Zoning and Planning will meet in person (Room 205) and virtually (Zoom link) on Monday, March 27 at 6:30PM. The agenda includes the following:
- Request a discussion with the Sustainability Team and Planning Department, and to amend the zoning ordinance (Section 5.13, notable 5.13.4.D Reserved) to regulate embodied carbon in large new construction, to further the objectives of the City’s Climate Action Plan.
- Request for an update and discussion with the Sustainability Director on the requirements under the Ten Communities program, that would allow Newton to require electrification of all new construction and substantial renovations, and to consider adopting such an ordinance.
Chair’s Note: Staff will present a recommended approach to incentivizing a higher percentage of affordable units in the Village Center Overlay District (VCOD), by allowing additional building height and footprint. If time allows, the committee will continue its discussion on VC1 metrics.
- Request for a review, discussion, and possible ordinance amendments relative to Chapter 30 zoning ordinances pertaining to Mixed Use, Business Districts, and Village Districts relative to the draft Zoning Ordinance. (see Planning Memo regarding Parking Minimums and Planning Memo regarding Affordability Bonus)
- Two re-appointments to the Urban Design Commission: William Winkler and James Doolin
Finance Committee will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Monday, March 27 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following requests:
- Appropriate and expend $244,821.31 from June 30, 2022 Certified Free Cash to Newton Public Schools for homeless student transportation
- Transfer $125,000 from the Human Resources Department Full Time Salaries to the Human Resources Full-Time Consultants
- Transfer $450,000 (402,798 from Reserve Funds – Current Year Wage Reserve and $47,202 from Reserve Funds – Current Year Budget Reserve) to Traffic Safety – Regular Salaries to fulfill the City of Newton’s two 3-year agreements with AFSCME 2913 spanning FY2019-2021 and FY2022-2024
- Discussion with the administration, specifically, the Treasurer, to understand the City’s rainy-day fund investment strategy and how rainy-day fund investment decisions are made
Zoning and Planning will meet in person (Room 204) and virtually (Zoom link) on Wednesday, March 29 at 6:30PM. The agenda includes the following:
- Request for a discussion on state guidance for implementing the Housing Choice element of the MA Economic Development legislation (see Planning Memo)
Chair’s Note: Consulting firm Utile and staff will join the committee to present the MBTA Communities compliance tool and discuss the degree to which the Village Center Overlay District (VCOD) proposal to date satisfies the requirements, as well as how certain changes to the metrics or mapping of the VCOD impacts compliance.
- Request for a review, discussion, and possible ordinance amendments relative to Chapter 30 zoning ordinances pertaining to Mixed Use, Business Districts, and Village Districts relative to the draft Zoning Ordinance.