City Council
Public Facilities will meet on Monday to discuss and vote on a request for a grant of location to relocate a pole east of Hammond Pond Parkway in Boylston Street.
Finance will meet on Monday to discuss the following:
- Acceptance of three grants:
- $150,000 earmarked in 2022 State Economic Development Bill for Newton’s Bluebikes system
- $50,000 from the National Recreation and Park Association’s 2023 Danaher Biodiversity Grant Program for the Marty Sender Greenway Phase 2 Restoration project
- $1,250,000 earmarked in the 2022 State Economic Development Bill for the Christina Street Bridge and Path Project
- Transfer of $200,000 from the PEG Access and Cable Related Fund to the Newton Communications Access Center, Inc. (NewTV)
The full City Council is expected to vote on the following:
- 8 Special Permit requests:
- Dormer addition in the half story of the nonconforming 3.5-story structure, extending the nonconforming number of stories and exceeding the maximum FAR at 35 Oak Cliff Road
- Combination of two units currently occupied by retail and personal services uses to operate a 42-seat restaurant which requires a waiver of seven parking stalls at 12 Austin Street (Comella’s)
- Conversion of attached garage into living space and construction of two parking stalls within the front setback at 213 Jackson Street
- Construction and allowance of a drive-through window and waivers for parking, lighting, and signs at 940 Boylston Street (Dunkin Donuts)
- Three amendments to previously approved special permits regarding conditions around vibration control:
- 136-144 Hancock Street (also includes units that were designated to conform to MAAB requirements)
- 106 River Street
- 71 Commonwealth Avenue
- Amendment to previously approved Special Permit to allow expanded hours of operation for the patio at 344-346 Elliot Street (Dunn Gaherin’s)
- Request to rezone lots on Charles Street
- Appointments:
- Jane Obbagy to the Economic Development Commission
- Anthony Ciccariello as Commissioner of Inspectional Services
- Maruta Vitols as a Jackson Homestead Trustee
- Reappointments:
- Kathryn Cade to the Conservation Commission
- Jeffrey Riklin to the Newton Upper Falls Historic District Commission
- Michael Flaherty, Matthew Stafford, and Asa Fanelli to the Health and Human Services Advisory Council
- Joanna Josephson as a Newton Library Trustee
- Jonathan Kantar to the Citizens Commission on Energy
The New Docket includes the following:
- Request for a special permit to reduce required lot area by 5% at 52 Sharpe Road
- Request to waive the separation requirement for a historic detached accessory apartment, to further extend nonconforming height and footprint, and to exceed FAR at 193 Lake Avenue
- Request to change from a nonconforming two-family dwelling use to two single-family dwellings on one lot at 373 Lexington Street
- Request to amend the site plan associated with Special Permit #179-15 at 1349 Centre Street
- Request to extend a nonconforming residential use to allow a 3-unit multi-family dwelling, to extend nonconforming front, side and rear setbacks, to allow up to 36 feet in height, and waivers for parking at 43 Crafts Street
- Request to allow parking in the front setback at 89-91 Crafts Street
- Discussion and possible amendment to inclusionary zoning ordinance to require that developers and property managers provide training for its employees regarding bias toward residents of inclusionary housing units and how to mitigate this bias
- Discussion on bias toward residents living in inclusionary housing units
- Discussion and possible creation of Newton City Poet Laureate designation
- Appeal of Traffic Council Decision TC35-23 prohibiting parking at all times along the following areas of Farwell Street: south and west side from a point 170 feet west of Farwell Circle to North Street (southerly intersection)
- Appeal of Traffic Council Decision TC30-23 for changes to the parking regulations on Columbia Avenue in order to install bicycle accommodations
- Authorization to expend $33,333 in transportation mitigation funds on NewMo Operation from the 15 Riverdale Avenue development for NewMO
- Authorization to accept and expend the sum of $5,000 and to accept two pieces of artwork for the Department of Senior Services
- Authorization to appropriate and expend $10,831.12 from Handicapped Parking Fines-Disability Commission Receipts Reserved for Appropriations Account to supplement funds being used at Williams Elementary School for accessibly play equipment
- Authorization to accept and expend the sum of $427,454.54 from an Assistance to Firefighter Grant
- CPC Recommendation to appropriate $1,967,119 in CPA funding for Newton Affordable Housing Trust Fund Annual Appropriation
