What’s Up in Newton – Week of 11/17/2024

Highlights this week…

City Council …voting on $6.5M in Free Cash appropriations and Deb Crossley’s appointment to ZBA
Public Safety and Transportation …discussing George McMains as Newton’s new Police Chief
Programs and Services …discussing Parks & Recreation projects, restroom facilities, and field use
Public Facilities …discussing Bullough’s Pond Dam and non-lethal beaver intervention near Wells Ave.
Traffic Council …considering lengthening parking to 3 hours in Newton Centre lot
School Committee …addressing Portrait of a Graduate, MCAS results, strategic planning, and NCE
Zoning Board of Appeals …continuing discussion of alleged violations at 16-22 Clinton Street
Election Commission …recommending date for special election for Ward 7 School Committee rep
Newton Affordable Housing Trust and Newton Housing Partnership …receiving update on Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance

City Council

City Council will meet on Monday and is expected to vote on the following requests (see Reports Docket):

Waiving two parking stalls at 15-17 Playstead Road
Exceeding FAR at 16 Chaske Avenue
Extension of Time to Exercise Special Permit at 373 Lexington Street
Class 2 Auto Dealers Licenses: Regan’s, Newton Auto Group, Newton Centre Shell, Jacob & Associates, Velocity Motors, Stan’s Automotive d/b/a Newton Automotive and Sales, Map Development & Investments d/b/a Christian Tapia/Master Used Cars, Newton Trade Center Associates, Grand Auto Sales d/b/a KG Motors LLV, Grand Auto Sales
Amendments to dormer regulations
Minor technical amendment to the zoning opt-in requirements for Village Center Overlay District
Grant of Easement from Hancock Estates for walking trail access at 200 Estate Drive, Chestnut Hill
Free Cash Appropriations:
- $2,000,000 to the NPS Educational Stabilization Fund
- $338,119 for McKinney-Vento Homeless Student Transportation
- $1,000,000 to purchase PFAS-free Firefighter Gear
- $75,000 for Fire Shift Commander’s Vehicle Replacement
- $1,800,000 for Fire Ladder Truck 3 Replacement
- $1,000,000 for the Vehicle Replacement Program
- $200,000 for FY25 Traffic Calming projects
- $50,000 for the purchase of firefighter Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) bottles
- $43,189 to Newton Public Schools (collected from Helpsy bins at schools)
CPA funding: $1,841,719 to the Newton Affordable Housing Trust
Possible appointments:
- Patrick Moriarty to the Financial Audit Advisory Committee (No Action Necessary in committee)
- Charles Eisenberg as an associate member of the Zoning Board of Appeals
- Deborah Crossley as an associate member of the Zoning Board of Appeals (Denied in committee)
Discussion on the current status of transitioning to electric school buses (No Action Necessary in committee)

The New Docket includes the following:

Appointments to the Newton Wellesley Hospital Neighborhood Council: Jay Flynn, Marjorie Summers, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Alex Koppenheffer, George Swetz, and Chris Letourneau
Requests for Extension of Time to Exercise Special Permit
- Renovate and expand the detached accessory building for use as an accessory apartment at 193 Lake Avenue
- Allow Elder Housing with services, a five-story building in excess of 20,000 sq. ft., a retaining wall greater than 4′ in height, free-standing signs, parking within the front setback, and waiver of lighting requirements at 11 Florence Street and 318 Boylston Street
Class 2 Auto Dealers License: Motorcars of Boston Inc.
Appointment of Sam Figler to the Licensing Board
Discussion of Parks, Recreation and Culture Department’s parks and fields projects
Discussion of Aging in Newton: A Community Needs Assessment
Request to set Early Voting Hours for the 2025 Special Election
Requests for renewal of public auto licenses: Abderrahmane Fellah, Vasif Vali, Rajiv Kumar, Dhanraj Mahase, Donald LaPlante, Lahcene Belhouchet, Michael Gimmelfarb, Tom Mountain
Appointment of the Chief of the Newton Police Department
Discussion ordinance text clarification regarding installing sidewalks where none existed
$123,677 grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety & Security for NPD staff overtime
$7,500 from Handicapped Parking Fines for holiday targeted enforcement of accessible parking
$600 for ASL interpreter and real-time translation for The Ride Ahead film screening
FY 25 Property tax levy distribution percentages
$98,500 in CPA funding for the West Newton Cinema for a feasibility study

Finance will meet on Monday and is expected to vote on the FY2025 Property tax levy distribution percentages among residential, open space, commercial, and industrial classes of Real Property.

