The Zoning & Planning Committee voted to approve the following (see Report and watch the video on NewTV):
- Two reappointments to the Urban Design Commission: William Winkler and James Doolin
The Zoning & Planning Committee voted to hold the following:
- Request for an ordinance to regulate embodied carbon in new construction. The proposed ordinance would apply only to projects over 20,000 sq. ft. and would require an analysis that estimates the embodied carbon of a project. A public hearing is set for Monday, April 24.
- For projects under 50,000 sq. ft., only structural materials using a Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment Tool or Environmental Product Declarations would be required.
- For projects over 50,000 sq. ft., structural and enclosure materials using a Whole Building Life-Cycle Assessment tool, a description of how the CO1e/sq. ft. of the project compares to the average CO2e intensity for comparable projects, and an explanation of why the building materials and systems were chosen.
- No analysis is required for renovation projects where at least 50% of the floor area of an existing structure is to be reused.
- Discussion and possible ordinance requiring electrification of all new construction and substantial renovations. If accepted into the State’s Ten Communities program, Newton could require electrification of all new construction and substantial renovations. According to the report, Sustainability Director Ann Berwick explained that the model rule requires that large commercial buildings must be included, all lab and medical facilities must be excluded, and at the waiver process in the Home Rule petition was removed. Councilors expressed unanimous support for the possible ordinance and requested a public hearing before the end of June.
- Request for a discussion and review relative to the draft Zoning Ordinance regarding village centers. The consultant from Landwise presented proposals to incentivize a higher percentage of affordable units in VC2 and VC3 districts with increased allowable building footprints and heights. The consultant also provided examples of positive outcomes in municipalities that eliminated parking minimums. “Multiple Councilors expressed support for eliminating parking minimums in the Village Center Overlay District.”