All items were held (see Report and watch the video on NewTV’s YouTube channel).
- Discussion and amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map re: Village Center Districts (8-0)
Straw votes were taken on the following items:
Dimensional Standards – Sites
- Councilor Wright proposed to increase the open space requirement in the MRT zone to 50% from 30% and require in all cases on all lots, not just those requiring special permits. Failed 2-6, Councilors Crossley, Leary, Albright, Krintzman, Ryan, Danberg Opposed.
- Increase open space requirement for MRT to 35% from 30%, and require on all lots, not just for those requiring special permits. Passed 7-0-1, Councilor Wright Abstained.
- Proposal to set a minimum lot size in MRT. Failed 2-6, Councilors Crossley, Leary, Albright, Krintzman, Ryan, and Danberg Opposed.
- “Consider requiring a minimum frontage.” Passed 5-3, Councilors Leary, Albright and Danberg Opposed.
- Require a minimum frontage of no more than 45 feet. Passed 4-2-2, Councilors Ryan and Albright Opposed, Councilors Leary, Danberg Abstained.
- “Consider a minimum frontage of no more than 60 feet.” Failed 2-6, Councilors Crossley, Leary, Albright, Krintzman, Ryan, and Danberg Opposed.
- Councilor Laredo’s proposal to require a special permit for multiple buildings on a lot in VC2 and VC3. Failed 0-8, Councilors Crossley, Leary, Albright, Krintzman, Ryan, Baker, Wright, Danberg Opposed.
- Require a Special Permit for adaptive reuse in an MRT Zone for more than one additional building on a site. Failed 2-6, Councilors Crossley, Leary, Albright, Krintzman, Ryan, and Danberg Opposed.
Design Standards – Buildings
- Councilor Albright moved to require front façade articulation every 80 feet of width, reduced from 100 feet. Passed 5-1-1, Councilor Ryan Opposed, Councilor Crossley Abstained, Councilor Krintzman Not Voting.
- Require stairways/access to additional units created through adaptive reuse to either be internal or external staircases. Held pending staff discussion regarding building codes with ISD.
Design Standards – Sites
- Councilor Wright proposed additional setback requirements adjacent to a landmarked building and prominent village center buildings. Held (no reason given)
- Councilor Wright proposed adding design/material requirements similar to ADU language. Failed 2-6, Councilors Crossley, Leary, Albright, Krintzman, Ryan, and
Danberg Opposed.
Map Amendments – Newton Highlands (report link includes maps)
- Waiting for next year’s corridor study before amending zoning along Winchester St near Route 9. Passed 9-1, Councilor Ryan Opposed.
- Eliminating VC1 on the map, or where it is contiguous changing it to MRT. Passed 8-0.
- Eliminate MRT zoning in certain sections in and around Newton Highlands, as proposed by the Ward 6 councilors and as highlighted in black north and south of Route 9. Passed 6-0-2, Councilors Crossley and Krintzman Abstained.
- Councilor Krintzman’s motion to not include the proposed addition to MRT near Eliot station. Passed 7-0-1, Councilor Crossley Abstained.
- Councilor Humphrey’s motion to downzone VC2 to MRT for the lots along Route 9. Passed 6-0-2, Councilors Baker and Wright Abstained.
- Councilor Wright and Newton Highlands Area Council’s motion to down-zone all VC3 in Newton Highlands to VC2. The section of VC3 located along Route 9 would be handled separately. Failed 2-6, Councilors Crossley, Leary, Albright, Krintzman, Ryan, and Danberg Opposed.
- Councilor Kalis’s motion to down-zone VC3 lots only along Walnut St south of Floral St. Failed 2-6, Councilors Crossley, Leary, Albright, Krintzman, Ryan, and Danberg Opposed.
Map Amendments – Newton Centre (report link includes maps)
- Retain all of the MRT (that was proposed to be removed) south of Beacon Street and along Beacon Street. Passed 8-0
- Motion to remove area north of Beacon Street and east of Sumner St. from MRT. Motion passed 4-0-4, Councilors Albright, Crossley, Krintzman, and Ryan Abstained.
- Motion to remove scattered sites to the West of Beacon Street from MRT, as outlined in black on the maps. Passed 4-0-4, Councilors Albright, Crossley, Krintzman, and Ryan Abstained.
- Motion to downzone from VC3 to VC2, all sites outlined in blue, to VC2. Failed 2-6, Councilors Crossley, Leary, Albright, Krintzman, Ryan, Danberg Opposed.
- Remove parkland on the corner of Tyler Terrace and Centre St and MWRA aqueduct land from VCOD 8-0
- Upzoning VC2 to VC3 along Center Street, Starting at Crescent Street, going from Center Street back, and then behind it, going from MRT to VC2, further south along Center Street, going from MRT to VC2, and then on the opposite side of the triangle, further south, going from MRT to VC2, absent the big triangle. Passed 6-1-1, Councilor Wright Opposed, Councilor Baker Abstained.
- Upzone from MRT to VC2, from Paul Street to Centre, and along Center, 3 lots, all over 30,000 sf. Passed 8-0.
- Three parcels along Crescent Street are to be upzoned from MRT: to either VC2 or VC3, as outlined on the map. These parcels currently contain commercial uses and MRT does not allow commercial uses. Passed 7-1, Councilor Leary Opposed.
