Zoning and Planning Committee will meet in person (Room 204) and virtually (Zoom link) on Monday, February 13 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:
- Public Hearing with the Planning and Development Board on a request to amend Sections 5.1.4, 6.4.29, and 7.8.2 to make on‐street dining permanent – see Planning Memo
- Request for a discussion and review relative to the draft Zoning Ordinance regarding village centers – see Planning Memo
- Reappointment of Peter Doeringer to the Planning and Development Board
- Reappointment of Robert Imperato to the Chestnut Hill Historic District Commission
Finance Committee will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Monday, February 13 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:
- Request to accept and expend a $2,677 grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety for a Senior SAFE Grant that has been awarded to the Fire Department to purchase smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for Newton’s seniors.
- Request to accept and expend a $25,600 Massachusetts Emergency Management Association (MEMA) Emergency Management Preparedness Grant (CMPG) awarded to the Fire Department for technology and protective gear.
- Request to accept and expend a $10,601.01 bequest from the estate of Audrey M. Cooper for the purpose of supporting the programs and services of the Newton Senior Center.
- Request to appropriate and expend $160,000 from Stormwater- Full-time Wages Account and $120,000 from Stormwater – Drainage System Account for a total of $280,000 to cover the completion of Phase 1 of the City’s Phosphorus Control Plan.
- Reappointment of James Shaughnessy as a member of the Board of Assessors.
- Request to appropriate and expend $1,500 from Handicapped Parking Fines to Law Department Grants to engage the Me2/ Orchestra to give a concert to the Newton community.
Land Use Committee will meet in person (Council Chamber) and virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, February 14 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:
- Request for an Extension of Time to July 27, 2025, to exercise a previously approved Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to raze the existing buildings and construct a four-story mixed-use building up to 48’ in height, containing 25 units and 23 parking stalls at 1149-1151 Walnut Street
- Request for a Change of Zone from Multi Residence 2 to Multi Residence 3 for a parcel of land located at 29 Hunter Street – Special Permit documents and Planning Memo
- Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to allow a multifamily dwelling, to extend a nonconforming side setback, to waive two parking stalls, to allow parking in the front and side setbacks, and to reduce stall width and depth at 29 Hunter Street – see Special Permit documents and Planning Memo
- Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to construct a second-story addition as well as an expansion of an existing garage at 616 Boylston Street – see Special Permit documents and Planning Memo
- Request to amend a previously approved Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to amend the approved FAR granted at 336 Cabot Street – see Special Permit documents and Planning Memo
- Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to raze the existing nonconforming three-unit multifamily dwelling and construct a five-unit residential dwelling with ground level garage parking and associated dimensional, parking, and use waivers at 194 Adams Street – see Special Permit documents and Planning Memo
- Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval for a rear lot subdivision to subdivide the current lot into two, with one single-family dwelling each at 176 River Street – see Special Permit documents and Planning Memo
City Council will meet in person (Council Chamber) and virtually (Zoom link) as a Committee of the Whole on Wednesday, February 15 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:
- Request discussion with the Sustainability Team and Planning Department about the new Massachusetts Building Energy Code amendments (Base code and Stretch code) and to consider adopting the Specialized Energy Code pursuant to the entirety of 225 CMR 22 and 23 including Appendices RC and CC.
Programs and Services Committee will meet in person (Council Chamber) and virtually (Zoom link) on Thursday, February 16 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:
- Request for a discussion with the Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Culture about the maintenance plan for our parks, recreation and culture resources, including recreational fields. This discussion should include an articulation of how additional funds based upon a budget increase and newly collected user group field fees in the upcoming fiscal year will be utilized. Time permitting, the discussion should also include a description of the capital projects on recreational fields that the department intends to complete in the upcoming fiscal year.
- Petition submitted pursuant to Article 10, Sec. 10‐2 of the City of Newton Charter, for the City Council to pass a measure postponing any immediate action for new or replacement artificial turf anywhere in Newton pending the completion, public presentation, and public hearing for the following: comprehensive study of demand for playing fields and adequacy of field scheduling system; incorporating health and medical guidelines for physical activity on artificial turf into definition of playability; development of sustainable and organic management plan for existing and future natural grass playing fields’ and a comparative analysis by independent researchers of total cost of natural grass fields versus artificial turf.
Traffic Council will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Thursday, February 16 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:
- Request to change the parking regulations on a portion of Station Avenue to allow for the installation of an in-street Bluebikes Station (NOTE: Item was previously held for a long-term trial).
- Request to review and assess a change to the parking regulations on Grove Street between Washington Street and Colgate Road (NOTE: Item was previously held for a long-term trial).
- Request for a discussion and potential approval of a street sweeping trial on the following streets in Nonantum: Allison Street, Beech Street, Cook Street, Dalby Street, Faxon Street, Green Street (Cook St to Pearl St), Jasset Street, Kennedy Circle, Los Angeles Street, and Middle Street. (NOTE: This item was previously held for a trial)
- Request to update the Traffic and Parking Regulations to make the Pick-Up and Drop-Off zones on Lowell Avenue between Hull Street and Elm Road permanent. These zones have been part of an ongoing Traffic Council trial which allowed changes to the parking regulations on public streets located within 1,500 feet of a school.
- Administrative Change Made and Included on the Electronic Version of the February 16, 2023 Traffic Council Meeting Agenda: A change was made to Sec TPR‐176 for Florence Street to remove the parking prohibition on the north side, from a point 261 feet east of Boylston Street, 22 feet easterly. This restriction was removed when the Lifetime Center building was renovated, which removed a doorway access onto Florence Street.