- Appointments:
- Peter Leis to the Newton Historical Commission
- Susan Harvey and Paul Holt as Newton Library Trustees
- Reappointments of John Rice and Doug Cornelius to the Newton Historical Commission
- Discussion and ordinance change to Section 19-49 Temporary Parking Permits
- Requesting a discussion with the Department of Public Works, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Conservation Commission regarding the condition of, and potential improvements to, the stormwater infrastructure in Edmands Park
Zoning and Planning will meet on Tuesday and continue the discussion on Village Center Zoning and, per the Chair’s Note, will review and discuss the text by substantive sections as per the staff outline, take straw votes on each section, and consider amendments relevant to each section. Several Councilors nnd others have submitted comments:
- Councilor Albright
- Councilor Baker
- Councilor Laredo
- Councilor Wright (7/28)
- Planning Board member, Peter Doeringer
- Pam Wright (8/11) – Additional Proposed Amendments, Pam Wright (8/11) – Amendments to VCOD Maps
- Councilor Greenberg
- Coucilors Leary and Greenberg
- Councilor Lucas
- Memo to the Mayor from Councilors Baker, Gentile, Laredo, Lucas, Malakie, Markiewicz, Norton, Oliver, and Wright requesting a pause until after submission of the City’s MBTA Communities Act plan to the state.
In addition, the City Council received these comments/testimonials on Village Center Zoning from Community Groups and Community Members.
Programs and Services will meet on Wednesday and discuss the following:
- Appointment of Janet Huettig and Dr. Carolyn Bernstein to the Health and Human Services Advisory Council
- Two proposals to amend the Tree Preservation Ordinance (Committee to receive public comments)
- Request for a non-binding advisory question to be placed on the November 7, 2023, municipal ballot: “Should the Newton City Council vote to adopt a zoning ordinance for Newton village commercial centers so that parcels under 30,000 square feet would have the opportunity to be redeveloped to construct multifamily housing, or a mix of businesses and multi-family housing, in buildings up to 3.5 to 4.5 stories high, without requiring onsite parking and prior approval from the City Council?”
Board and Commission Meetings
Licensing Commission will meet on Tuesday and discuss the following:
- A One-Day Temporary Entertainment License for a live professional wrestling event at Newton Elks Lodge, September 15
- A One-Day Temporary Wine and Malt License for a Beer Garden/Annual Street Fair at the Street Chestnut Hill Saturday, September 9 (rain date: September 10)
- Alteration of Premises and Change to the On-Site Manager at Feast and Fettle: addition of adjacent storefront
- Transfer the All-Alcohol Package Store, License Pledge of License, and Inventory from Vinodivino I, LLC to MDM Wine1 LLC d/b/a Vinodivino (license and inventory pledged to Middlesex Savings Bank).
Board of Assessors will meet on Wednesday to review and approve July 2023 Exemption and Abatement Reports.
Conservation Commission will meet on Thursday to discuss:
- Addition of 2 parking spaces required by zoning at 27 Cross Street.
- Pool and accessories at 580 Walnut Street.
- Informal discussion to provide preliminary input regarding the permitability of the Countryside Elementary School project.
Other
The Planning Board submitted its comments on the proposed Landmark Designations for 19 Highland Avenue and 2-12 Windsor Road.
- In its letter to the Historical Commission regarding 19 Highland Avenue, the Planning Board recommended the landmark designation but because the site is proposed to be included in the Village Center Overlay District (VCOD), the Board advised the designative “retain flexibility to allow appropriate redevelopment or reuse of the parish house structure and adjacent portions of the lot for residential or commercial purposes while preserving the church.” Two members requested to go on record as supporting the preservation of the parish house.
- In its letter regarding 2-12 Windsor Road, the Planning Board recommended landmark designation but because the site is also proposed to be included in the VCOD, the Board also advised that the designation “acknowledge the opportunity for commercial and residential development on the site.” The Board pointed out that the entire parking lot and section of the multi-building property at 10 Windsor did not appear to contribute to the historic character of the site and urged the Historical Commission to focus on “key historic qualities of the site that ought to be preserved” in its review for proposals and provide greater flexibility of the non-contributing portions of the site.
This week’s road construction schedule.