Some City Councilors are pushing to separate the Village Center zoning and the MBTA Communities Act zoning with the goal of changing zoning only to meet the minimum theoretical number of housing units allowed under the new rules.
By confining the zoning process to just the MBTA Communities Act requirements, these Councilors are advocating to do less to address the economic challenges of the small businesses in our villages, do less to address housing needs, and do less to address climate change.
Taking this bare minimum approach will result in:
- Doing as little as required by law to address the economy of our villages – allowing the minimum number of additional people to live in or near our villages, people who could be new customers for our local businesses.
- Doing as little as required by law to address housing needs, including the housing needs of people who work here in Newton, seniors who want to downsize and stay in Newton, and young adults who want to live in the community they grew up in.
- Doing as little as required by law to address climate change – allowing the least number of people to live near our transit stops and our walkable villages and not have to drive as far or as often.
Newton prides itself on being progressive and enacting progressive policies to address the needs of the business community, housing our citizens, and climate change. But by limiting the overlay district to the areas just for the MBTA district, it feels like Newton would be doing as little as possible to get a passing grade. Most people in Newton like to do better than just get a passing grade.
Lisa Monahan
Newton Highlands
