What's up in Newton this week - 12/11/2022

The regularly scheduled Fair Housing Committee meeting originally scheduled for TODAY, December 12 has been canceled (see Cancellation Notice).

Civico Development is hosting an on-site, in-person meeting on Monday, December 12 at 5PM to discuss the proposal to develop 9 condominium units at 106 River Street. The meeting will be held inside the building. More information about the project can be found here.

The Newton Cultural Council will meet virtually twice this week (Zoom link) to continue its adjudication sessions. The first meeting will be held TONIGHT, Monday, December 12 at 5:30PM (see Agenda) and the second meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 13 at 5:30PM (see Agenda).

The Commission for Disability will meet virtually (Zo o m link) meeting TONIGHT, Monday, December 12 at 6PM (see agenda) to review updated Gath Pool Design plans and the top three FY2024 CDBG Access Projects.

The Zoning and Planning Committee will meet (in-person: Room 204; virtually (Zoom link) TONIGHT, Monday, December 12 at 6:30PM (NOTE EARLY START TIME). The Committee will hold a public hearing on a request to amend the definition of “animal services” in the zoning ordinance and to allow animal service uses in certain business use zones. The Committee will then be joined by Sustainability Director, Ann Berwick, to discuss the new Energy Codes and their applicability to residential and commercial project followed by a discussion of whether or when to hold a public hearing on adopting a “Specialized Code.”

According to the agenda, the Planning Staff will lead a discussion on evaluating the metrics for and proposed mapping of the Village Center Zoning – VC1 districts – see Planning Memo, which provides updates on staff changes made to the VC1 district since the release of the maps and text:

Reduction in the maximum building footprint –5,000 sq. ft. to 4,000 sq. ft.;
Removal of the ability to increase the height from 2.5 stories to 3.5 stories by Special Permit (may possibly be included as an incentive for affordable housing);
Increase in the open space requirement on sites larger than 30,000 sq. ft. — from 5% to 30%; and
Limitation of the district to residential-only uses by-right with very limited commercial uses allowed by Special Permit (though staff acknowledges that more recent conversations indicate support for eliminating commercial uses entirely in VC1).

In addition, the Planning Department submitted responses to community engagement questions from the 11/14/2022 ZAP meeting, and two Councilors issued memos regarding Village Center Zoning: Councilor Crossley providing information on the next Village Center Zoning Meeting — Nonantum and Newton Corner (Wednesday, December 14 at 5:30PM) — and links to video recordings of the meetings (see Memo) and Councilor Wright forwarding questions and concerns on the Village Center Rezoning (see Memo).

Finance Committee will meet virtually (Zoom link) TONIGHT, Monday, December12 at 7PM to review:

Request to accept and expend a $75,000 earmark in the FY23 Massachusetts State Budget, authored by Senator Cynthia Stone Creem, for the Newton in Motion (NewMo) program,
Request to transfer $150,000 from the Current Year Wage Reserve Account to the PRC Public Grounds Maintenance Full Time Salaries,
Request for $175,000 from June 30, 2022 Certified Free Cash to Building Demolition/Other Repairs account to cover the additional costs for the emergency demolition of a residential structure at 91 Newtonville Avenue (building and contents considered contaminated and 17 truckloads at $10K each needed to transport contaminated waste),
Request to appropriate and expend $9000 from the Legal Claims and Settlements account for a claim against the City in 2020 for reimbursement for damage sustained as a result of a motor vehicle accident involving the insured and a Newton Police vehicle at the intersection of Moody Street and Underwood Park Inn Waltham; and
Request to appropriate and expend $6,256.71 from the Legal Claims and Settlements account for a claim against the City in 2022 for reimbursement for damage to his vehicle as a result of a motor vehicle accident involving his vehicle and a Newton Fire truck at the intersection of Hawthorne Street and Murphy Court (see Agenda).

