strikes right balance	36.6%
Goes too far	14.1%
Needs an entirely different strategy	17.2
17.2	8.5%

With regard to Mapping Zoning Districts, 919 responses were received.

Village Center	# responses	Small	Sm +Med	Sm, Med + Large
Auburndale	735	53	27	19
Four Corners	705	51	29	20
Lower Falls	605	56	25	19
Newton Centre	888	24	29	47
Newton Corner	740	24	24	52
Newton Highlands	797	45	32	23
Newtonville	864	32	30	38
Nonantum	715	54	28	19
Thompsonville	500	59	18	23
Upper Falls	611	53	25	22
Waban	731	60	22	18
West Newton	831	32	32	35

With regard to parking, 966 responses were received.

Option	Residential	Retail	Office
No answer	23.6	25.8	27.0
Doesn’t go far enough	14.7	11.9	12.3
Appropriate/Strikes the right balance	27.5	25.3	24.8
Goes too far	19.0	14.4	14.4
Needs an entirely different strategy	9.4	14.9	9.5
Unsure	5.8	7.7	12.0

The Planning Department will use the engagement results for the draft zoning text that will be presented at the November 28 Zoning and Planning Meeting and will also be used for future drafts of the zoning district maps.