Here’s what’s up in Newton this week…
The City Council will meet TONIGHT at 7:45PM in-person at City Hall and virtually (Zoom link) to address the following items approved by committees (see Reports Docket and New Docket):
- Land Use Committee: Petitions for Land Use Special Permits:
- Marijuana retailer at 1185 Chestnut Street – see Special Permit documents and Draft Council Order
- Extend non-conforming 2-family at 71-73 West Pine Street – see Special Permit documents, Planning Presentation, and Draft Council Order
- Four single-family attached dwellings at 120 Norwood Avenue – see Special Permit documents, Planning Presentation, and Draft Council Order
- Rezone 2 parcels from SR3 to MR2 (Draft Council Order) and Special Permit for 12 multi-family and 4 single-family attached residential units at Walker Center, 136-144 Hancock Street and 169 Grove Street – see Special Permit documents and Draft Council Order
- Solar canopies over the parking lot areas at 57, 85, and 111 Wells Avenue – see Special Permit documents and Draft Council Order
- Veterinary Hospital at 714-724 Beacon Street – see Special Permit documents; Planning Presentation, and Draft Council Order
- Exceed FAR and extend non-conforming setback – 96 Waban Park – Special Permit documents; Planning Presentation, and Draft Council Order
- Second three-car garage at 157 Dudley Road – Special Permit documents; Planning Presentation, and Draft Council Order
- 9-unit residential dwelling at 106 River Street – See Special Permit documents; Planning Presentation, and Draft Council Order
- Rezone 3 parcels from BU1 to MU4 (Draft Council Order) and Special Permit for mixed-use, five-story development (Draft Council Order) at 1314 Washington Street and 31, 33 Davis Street – See Special Permit documents
- Zoning and Planning Committee:
- Amendments to zoning for animal service establishments
- Reappointment of Dan Brody to the Community Preservation Committee
- Programs & Services Committee:
- Reappointment of Marguerite Connolly and Mark Feldhusen to the Parks and Recreation Commission
- Reappointment of Sue Rasala to the Council on Aging
- Public Safety & Transportation Committee:
- 8 requests for renewal of public auto licenses
- Public Facilities Committee:
- Eversource petition for Grant of Location of pole and conduit in Westfield Rd
- Finance Committee:
- Acceptance of $75,000 from the FY23 Massachusetts State Budget for Newton in Motion (NewMo)
- Transfer of $150,000 from Current Year Wage Reserve Accounts to Public Grounds Maintenance Full Time Salaries
- Transfer $174,000 to the Building Demolition/Other Repairs for the emergency demolition of a residential structure at 91 Newtonville Avenue
- Settlements: $9,000 for the Commerce Insurance Company and $6,256.71 for the Mark Visco
The School Committee will meet three times this week (see details):
- The Regular School Committee Meeting will be held TONIGHT at 6:30PM (in-person: Room 210 Ed Center for SC members and staff only; virtual: Zoom link for public) to discuss the following (see Agenda):
- Interim School Superintendent Goals
- Change in Bigelow start and end time
- Grants
- Budget Guidelines
- Revised KDCE Policy
- Newton Schools Foundation Donation
- Enrollment and Feeder Pattern Recommendation
- System-Wide Goals Update – ELL
- Countryside Project – Ed Program and Space Summary
- FY23 Fiscal and Operational Update
- Superintendent Search Update
- Collective Bargaining Negotiations
- Preview of the School Lunch Program
- The Negotiations Subcommittee will meet twice in closed Executive Session:
- Virtually on Monday, December 19 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with the NTA
- In-person on Wednesday, December 21 to conduct a collective bargaining session with the NTA Units A-E and to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with the NTA
Meetings of the City Council’s three “P” Committees (Programs and Services, Public Facilities, and the Public Safety and Transportation Committee) have been canceled. The next meetings will be in January (see Meeting Cancellation Notice).
Board and Commission Meetings this week: See the Weekly Calendar below for dates, times, Zoom links, and documents for these meetings. Or click the links below for full details.
- Newton Cultural Council: Adjudication Session No. 6
- Newton Parks and Recreation Commission: Public Hearing on Gath Pool
- Newton Biosafety Committee
- Countryside School Building Committee
- Newton Housing Partnership: Elder Housing with Services – Inclusionary Zoning; Village Center Zoning; NHP Initiatives; Dudley Road; West Newton Armory, Northland – Charlemont
- Conservation Commission
- Board of License Commissioners
- Council on Aging and Advisory Committee: Jayne’s retirement; New Director, Mignonne Murray; Override: Senior Services proposed $500K increase to operating budget; NewCAL (Interim Space, Naming new building); Needs Assessment
- Newton Free Library Board of Trustees
- Zoning Board of Appeals: Public Hearing – Northland Charlemont Comprehensive Permit
- Newton Citizens Commission on Energy
- Newton Historical Commission: 1 Partial Demolition; 4 Total Demolitions; 4 Waiver Delays; 1 Preservation Restriction
- Newtonville Area Council
Wondering about 40B? The City’s Law Department sent this memo in response to City Councilors’ questions regarding the 40B Safe Harbor Update Memo submitted to the Zoning Board of Appeals in August, 2022.
This week’s road construction schedule can be found here.