The Development Committee for the Library Board of Trustees will meet (in person: Library Trustees Room) on Tuesday, December 13 at 11AM and do a final wrap-up on the Spring Fling, discuss development strategy, and new naming opportunities/plaques (see Agenda).

The Economic Development Commission will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, December 13 at 6:30PM (agenda) to discuss 1314 Washington Street, use tables in the Zoning Ordinance, and staff updates on Village Center Zoning, Outdoor Dining, and the Public Hearing on Animal Services.

The 1314 Washington Street rezoning request and special permit request are also on the agenda for the Land Use Committee meeting (in-person: Council Chamber; virtual: Zoom link) on Tuesday, December 13 at 7PM. According to the Planning Department’s memo and the December 1 letter from Mark Development’s counsel, they are “anxious” to receive approval by the close of 2022, and state that they cannot guarantee their ability to secure off-site parking for the proposed restaurant use or have final arrangements in place by the upcoming meeting (Tuesday’s meeting). The petitioner asks the Land Use Committee to consider approving the project with a retail use rather than a restaurant use recognizing that they could come back and request an amendment to the special permit to allow restaurant use with the provision of off-site parking at a later time. The Land Use Committee will also review and discuss the following:

10 Class 2 Auto Dealer License requests,
1 Class 1 Auto Dealer License Request,
Request to allow solar canopies at Wells Avenue (57, 85, and 111),
Request to allow a veterinary hospital at 714-724 Beacon Street,
Request to construct additions to the rear and the side of the dwelling and to construct dormers at 96 Waban Park,
Request to construct a second three-car attached garage exceeding 700 sq. ft. at 157 Dudley Road, and
Request to demolish the existing building and construct a 9-unit residential dwelling at 106 River Street.

The Auburndale Historic District Commission will meet virtually (Zoom link) meeting on Tuesday, December 13 at 7PM (see Agenda and Packet) to consider two Grove Street requests: a request to replace the front entry porch wood decking with composite decking (197 Grove Street) and a request to replace the existing front-entry brick landing and stairs and install railing (36 Grove Street).

The Community Preservation Committee will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, December 13 at 7PM. The agenda includes a discussion of CPA Program Outreach and potential workshop, a review of existing and potential future projects, an update on the Dudley Road Estate potential project, a review of current finances, and review of the updated logo design (see Packet documents).

The Financial Audit Advisory Committee will review draft Financial Statements and the draft Management Letter at its virtual (Zoom link) meeting on Wednesday, December 14 at 8AM (see Agenda).

The Board of Assessors will meet in person (Room 108) on Wednesday, December 14 at 9AM and will review and approve November 2022 Exemption and Abatement reports (see Agenda).

The seventh and final Zoning Map Information Session — for Nonantum and Newton Corner — is scheduled for Wednesday, December 14 from 5:30PM to 7PM. Register here and click here for the session packet. Feedback can be provided online. Here is information from the previous sessions:

Updates on the Code of Conduct Policy Review, a request for Youth Voice from the League of Women Voters, a communications subcommittee announcement, and a Stress Survival Guide Workshop led by families for Depression Awareness are on the agenda for this week’s Youth Commission meeting (in-person: Newton Free Library) on Wednesday, December 14 at 6:30PM.

A request for a Certificate of Appropriateness for signage (to move or revise existing signage and add new signage) and for final project approval for work to renovate the buildings and add hardscaping and landscaping at the Mary Baker Eddy Museum (Historic House), located 384 – 400 Beacon Street, are among the petitions to be discussed at the Chestnut Hill Historic District Commission‘s virtual (Zoom link) meeting on Thursday, December 15 at 7PM. The Commission will also review a request to replace the existing balcony French doors with sliding doors at 22 Chestnut Hill Road, a request to install a columbarium at 381 Hammond Street, and a request for feedback on a project to change hardscaping at the front of the house, install patio and walkway at the back of the house, install River Rock buffer on the right property line, and replace chain link fence on the right property line with a black vinyl coated chain link fence at 12 Acacia Avenue – (see Agenda, Packet documents, and Supplemental Materials – 400 Beacon).

