Full City Council will meet in person (Council Chamber) and virtually (Zoom link) on Monday, June 5 at 7:45PM and watch on NewTV. See Reports Docket and New Docket.
Land Use Committee will meet in person (Council Chamber) and virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, June 6 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:
- Request to amend a previously approved Special Permit/Site Plan Approval related to the vibration control condition and units that were designated to conform to MAAB requirements at 136-144 Hancock Street -see Special Permit Documents and Planning Memo.
- Request to amend a previously approved Special Permit/Site Plan Approval regarding the vibration control condition at 106 River Street – see Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.
- Request to amend a previously approved Special Permit/Site Plan approval regarding the vibration control condition at 71 Commonwealth Avenue – see Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.
- Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to construct a sunroom addition at the rear of the dwelling which will further extend the nonconforming FAR at 76 Drumlin Road – see Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.
- Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to construct a half-story addition, vertically extending a nonconforming side setback on an existing detached accessory structure at 231-233 Tremont Street – see Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.
- Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to raze the existing dwelling and construct four residential units in two buildings with dimensional waivers at 20 Clinton Street – see Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.
Public Safety and Transportation Committee will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Wednesday, June 7 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:
- Submittal of semi-annual public auto inspection reports for review.
- Request to appropriate and expend $300,000 from Certified Free Cash to the Automobiles & Light Trucks Account to replace the Fire Department’s 1989 Emergency Response Unit (ERU).
- Request for a discussion with the Fire Chief about the Department’s current methods and ability to respond to EV and electric bike lithium-ion battery fires, and possible measures to mitigate risk of damage to structures.
- Appeal filed by 102 Clark Street, of approval of a Traffic Council petition for a stop sign on the traffic island at the northwest corner of the Clark Street and Rowena Road intersection.
Programs and Services Committee will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Wednesday, June 7 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:
- Appointment of Sean Dazet to Dogs Off-Leash Advisory Committee
- Two appointments to the Community Education Commission:
- Stephen Logowitz
- Harold W. Adams
- Request to increase in the salary of the City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council to $134,734 effective July 1, 2023, to match the percentage increase included in the FY24 budget for H-grade employees.
- Request to appropriate and expend $250,000 from June 30, 2022 Certified free Cash, to the Clerk of the Council-Election Equipment Account to replace 32 current machines as well as one high-speed tabulator to address the increase in vote by mail processing.
- Request to appropriate and expend $9,099,787 to the control of the Planning & Development Department from the Community Preservation Act Funds with f$4,099,787 from the CPA’s Unrestricted Prior Year Fund and$5,000,000 authorize a general obligation borrowing of an equal amount for the Athletic Fields CIP Construction Phase III project and authorization to apply any premium received upon the sale of the bonds or notes, less the cost of preparing, issuing, and marketing them, and any accrued interest received upon the delivery of the bonds or notes to the costs of the project and to reduce the amount authorized to be borrowed for the project by like amount.
- Request for revisions and amendments to Chapter 21, Art. III Trees (sec. 21-60 through 2189) to extend tree protection to all trees 6 inches DBH (diameter at breast height) and greater within the City (with no exempt lots); to update tree removal permits, fees, and compensation; and to strengthen protection for existing and replacement trees (Councilor version).
- Request to review and amend Chapter 21, Art. III, Division 3, Tree Preservation to increase replacement requirements for larger trees, add protections for smaller trees, limit removal of trees without replacement, enhance procedures for protecting trees, increase payment required for trees cut without replacement, protect trees on lots adjacent to construction, and provide Tree Warden with additional professional input on trees on private properties (Executive and Tree Warden version).
Public Facilities Committee‘s regularly scheduled meeting for Wednesday, June 7 has been canceled (see Meeting Cancellation Notice).
Programs and Services Committee will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Thursday, June 8 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:
- Public Hearing on a petition filed by Peter Harrington, et. al. pursuant to Article 10, Sec. 10-2 of the City of Newton Charter, for the City Council to cause the following non-binding question to be placed on the November 7, 2023 municipal ballot: “Shall the City of Newton adopt new zoning laws to:
- Allow new buildings of three and one-half and four and one-half stories in our village center business districts;
- Allow the expansion of the lot size on which new developments can be built, without obtaining a special permit, from the current 10,000 square foot threshold to 30,000 sq ft;
- Allow the reduction or elimination of parking space requirements in Village Centers;
- Change Newton Ordinances to allow developers to build fewer affordable housing units and allow the affordable units to be occupied by tenants with more income than provided by Newton’s Ordinances unless Newton shows its requirements are economically feasible.”