City Council
Finance meeting scheduled for Monday, November 27 has been canceled.
Zoning and Planning will meet on Monday:
- Appointment of Jim Miller to the Auburndale Historic District Commission
- Request to rezone 0 Dedham Street (NOTE: The committee will set a public hearing for the rezoning of this property, which was the former site of the water tower, and surplussed by Council in 2021.)
Finance and Programs and Services will meet jointly on Tuesday:
- Request to appropriate $2,400,000 for Synthetic Turf Carpet at Newton North High School’s Dickinson Field
- Request to appropriate $50,000 from the BAA Account to a Parks, Recreation & Culture Account for a “Heartbreak Hill” banner.
Public Facilities and Finance will meet jointly on Tuesday:
- Public hearing for 5-58, for schematic design and site plan approval at 191 Dedham Street for the design of a new 76,000 SF Countryside School
- Request to borrow $74,730,950 for the construction of the Countryside School project
- Request to reduce the bond authorization for the Lincoln-Eliot Elementary School project, in the amount of $5,109,609
- Request to establish and appropriate funds to a Debt Service Stabilization Fund
Special City Council meeting on Wednesday to continue discussion and debate on village center zoning. See related documents.
Programs and Services will meet on Thursday to discuss and possibly vote on proposed amendments to the Tree Preservation Ordinance.
Schools
There are no Newton Public Schools meetings scheduled for this week.
Boards and Commissions
Library Trustees Finance Committee will meet on Monday and discuss updates on the Transfer of Accounts and Quicken upgrade and donor snap categories.
Newton Cultural Council will meet on Monday and begin Round 1 – Presentation and Adjudication of 2024 grants: Anne Marie Stein, Robert Linsky, Clara Chan, and Chris Pitts.
Newton Retirement Board will meet on Tuesday:
- Two applicants to be interviewed for the 5th member position
- PRIM Portfolio Review
- 2 Applications for accidental disability retirement
- Beneficiary designation
- Lump sum settlement agreement for retiree
- Current status of pending disability retirement applications – Informational only
- Current status of pending appeal cases
Newton Free Library Nominating and Governance Committee will meet on Tuesday:
- Updates on policy, new trustee orientation, committee assignments, bylaw updates, director self-evaluation
Newton Housing Partnership will meet on Tuesday:
- Staff Updates: Project updates, Affordable Housing Trust and Community Preservation Committee updates, Village Center Zoning; Real Estate Transfer Taxes, Partnership Discussion, Mitigation Fees, Massachusetts Shelter Crisis
Council on Aging and Advisory Board will meet on Tuesday:
- NewCAL Update, Programs and Activities for Older Adults in Newton, Senior Services Update, Needs Assessment Project Update, COA Ordinance and By Laws Update, Springwell Report, Parks and Recreation Over 55 Programs, and Senior Services Programs
Commission on Disability Newton-Wellesley Hospital Subcommittee will meet on Wednesday:
- Access updates from Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Accessible Medical Equipment Update, Accessibility Information Available
Newton Free Library Board of Trustees will meet on Wednesday and discuss: Nonantum Branch Library License Agreement Renewal, Library Action Plan.
Zoning Board of Appeals will meet on Wednesday:
- Two Public Hearings:
- 41 Washington Street – reconfiguring the existing dwelling and constructing an addition for total of 16 units with 4 affordable units. See Planning Memo.
- 1135-1137 Washington Street (West Newton Armory) – request to amend – changes to the basement slab elevation and building height and changes to the building layout, parking layout, and site plan.
Conservation Commission will meet on Thursday:
- Installation of steps – Upper Falls Riverwalk
- Notice of Intent for 1135-1137 Washington Street– Newton Armory Redevelopment Project (See Newton Armory Plans and Newton Armory NOI)
- Resign of Order of Conditions for Mason Rice Solar Array Project at 149 Pleasant Street
- Two-year extension for single-family home at 190 Upland Avenue
- Two-year extension for single-family home at 34 Brookside Avenue
- Two-Year Extension for Golf Course water feature management at Commonwealth Golf Course
Newton Historical Commission will meet on Thursday:
- 5 Requests for Total Demolition: 51 Oak Avenue, 80-82 Louise Road, 11 Parsons Street, 36 Bonnybrook Road, and 28 Farmington Road
- 2 Requests for Partial Demolition: 49 Fordham Road – side addition and 362 Wolcott Street – rear addition
- 4 Requests for Waiver of Demolition Delay: 86 Albert Road, 90 Auburndale Avenue – Waiver Application, 109 Harwich Road – Waiver Application, and 213 Adams Avenue – Waiver Application
Newton Housing Authority Board of Commissioners will meet on Friday:
- Refinement of vote to approve FY2024 Annual Budget to include specific state programs (400-1, 400-9, 689-1, 689-C, MRVP) and Capital Improvement Votes, and Haywood House updates.
Election Commission will hold a recount of the ballots for the Ward 6 Ward Councilor Race at the Newton Free Library Druker Auditorium on Saturday.
Other
A virtual public meeting (Zoom link) will be held on the Washington Street Pilot on Thursday, November 30 at 6:30PM. An overview of the project and presentation of alternative concepts for Washington Street between Lowell and Chestnut Streets will be provided by the Planning Department and the City’s design consultant, Howard Stein Hudson (see Meeting Flyer). Email questoins and comments to washingtonst@newtonma.gov.
A Comprehensive Permit – Chapter 40B Project is being proposed by Boylston Properties for 78 Crafts Street in Newtonville. The project as currently proposed will have 307 rental units (20% affordable for those earning up to 50% Area Median Income (AMI) and 266 parking spaces in five buildings; 20% of the units will be affordable. A community meeting will be held on Saturday, December 2, 8:30AM, at Horace Mann Elementary School, 225 Nevada Street.
This week’s road construction schedule.