What’s Up in Newton – Week of 12/3/2023

City Council

City Council will meet twice this week:

City Council will meet on Monday to continue its discussion, debate, and possible vote on the Village Center Overlay District (VCOD) proposal (see VCOD related documents) and is expected to vote on the following:

• Modification of the definition of “formula business” at 839-853 Washington Street
• Two-story additions exceeding maximum FAR at 538 Ward Street
• Introduction of vehicle sales at 32 Needham Street
• Site Plan amendments to reflect changes to building configurations/paved areas and waiver of parking and screening dimensional requirements at 283 Melrose Street (Turtle Lane) – Subject to 2nd call
• Conversion of an existing nonconforming two-family dwelling into a single-family dwelling and conversion of the accessory building into a second single-family dwelling at 373 Lexington Street
• Appointment of James Miller to the Auburndale Historic District Commission
• Appropriation of $2,400,000 for Synthetic Turf Carpet at Newton North High School’s Dickinson Field. NOTE: Programs & Services Approved 6-1-1 (Councilor Wright Opposed, Councilor Humphrey Abstained); Finance Approved 5-1-1 (Councilor Malakie Opposed, Councilor Humphrey Abstained).
• Appropriation of $50,000 to a Parks, Recreation & Culture Account – (Heartbreak Hill Banner) (NOTE: Programs & Services Approved 5-2-1 (Councilors Humphrey and Noel Opposed, Councilor Wright Abstained; Finance Denied 7-0)
• 5-58 Site Plan Approval for the Countryside School Project at 191 Dedham Street
• Authorization to borrow $74,730,950 for the construction of the Countryside School project
• Authorization to reduce the bond authorization in the amount of $5,109,609 for the Lincoln-Eliot Elementary School project

New Docket includes the following:

• 8 Requests for Class 2 Auto Dealers License
• 3 Requests for Class 1 Auto Dealer License
• 4 Public Hearings assigned for December 12:
  • Request to allow for-profit educational use at 84-94 Rowe Street
  • Request to exceed FAR, to allow an oversized detached accessory apartment, reduced setbacks for the apartment and to allow oversized dormers at 16 Everett Street
  • Request to further extend a nonconforming side setback, and to allow a dormer greater than 50% of the wall next below, within three feet of the end wall and with an uninterrupted wall plane at 66 Allison Street
  • Request to allow reduced setbacks for a detached accessory apartment at 599 Commonwealth Avenue
  • Reappointment of Peter Vieira to the Chestnut Hill Historic District Commission
  • Reappointments to the Economic Development Commission: Lisa Adams, Florent Mali, Jim Griglum, and Zach Knowlton
  • Reappointments to the Newton Historical Commission: Mark Armstrong and Ralph Abele
  • Reappointment of Matthew Montgomery to the Chestnut Hill Historic District Commission
  • Reappointment as a Jackson Homestead Trustee: Rakashi Chand and Russel Feldman
  • Reappointment of Rabbi Keith Stern to the Human Rights Commission
  • Requesting renewal of bus license for Lasell University
  • Request for a new public auto license
  • 6 Requests for renewal of public auto license
  • Public Hearing assigned for December 6 for a request for water main extensions and grant of a water easement in Tower Road
  • Reappointments to the Sustainable Materials Management Commission: Miles Smith, Sunwoo Kahng, and Marian Rambelle
  • Request to transfer $50,000 from Street Division – Full Time Wages in order to settle Worker’s Compensation claim
  • Request to accept $174,910 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Policing Services
  • Request for discussion regarding rezoning certain manufacturing districts
  • Discussion and possible amendment to the City Council Rules to add an Ethics Commission or Committee

City Council will hold its Leadership Caucus on Thursday to elect its next President and Vice President.

Land Use will meet on Tuesday:

• 8 Requests for Class 2 Auto Licenses
• 3 Requests for Class 1 Auto Licenses
• Request for Extension of Time to Exercise a previously approved special permit until January 3, 2026 at 1314 Washington Street, and 31, 33 Davis Street
• Request to construct an addition over existing second-story living space within the footprint, extending the nonconforming third story at 146 Oliver Road –
• Request to construct a rear addition consisting of an attached garage with two stories of living space above, further extending the nonconforming 3.5-story structure at 255 Jackson Street –
• Request to expand a detached garage toward the rear property line, further extending a nonconforming side setback at 75 Royce Road
• Request to construct two shed dormers on the second story which will further extend the nonconforming FAR at 286 Highland Avenue
• Request to demolish the existing dwelling and construct four single-family attached dwellings with dimensional waivers, and to allow a driveway and parking within setback distances at 2202 Commonwealth Avenue

