Deb Crossley is running for her eighth term as one of two At-Large City Councilors from Ward 5. Her involvement in guiding Newton’s direction began when then Mayor David Cohen appointed her to work on a Comprehensive Plan for the City. Councilor Crossley wrote the Energy and Natural Resources portion of the Comprehensive Plan, which was approved by the then Board of Aldermen in 2007.
In 2009, Councilor Crossley, who had been involved in a wide range of community groups and had served as President of the Newton League of Women Voters, declared her candidacy for an At-Large seat on the Board of Aldermen. As an architect, she wanted ”to take better care of our shared public facilities and resources – both our built and natural environments” and “to plan wisely for the future needs of our community.” This includes having “adequate housing options, [among] … a wide range of community needs and services.”
As Chair of the City Council’s Zoning and Planning Committee, Councilor Crossley is an ardent supporter of the proposed Village Center Overlay Design (VCOD), which she believes will repair the city’s housing shortage by allowing more “by right” construction of multi-family developments. “Young families struggle to pay the ticket price in Newton,” she says, maintaining that fewer people can afford to live in the city. She believes that the proposed VCOD change in zoning allows planning for the next generation.
According to Councilor Crossley, Newton’s zoning ordinance changed significantly in 1987, when it prohibited building anything over two stories and having housing above retail in our village centers, and simultaneously eliminated multi-family housing from all districts that previously allowed this use, without a special permit. This combination of rules has had a “chilling effect” on village center businesses and housing development, she explains. She believes that new rules and clear design standards, while allowing more building “by-right” in village centers, will lead to economic diversity and smaller-sized housing to allow more young families to afford to live in Newton. She notes that this will contribute to revitalizing village centers, making them more walkable and bringing more customers to businesses.
Councilor Crossley contends that projects using the VCOD zoning must go through Newton’s Planning Department, so it can monitor projects closely. She envisions a mix of residential and commercial buildings, outdoor dining, more stores, and “more feet on the street.” “We’re in a time when on-line shopping cuts into local business,” she says, but she thinks that “the right balance and mix of stores will help our villages thrive.”
Councilor Crossley explained that the Newton Bicycle/Pedestrian Task Force is working on a plan for safer cycling, noting that it requires a delicate balance to offer safe bike options with the ultimate goal of getting 1.5% to 2% of people out of cars, which will make a huge difference in traffic in the city.
The city is ready for zoning to be refreshed, she asserted. “I understand people who want to hold onto their traditions, but many cannot remain by choice,” she says. She asks, “Do we want to allow the community to grow for the future, with housing for the future in village centers? Do we care about the quality of life that will benefit everyone?”
Councilor Crossley is the past Vice Chair of the Citizens Commission on Energy Newton Housing Partnership. She is former chair of the City Council Public Facilities Committee and served on the Land Use Committee for ten years.
For more information, see her campaign website at debcrossley.org.