Land Use will meet on Tuesday to consider:

Appointments to the Newton Wellesley Hospital Neighborhood Council
Class 2 Auto License: Motorcars of Boston, Inc., 1191 Washington Street
Extension of Time to Exercise Special Permit to renovate and expand detached accessory building for use as an accessory apartment at 193 Lake Avenue
Elder Housing with services at 11 Florence Street and 318 Boylston Street
Consistency ruling to allow changes at 300 Cabot Street
Allow a restaurant with more than 50 seats (75) and to waive 11 parking stalls at 30-34 Langley Road
Raze existing dwelling and construct four attached single-family dwellings at 640 Watertown Street
Raze existing dwelling and construct three single-family attached dwellings in one building at 15 Algonquin Road
Discussion with the Planning Department regarding the status of all designated but unspent mitigation funds received by the city.

Programs and Services will meet on Wednesday to consider:

Date and early voting hours for a special election to fill the vacancy on the Newton School Committee – Ward 7
Discussion of Parks, Recreation and Culture Department:
- Recently completed, ongoing, and future parks and fields projects
- Restroom facilities, or lack thereof, at city parks
- Use of fields, especially on evenings and weekends
Possible changes to the Newton Tree Ordinance to avoid financial hardship to homeowners seeking improvements to their homes

Public Safety and Transportation will meet on Wednesday to consider:

Presentation and discussion with MAPC to examine residential parking management
Appointment of George R. McMains as the Chief of the Newton Police Department

Public Facilities will meet on Wednesday to consider:

Free Cash Appropriation requests:
- $700,000 for several high priority capital projects at Newton North High School
- $775,000 for municipal building maintenance projects
- $225,000 for security camera and access control improvements at Fire and Police Department locations
Potential pause of the solar panel installation in the summer of 2025 at Brown and Oak Hill Schools in light of recent School discussions on plans for a revitalized campus at Brown, Oak Hill, and Newton South HS
Discussion with DPW Utilities Director and Conservation Commission Director about restoring culvert operations at Wells Ave with respect to non-lethal beaver intervention, protection of conservation land, and accessing recently discovered sewer main
Update on planning and construction of Bullough’s Pond Dam
Bullough’s Pond Dam rehabilitation project and the preferred safety design

Rules Subcommittee will meet on Thursday to consider:

Items referred to the Public Safety & Transportation Committee
Threshold that triggers a joint referral to the Finance Committee and the substantive committee

Traffic Council will meet on Thursday to consider requests:

Accessible parking space in front of 147 Arnold Road
4-way stop at the intersection of Greenwood Street and Arnold Road
Change the 2-hour limit in the Langley Road parking lot to a 3-hour time limit
No parking on either side of the curve in the vicinity of 111 to 121 Gibbs Street
Add Studio Road into the Auburndale Village Parking District, with parking by permit only
Stop sign at the end of Proctor Street where it intersects with Walker Street
Stop sign at the end of Dartmouth Street where it intersects with Prince Street
Parking restriction on a section of Bemis Road near California Street
Temporary changes to parking regulations and traffic circulation on streets near the Countryside Elementary School to facilitate the reconstruction of the school

School Committee

School Committee will meet three times on Monday. First, in Executive Session to prepare for negotiations on the Superintendent of Schools contract. Second, in a special meeting to elect the School Committee Chair and Vice-Chair. And third, in its regular meeting with an agenda including:

MASS/Blumer Awards recipients
School Improvement Plans
Elementary Principal Searches for Burr, Memorial Spaulding, and Zervas
NECP/NS Preschool Tuition Rate Increase
Final Portrait of a Graduate (POG) Competencies overview
MCAS Data/Results review
Strategic Plan Process and Overview
Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & Learning Entry Plan
Newton Community Education (NCE) Action Plan
FY26 Budget Guidelines

Boards and Commissions

Commission on Disability will meet on Monday:

Accessible Fines Reports
Review of MAAB Variance Application for Washington Street at Walker Street
Discussion of Potential Uses for Accessible Fine Funds
Follow Up on West Newton Cinema Foundation Discussion
Update on Memorial Playground Plans
Anti-Ableism NPS Working Group Update
Lives Worth Living Movie
Dec. 12 Film Screening Update

Newton Cultural Council will meet on Monday for adjudication of grant applications.

Election Commission will meet on Monday to:

Certify the November 5, 2024 State and Federal Election
Discuss the Special Election for the Vacant Ward 7 School Committee seat and recommend Early Voting Dates and Times

Parks and Recreation Commission will meet on Monday:

Wellington Park Structure Sign
Committee Reports: Community Preservation, Urban Tree, Farm, Commonwealth Golf

Newton Retirement Board will meet on Tuesday.