Programs and Services will meet on Wednesday:

• Youth Commission appointments:
  • Emma Zhang, Zach Gusenoff, Sarina Chand, Phoebe Anthony, Nick Makura, and Chloe Lee
• Discussion and possible amendment to the City Council Rules to add an Ethics Commission or Committee for the purpose of creating and enforcing a City Council Code of Ethics
• Reappointments to Jackson Homestead Trustees:
  • Rakashi Chand and Russel Feldman
• Reappointment to Human Rights Commission: Rabbi Keith Stern

Public Safety and Transportation will meet on Wednesday:

• Request for a biennial renewal of one (1) bus license for Lasell University.
• Request for a new public auto license by Ralph Thomas for Saito Trading, LLC.
• 6 Requests for renewal of public auto licenses
• Discussion with the Police Department regarding police data (crashes, types of calls, numbers and dispositions).
• Discussion with the Administration about overnight on-street parking during the winter parking ban for people with disability placards.
• Discussion and ordinance change to give police discretion to distribute temporary permits and reduce hardships on tradespersons and contractors.
• Request for a change in the overnight winter parking ban ordinance to create permit parking in city lots during snow emergencies beginning winter 2023.
• Request for a discussion with the Chief of Police and pertinent staff to School Safety.

Public Facilities will meet on Wednesday:

• Request for a grant of location to install and maintain gas main in Chestnut Hill Road
• Request for a water main extension from Tower Road
• Appointment of Philip Hanser to the Citizens Commission on Energy
• Reappoinments to the Sustainable Materials Management Commission:
  • Miles Smith, Sunwoo Kahng, and Marian Rambelle

School Committee

School Committee will meet on Monday:

• Vote on Policies and International and Out-of-State Field Trips
• Updates: Superintendent’s, Negotiations Update, Systemwide Goals Update
• Human Resources Entry Plan, PTO Equity Spending, Budget Guidelines, International and Out-of-State Field Trips

Boards and Commissions

Newton Cultural Council will meet on Monday: Round 2 – Presentation & Adjudication of 2024 Grants.

Planning and Development Board will meet on Monday:

• Public Hearing on Community Development Block Grant Substantial Amendment: West Newton Family Navigation Center, 1650 Washington Street, Funding Request
• Petition to rezone lot on Dedham Street (former Water Tower site)

Election Commission will meet on Tuesday to certify the November 2023 election results. (See agenda and Fig City News article on Ward 6 Ward Councilor recount).

Board of License Commissioners will meet on Tuesday:

• Request for a One-Day All Alcohol and Entertainment License for a holiday party on December 11 at the War Memorial Hall
• Request for a One-Day Temporary Wine and Malt License for a company holiday party on December 14 to be held at the Windsor Club
• 2 Requests for a One Day Temporary Entertainment License:
  • New year celebration on December 8 to be held at the War Memorial Hall
  • Fundraiser for Israel and Ukraine concert and activities on December 10 to be held at the War Memorial
• Request for a Change of Hours at The Cork and Board

Newton Historical Commission will meet on Wednesday:

• 2 Requests for Total Demolition of House and Garage: 180 Hunnewell Avenue and 1597 Centre Street
• 2 Requests for Total Demolition of House: 68 Albert Road and 17 Montrose Street
• 2 Requests to Waive Demolition Delay: 35 Wesley Street and 56 Chinian Path

Newton Highland Area Council will meet on Thursday:

• Authorize expenditures for election workers, Treasurer’s Report, Route 9 at Winchester/Centre traffic signal operation, thoughts on Levingston Cove, and Zoning redesign.

Other

Councilors looking to create City Council Ethics Commission or Committee. According to this memo, retiring Ward 6 Councilor Brenda Noel initiated a docket item, following receipt of text messages which she states were “inappropriate, unwanted, and unwelcome.” She explains that she hopes that a “set of standards” can be established “so no one on the council must ever be the recipient of such an inappropriate exchange” and added that there should be a “clear process through which the conduct can be investigated and individual(s) can be held accountable.” Councilors Albright, Humphrey, Bowman, Greenberg, Kalis, Lipof, Lucas, and Wright have also signed onto the docket item which will be discussed at this Wednesday at the Programs and Services Committee meeting.

2024-2026 City Council Leadership Caucus: City Councilors-Elect will caucus on Thursday to vote on new Council leadership — President, Vice President, and President Emeritus — for the next term.

This week’s road construction schedule.