In his testimony at the Zoning and Planning (ZAP) Committee’s public hearing on the Village Center Overlay District zoning proposal, Jeremy Freudberg, President of the Newton Highlands Neighborhood Area Council, underscored the “significant amount of time” the nine-member Council devotes in its monthly meetings to discussing and analyzing Planning Department and ZAP information. Mr. Freudberg reported that by a unanimous vote, the Area Council rejected the VC3 plan that would allow buildings of 4.5 stories to be built in the Highlands and rejected the 5.5 and 6.5 story proposal that would serve as a bonus for development of more affordable units. He noted that “the bonus should only be available on specifically identified parcels and not left up to chance.” The Area Council also questioned the plans for Newton Four Corners that would allow full residential development replacing existing commercial use. “This is inexplicable, and the black lines on the map seem to be randomly drawn,“ he said. The Area Council believes that VC1 designation — multifamily (3+) and retail — on Route 9, with driveways accessing the busy roadway, would be dangerous. Although residents have asked for preservation of “trees, light and open space,” he stated that those have not been adequately provided. Finally, the Area Council has requested 3D models, which would better represent the proposed zoning. In a later conversation with Fig City News, Mr. Freudberg said that felt that it was important for “people in charge to explain the zoning process to us.”
The Newtonville Area Council, represented by its Vice President, Dr. Laura DeVeau, discussed the results of a survey she and a Newtonville group designed to inform and solicit feedback from area residents. Survey participation was not limited to Newtonville residents; the majority of respondents live in Wards 1, 2, and 3. Dr. DeVeau, who currently teaches at the Graduate School of Education at Boston College, noted that height matters, as evidenced by the fact that most respondents believe that height should be limited to no more than three stories on Walnut and Austin Streets and no more than four on Washington Street. At the same time, among people who have lived in Newton for less than fifteen years, 32% approved of seven stories on Washington Street “as long as inclusionary zoning is part of the development.” About parking, people wanted a plan that “focuses on parking solutions such as short-term parking and clearer enforcement on Walnut and Austin streets.” And, finally, 70% of respondents “Oppose the 30,000 square foot “by-right” development. Dr. DeVeau said the survey indicates that “there is a lack of understanding in the process. The City should focus on rebuilding trust as much as it is on rebuilding Village Centers.”
Neither the Waban nor Upper Falls Area Councils made formal comments.
Newton Highlands resident Kathy Pillsbury, who is a member of the Building Professionals Group and has been providing data and financial analysis on Newton zoning as well as comments at meetings of the Area Councils, advocated for the proposed Village Center Zoning Redesign. Making the case for more multi-family development, she noted the 25% increase in the over-65 population between 2010 and 2021, with the 65-75 cohort increasing by 64%. At the same time, the population of children under 10 decreased by 8%. She said that people were concerned by the prospect of greater size and density in village centers served by public transportation. She concluded that in the Multi-family Residential Transit areas of the city, “(G)iven the small size of many of the lots near our villages and the size of current buildings, the best option for the majority of the lots would be to preserve the existing buildings and put on an addition.” However, she noted that “greatest opportunity to impact climate change and reduce the cost of living in our city will be in the VC2 and VC3 districts,” where allowing more height will also offer more housing. “More and smaller units in a building reduces energy use,” and less need for personal cars. “All of these factors will reduce the cost of living in Newton,” and address climate change as well, she concluded.
