Highlights this Week:
- City Council voting on 75% design of Washington Street Pilot and ordinances for energy-use reporting (BERDO) for large properties and electrification of new construction/large renovations
- High school graduations — North on Monday, South on Thursday
- Land Use accepting public comment on plans for 10 additional bedrooms at 136-144 Hancock Street to sustain two inclusionary units on site
- Public Safety and Transportation reviewing policies for on-street parking and municipal lots
- Zoning Board of Appeals holding a public hearing on proposed 307-Unit residential development at 78 Crafts Street
- Newton Highlands Area Council discussing Village Enhancement project
City Council
City Council will meet on Monday and is expected to vote on (see Reports Docket):
- Approval of the 75% design of the Washington Street Pilot
- Proposed ordinances for energy-use reporting (BERDO) for large properties and electrification of all new construction and substantial renovations (see Fig City News articles on March 26 and May 28)
- Request for update on City’s Climate Action Plan
- Reappointment of James Miller as an alternate member of the Auburndale Historic District Commission
The New Docket includes the following:
- Requests for Special Permits and Site Plan Reviews (public hearings on June 18)
- Amend Special Permit to allow a larger garage and taller retaining walls at 1188 Chestnut Street
- Further extend nonconforming FAR with a kitchen addition at 124 Hunnewell Avenue
- Allow a free-standing sign at 1150-1152 Walnut Street
- Allow retaining walls exceeding four feet in height at 6 Brush Hill Road
- Alter and extend a nonconforming front setback and exceed FAR at 3 Valley Spring Road
- Proposed Amendments
- Amendments to Human Rights Commission Ordinance to clarify investigatory powers and authority
- Appointments and Reappointments
- Appointment of Shin-Yi Lao as Commissioner of Health and Human Services
- Reappointment of Jason Korb to the Newton Affordable Housing Trust
- Reappointment of Debora Jackson to the Economic Development Commission
- Funding Requests, Authorizations, and Transfers
- Appropriate $72,608,506 for the construction of the Franklin School project
- Appropriate $5 million from water and sewer fund for water meter replacement, rescinding previous bond authorization for same amount and purpose
- Appropriate $3.2 million from water fund for water main repair and replacement and authorize borrowing for it, rescinding previous bond authorization for same amount and purpose
- Appropriate $500,000 from PEG Access and Cable Related Fund to improve City’s IT infrastructure
- Transfer $200,000 from PEG Access and Cable Related Fund to NewTV
- Rescind bond authorizations no longer needed for school construction and boiler replacements
- Other Items
- Set Early Voting hours and locations for the September Primary and November State and Federal Elections
- Discussion with Departments of Public Works and Planning on climate resiliency to hear updates and plans
- Grants of location for National Grid at 32 Richardson Street and Eversource at 111 Jackson Road
Land Use will meet on Tuesday to consider:
- Consistency ruling for 1092-1098 Chestnut Street
- Improvements to club house pavilion and construction of snack shack at 1897 & 1947 Washington Street (Woodland Golf Club )
- Discussion with public comment regarding reallocation of space to accommodate up to 10 additional bedrooms at 136-144 Hancock Street to sustain two inclusionary units on site
Programs and Services will meet on Wednesday to consider:
- Appointment of Shin-Yi Lao as Commissioner of Health and Human Services
- Early Voting hours and locations for the September Primary and November State and Federal Elections
Public Safety and Transportation will meet on Wednesday to consider:
- Police Department reports of semi-annual public auto inspections
- Parking policy related to on-street parking and parking in municipal lots
Public Facilities will meet on Wednesday to consider:
- Grants of location for National Grid at 32 Richardson Street and Eversource at 111 Jackson Road
- Transfer $125,000 from Newton Free Library Salaries to Library Building Maintenance – Electricity
- Update on the Transportation Network Improvement Plan
- $3.2 million from water fund for water main repair and replacement and authorize borrowing for it, rescinding previous bond authorization for same amount and purpose
- $2,888,274.38 for Accelerated Roads Program– Paving Supplies
Schools
High school graduations (5PM-7PM): Newton North HS on Monday, Newton South HS on Thursday
School Committee has no meetings scheduled for this week.
Boards and Commissions
Zoning Board of Appeals will meet on Monday to hold a public hearing regarding the 307-unit residential development proposed under Ch. 40B for 78 Crafts Street and adjoining properties.
Newton Fair Housing Committee will meet on Wednesday to consider:
- Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance Discussion
- Fair Housing for Policy Leaders Training
- Resident Experience Training
- Endorsement of Act to End Housing Discrimination (S.2566)
- Fair Housing Resource List
- Fair Housing Project Reviews
Newtonville Local Historic District Commission will meet on Thursday to consider Certificates of Appropriateness to build a masonry wall at the playground area at 21 Foster Street and to demolish the garage, renovate and expand the existing house, build a new structure connected to the house, and change grading and add hardscaping at 75 Prescott Street.
Newton Highlands Neighborhood Area Council will meet on Thursday to discuss Highlands Village Day (June 9) and the proposed Village Enhancement project.
Other
Development Review Team meetings this week: 15 York Road, 68 Hynes Road, 7 Beach Street.
This week’s road construction schedule.