The Zoning & Planning Committee voted to approve the following (see Report and watch the NewTV video):
- Appointment of David Weinstein to Newtonville Historic District Commission (6-0, Councilor Baker Not Voting)
- Reappointment of John Martin and Jim Gross to Newtonville Historic District Commission (7-0)
- Reappointment of Michael Rossi, Jennifer Pucci, and Stuart Snyder to the Zoning Board of Appeals (7-0)
- Reappointment of Tamirirashe Gambiza, Ann Houston, and Peter Sargent to Newton Affordable Housing Trust (7-0)
Zoning & Planning Committee voted to hold the following:
- Discussion and review relative to the draft Zoning Ordinance regarding village centers on Multi Resident Transit zone. (7-0)
Modifications to version 2:
- To incentivize the adaptive reuse of existing buildings, a multi-family conversion (at least 3 units) would allow the existing building footprint to increase by up to 50%, if the addition is set back at least 20 feet from the front façade of the home, and the building may contain up to 6 units, if the site is generous enough to accommodate this.
- For new construction, a building may have a 1,500 sf maximum footprint for a minimum of 3, and up to 4 units. Roof heights: In both cases, the top ridge of a pitched roof could be up to 45 ft above the mean grade to the ridge line (roof peak), but a flat-roofed building may have only two stories, and be at most 27 feet above mean grade. But for adaptive reuse, the roof of an addition may not exceed the height of the existing house.
The MRT zone will not produce deed-restricted affordable housing units, it will incentivize smaller units, than currently available in Newton. Larger developments in the VC 2 and 3 zones, with 7 or more units will be required to comply with the inclusionary zoning ordinance and provide deed-restricted units. Per MBTA Communities Guidelines the City may not require a minimum or maximum unit size or number of bedrooms that must be supplied in a given development. The city is looking at taking the rear lot subdivision provision out of the Village Center Overlay District text and is working on language to allow a subdivision on wide lots. The City is unable to require the architectural character of addition to complement the existing structure, only the state building code could. Planners will look more closely at the requirements for screening parking.
- Request for a discussion on state guidance for implementing the Housing Choice Bill was discussed with the above item. (7-0)
- Discussion and possible ordinance to allow for breweries, brew pubs, and other craft beverage production. The zoning ordinance does not explicitly allow the bottling of alcoholic beverages. Nearby communities have an explicit ordinance. The Planning Department said there are two different ways to allow for this use: 1) explicit permissions for restaurants and retail to produce alcoholic beverages and 2) create a new use for “Craft Beverage Establishments” – allowing for flexibility without affecting the existing restaurant and retail ordinances. Economic Development Director, John Sisson suggested that due to the high cost of real estate, regulating bottle works within the City was not recommended.