Newton Free Library Nominating and Governance Committee will meet on Tuesday:

Policy Update: Procurement Summary
December meeting – Governance discussion
Director Evaluation

Newton Affordable Housing Trust will meet on Tuesday:

Review of Potential Project at Newton Gardens
Update on Civico Development
Update on Feasibility Consultants

Newton Affordable Housing Trust will then meet jointly with the Newton Housing Partnership for an Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance Update from RKG Associates.

Newton Free Library Board of Trustees will meet on Tuesday:

2024 Action Plan results
Building Updates: Plaza, Furniture Replacements
Strategic Planning Update
Nominating & Governance: Procurement Summary
Development: Impact Report, Mini Golf, Spring Fling

Board of License Commissioners will meet on Tuesday:

Installation of the KENO monitor at All Star Liquor Mart, 1220 Chestnut Street.
Requests for One-Day Temporary Wine and Malt Licenses:
- Holiday Party, December 17 at the Windsor Club
- Tool Time, January 9 at the Church of the Redeemer
- Bat Mitzvah, November 23 at Temple Beth Avodah
Request for a One-Day Temporary Wine and Malt and Entertainment License
- Opening reception for 2024 Small Works Exhibition, December 5 at the New Art Center
Change of Hours: The Dooliner, 7 West Street
Change of management and ownership at D and P Asian Corporation d/b/a Aji Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar, 340 Walnut Street
Transfer of All Alcohol License, New Common Victualler and Annual Entertainment Licenses from St. Petersburg International Food, Inc. d/b/a Cafe St. Petersburg to Gem Partners, LLC d/b/a Cafe St. Petersburg, 57 Union Street
Violation requested appearance – alleged violation of license held by Jilong, Inc. d/b/a Edamame Asian Cuisine, 148 California Street

Board of Assessors will meet on Wednesday to approve October 2024 Exemption and Abatement Reports.

Zoning Board of Appeals will meet on Wednesday to consider appeals by City Council and Jason Gee of determination of Commissioner of Inspectional Services for alleged violations of the conditions of special permit at 16-22 Clinton Street.

Chestnut Hill Historic District Commission will meet on Thursday to consider these requests

Certificate of Appropriateness to replace all windows at 314 Hammond Street, Boston College.
Certificate of Appropriateness to replace siding and side entry porch at 142 Beacon Street, Boston College
Approve proposed window glass sample if required after the site visit at 61 Gate House
Final project approval for the chimney, rear balustrade, and columns at 46 Woodman Road

Conservation Commission will meet on Thursday to consider these wetlands decisions:

Public Hearing (continued) regarding 40B multi-family residential development at 528 Boylston Street
Request for an Extension for 180-210 Needham Street
Enforcement Order closeout for unpermitted tree removal at 158 Otis Street
Informal discussion for unpermitted changes – addition, new driveway, tree removals, mitigation plantings at 70 Kingswood Road
Informal discussion about proposed minor plan changes to add a landing, stairs, and patio for each unit at 27 Cross Street
Informal discussion regarding removal of a dead tree near Ware’s Cove at 69 Kingswood Road
Requests for Certificates of Compliance to:
- Excavate for a new bulkhead, regrade, and reseed at 164 Quinobequin Road
- Tear down/rebuild a single family home and enhancement of the planting area at 17 Brandeis Road
- Construct a pool between the house and Hammond Pondat 25 Moorfield Road

Newton Historical Commission will meet on Thursday to consider:

Violation of the Demolition Delay Ordinance at 235 California Street
Requests for Total Demolition: 5 Keller Path, 30 Timson Path, 723 Washington Street, 727 Washington Street, 10 Parker Avenue, 38 Wetherell Street, 245 Webster Street, 133 Bigelow Road, 129 Norwood Avenue
Requests for Partial Demolitions: 255 Jackson Street, 29 Walter Street, 790 Centre Street (Partial Demolition of School and Total Demolition of Carriage House)
Waiver of Demolition Delay: 454 Dudley Road, 28 Chandler Place, 82-84 East Side Parkway

Newton Housing Authority will meet on Friday for an update on the Haywood House budget.

City Departments

Development Review Team will meet this week regarding the following potential projects/proposals:

9 Carter Street: Special permit to allow two parking stalls in the front setback.
740 Beacon Street: Install one free-standing, non-illuminated, 24 sq. ft. sign area

Other

This week’s road construction schedule