The City’s Traffic Council will meet virtually (Zoom l i nk) on Thursday, December 15 at 7PM to review the following (see Agenda):

Request for an accessible parking space in front of 372 Langley Road;
Request amend the TPR (Traffic and Parking Regulations) to use the currently-posted and painted pick-up and drop-off zone instead as an extension of the bus zone on Elm Road;
Request for a No Turn on Red restriction at the corner of Lowell Avenue & Washington Street;
Request to permanently close the northbound block of Albemarle Road to vehicular traffic, in both directions, between Crafts Street and North Street, except for bicycles (has been closed since September 2020);
Request to restrict U-Turns on Walnut Street between Newtonville Avenue and Cabot Street through the village center area;
Request to add a stop sign at the T-approach from Wells Avenue westbound to Wells Avenue north and southbound;
Request to add a yield sign at the channelized right turn from Wells Avenue westbound to Wells Avenue northbound; and
Request for a long-term trial to address the additional parking demand along Lincoln Street and abutting streets in Newton Highlands, resulting from the temporary Senior Center relocation.

The Traffic Council will also entertain a motion for No Action Necessary on an item that was held for a long-term trial giving the Commissioner of the Department of Public Works and the Director of Planning and Development the administrative authority to remove on-street metered and unmetered parking spaces for the purpose of restaurant and other business use, with an associated fee structure to be determined by the City Council.

The Sustainable Materials Management Commission will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Thursday, December 15 at 7PM to discuss an update on the recycling sticker project, the recyclability of plastics, and the scope of a comprehensive zero waste plan (see Agenda).

The Upper Falls Area Council will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Thursday, December 15 at 7PM. The agenda includes updates on Village Center Zoning, Northland, Elliot Street Safety Issues, La Nuestra and the Pettee Square Redesign project, the Depot Coffee Shoppe, and a presentation by Councilor Malakie and Melissa Brown on the proposals to strengthen Newton’s Tree Ordinance.

3 Override Meetings

Virtual Roundtable (Zoom link) on Parks, Athletic Fields, Courts, and Playgrounds on Tuesday, December 13 at 6PM.
Virtual Chat with the Commissioner: Jim McGonagle on Streets & Sidewalks on Wednesday, December 14 at 9AM. No Zoom link or other information is posted.
Virtual Town Hall on Thursday, December 15 at 7PM. No Zoom link or other information is posted.

Sorry, this week’s road construction schedule has not been update or posted yet.

Snow Shoveling Information

The City of Newton’s snow-clearing ordinances require all property owners or occupants of a building to maintain all paved and concrete sidewalks abutting their property or business in a non-slippery condition free of ice and snow within 24 hours after the snow has ceased to fall or ice has formed. The Commissioner of Public Works may extend the 24-hour compliance timeframe when weather conditions necessitate.

Residents and business owners can be issued fines for failing to clear their sidewalks. Fines can be issued each day until the violation is addressed.

Residential properties:

1st Offense per 365 period: written warning
2nd and subsequent offenses per 365-day period: $50

Fines for commercial, institutional, or residential properties with more than four residential dwelling units:

1st Offense: $100
2nd Offense: $200
3rd and subsequent offenses in a calendar year: $300

Annual exemptions from the sidewalk clearing requirement are available for citizens who upon written petition (Sidewalk Snow Shoveling Exemption Request Form (PDF)) demonstrate hardship due to a combination of health and financial duress, or religious circumstances. Contact the Department of Senior Services at 617-796-1675 or email nsilton@newtonma.gov.

For the City’s recommended use of de-icers to treat sidewalks, please see the Winter Snow and Ice Control Brochure.

Newton Public School Closing information can be found here.

What’s up in Newton this week – 12/11/2022

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