On Wednesday, November 29, the Newton City Council met to continue consideration of amendments to a proposed zoning plan to comply with the MBTA Communities Act. The deadline for compliance is December 31, 2023. Compliance requires zoning for a minimum of 8,330 residential units within one-half mile of the selected Green Line stations and Framingham/Worcester commuter rail stations. Although some City Councilors, including President Susan Albright, believe the MBTA zoning should be coupled with the City Council’s Village Center Overlay Design (VCOD), there has been a shift in that effort since the November 7 Election, when three incumbent supporters of the initiative were defeated, and two incoming Councilors who favor zoning for only the MBTA zoning requirement were elected.
On November 29, City Councilors voted to:
- Remove Nonantum, Newton Corner, Chestnut Hill, Upper Falls, Lower Falls, and Thompsonville from the zoning plan.
- Reconsider and approve the change in the zoning from VC3 to VC2 for three lots at the corner of Austin and Walnut Streets.
- Reduce the threshold of site plan review from 20,000 sq. ft. to 15,000 sq. ft.
- Include all of the manufacturing district on Border Street in the new zoning plan, thereby adding an additional 450 units to the MBTA zoning plan.
- Change the zoning from VC3 to VC2 for Washington Street between Elm Street and Cherry Street.
On Monday, December 4, the City Council will meet in special session to take up additional zoning amendments submitted by City Councilor Lenny Gentile, who has been working with President Albright, and additional amendments concerning parking spaces in MRT zones offered by City Councilor Lisle Baker. Councilor Gentile’s amendments include adding Auburndale as part of the zoning plan for compliance with the MBTA Communities Law.
