Highlights This Week:
- Finance considering updating fees related to special permits, zone changes, and site plan review.
- Finance considering ways to ensure compliance with permits and approvals at the Turtle Lane site in Auburndale. (See Fig City News article.)
- Zoning and Planning reviewing VCOD Economic Feasibility Analysis and ways to assist local businesses impacted by development.
- City Council discussing findings and recommendations of its Community Dialogue Working Group from its public meeting and survey.
- Real Property Reuse taking public comment and considering the City’s possible sale or lease of the former Walker Center properties at 169 Grove Street and 136 Hancock Street.
- School Committee conducting a budget review of NPS Teaching & Learning, Professional Development, and Student Services.
- Zoning Board of Appeals holding a public hearing on the development proposed for 78 Crafts Street.
Click the links in bold below for details on the meetings: locations, Zoom links, agendas, documents.
City Council
Finance will meet Monday to consider requests regarding:
- A $25,000 reimbursement grant to improve operations of Newton’s Emergency Operations Center
- Ordinance amendments to update fees related to special permit, zone change and site plan reviews
- Update from the Mayor’s Office on plans for the remaining ARPA funds, opportunity for new public input and potential changes in anticipated uses, and the plan for the December 31, 2024 contracting deadline
- The possibility of the City using outside special counsel to assist in the analysis of the City’s rights and remedies regarding compliance with permits and approvals at the Turtle Lane site in Auburndale.
- Possible policy change to include renters and tenants in addition to property owners when notification is required for special permits, Traffic Council items, etc.
Zoning and Planning will meet on Monday to consider:
- Appointment of Ramzi Elfekih and Hedy Jarras to the Economic Development Commission.
- Regular updates on potential projects brought to the Planning Department under the new Village Center Overlay District (VCOD), as well as a recent Planning Department memo on the VCOD Economic Feasibility Analysis.
- Mechanisms including ordinance changes to assist local businesses impacted by development, similar to work in Somerville, to help small commercial/retail/independent and locally owned businesses remain in Newton as development occurs
- Periodic progress reports on establishing the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust
- Discussion with the Planning and Development Department and the Newton Housing Partnership about the City’s Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance and possible amendments to the ordinance to include 4-6 units, and possibly raising requirements for the number of affordable units in large developments
- Possible amendment to require developers and property managers to provide training for their employees regarding bias toward residents of the IZ units and how to mitigate this bias
- Reappointment of Charles Tanowitz to the Economic Development Commission
City Council will meet as a Committee of the Whole on Wednesday to discuss findings from the Community Dialogue Working Group‘s survey and public comment session, including recommended actions
Real Property Reuse will meet on Thursday to take public comment and consider the Planning Director’s proposal to make the City-owned land at 169 Grove Street and 136 Hancock Street available for sale or lease.
School Committee
School Committee will hold a special meeting on Monday, without public comment, to conduct a budget review of Teaching & Learning/Professional Development/Student Services, to introduce a Student Opportunity Act (SOA) Plan, and to discuss and vote on a Memorandum of Understanding with NESA, the union of Administrative Assistants and Secretaries.
The Negotiations Subcommittee of the Newton School Committee will meet on Tuesday in Executive Session to conduct a collective bargaining session with the NPSCA (Custodians).
Boards and Commissions
Newton Cultural Council will meet on Monday to consider:
- NCC Mission/Vision/Function: Role in the arts/Newton/Greater Boston, roadmap for Create Newton
- Adjudication: Streamlining process, allocation of funding
- Treasurer’s Report, Cultural Development Report, Ballroom Line Dance Workshop extension
Newton Free Library Trustee Strategic Planning Steering Committee will meet on Monday to review project schedule and plan next steps.
Newton Retirement Board will meet on Tuesday to consider many items, including updating the Newton Retirement Board’s Investment Policy and a preliminary discussion of the January 2024 valuation prior to meeting with the actuarial consultant in April.
Youth Commissioners will meet on Tuesday with the City’s Assistant City Solicitor and Director of Community Engagement & Inclusion to discuss ordinances governing the Newton Youth Commission.
Zoning Board of Appeals will meet on Wednesday to conduct public hearings on:
- A request for a 40B Comprehensive Permit for a 307-unit residential development at and around 78 Crafts Street including 62 affordable units and 263 parking spaces
- An appeal of the building permit for the construction of a single-family home at 11 Edgefield Road
Newton Biosafety Committee will meet on Wednesday for a presentation by Grace Biosafety Services.
Northland Community Construction Liaison Committee will meet on Wednesday.
Design Review Commission – Countryside School Building Committee will meet on Wednesday to discuss Energy Model and Building Systems Updates, Site Lighting and Photometrics, Building Design Updates, and MSBA Design Development submission.
Newton Historical Commission will meet on Thursday to consider:
- Approval of Demolition Delay Violation Settlement for work performed at 145 Auburndale Avenue
- Request for a Partial Demolition at 145 Auburndale Avenue
- Preservation Restriction Review for 84 Eldredge Street
- Local Landmark Review for 286 Waverly Avenue (Durant-Kenrick House)
- Requests for Total Demolition at 11 Parsons Street, 1193 Walnut Street, 640 Watertown Street, 14 Dorcar Road, 97 Bound Brook Road, 21-23 Francis Street, and 56 Chapel Street
- Request for Partial Demolition at 32 Hickory Cliff Road
- Requests for Waiver of Demolition Delay at 154 Langley Road, 23 Sylvester Road, 93 Sevland Road, 276 Lexington Street, and 9 Applegarth Street
- Discussion of the Oak Hill Park neighborhood
Other
Fig City News director Tami Gambiza is running the Boston Marathon to raise money to help Fig City pay local reporters, including student interns. He’s 75% of the way to his goal of $5000. That’s like approaching Heartbreak Hill on the Marathon course. Help Tami help us all to bring the news to Newton! Like Tami, please step up.
This week’s road construction schedule.