Zoning & Planning voted to approve the following (see Report and watch NewTV video):
- Appointment of Ramzi Elfekih to the Economic Development Commission: Mr. Elfekih brings a background of engineering, software development, and cybersecurity to the Commission (8-0)
- Appointment of Hedy Jarras to the Economic Development Commission: Ms. Harras brings 25 year of small business ownership experience and knowledge of the importance of preserving the character of village centers amidst development. (8-0)
- Reappointment of Charles Tanowitz to the Economic Development Commission: (8-0)
Zoning & Planning voted to hold the following:
- Quarterly Update on Projects Using the VCOD Overlay District: The Planning Dept described the feedback from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council on the Economic Feasibility Analysis. The Analysis found: “that Newton’s current inclusionary policy is economically feasible and is unlikely to pose a risk of deterring development in its Section 3A district. While Newton’s inclusionary zoning is one of the more ambitious in the state, particularly for rental development, its housing prices are also among the highest in the state. They are sufficient to balance the cost of the City’s inclusionary policy.” Planning does not recommend any revisions to the Village Center Overlay District. The State has yet to determine Newton’s compliance with the MBTA Communities Act. No date has been given for when the State with make the determination. (8-0)
- Request for Discussion and Possible Ordinance Amendments Relative to Aiding Small Businesses Impacted by Development: The Economic Development Commission provided a list of suggested regulatory burdens to reduce for small businesses and preferences to implement to encourage desired, active uses. (8-0)
- Zoning
- Commercial signage for small businesses: Consider enabling administrative approval of
small signs within a commercially zoned building’s sign band rather than requiring Urban
Design Commission approval of all commercial signage. - Places of amusement: Consider enabling by-right use for operations up to a certain size
in specific commercial zones. The use is currently allowed by Special Permit in limited
zones, essentially prohibiting golf simulators, and other small entertainment venues. - Commercial kitchen: Newer use needs to be defined.
- Fast food restaurant: Poorly defined.
- Manufacturing: Dated definition specifies many older processes and does not account
for newer, small-scale technology or maker spaces. - Office: Dated definition could be updated to include shared spaces, business incubators.
- Veterinary clinics and hospitals should be better delineated.
- Self-storage and storage warehouse should be better delineated.
- Small businesses operating in historically commercial buildings (pre-1945) that the City
later rezoned as residential, thus requiring the business owner to obtain a Special
Permit for virtually any changes to their operations. - Non-accessory (off-site) parking. Does the City need to regulate off-site parking which
involves contractual agreements between private parties?
- Commercial signage for small businesses: Consider enabling administrative approval of
- Other regulations
- BYOB: Enable BYOB for small restaurants lacking liquor licenses, as in Brookline.
- Parking: Update traffic regulations to allow for friendlier commercial loading/unloading
in business districts.
- Zoning
- Updates on the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust: The Trust was created in 2021. Is currently establishing membership and reviewing priorities for spending their funding. Individuals can sell a property to the trust with the condition that it be sold to a municipal employee. To purchase a property the employee must meet affordability requirements. (7-0, Councilor Kalis Not Voting)
- Re-evaluation and Possible Amendments to Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance: The City is within the required 5-year lookback period on the Ordinance and wants to bring back the Ordinance’s consultant, RKG, to assist with the review. (8-0)
- Discussion and Possible Amendment to Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance to Include Training: Held concurrently with the re-evaluation of the Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance, focusing on mandating bias mitigation training for developers and property managers. (8-0)