Highlights this week…
- City Council …potentially voting on BERDO and an amendment to it
- Public Facilities …on appointment of Shawna Sullivan as Commissioner of Public Works
- Zoning and Planning …on amendments to regulate the size of new buildings better, enable a wider range of housing options close to public transit, and incentivize preservation of existing housing
- Traffic Council …on lowering the speed limit on part of Beacon Street from 35MPH to 25MPH
- School Committee …reviewing MCAS report, Family Engagement, and Newton Community Education
- License Commissioners …noting four establishments not renewing alcohol licenses and two more licenses expiring this month
City Council
City Council will meet on Monday and is expected to vote on the following requests (see Reports Docket):
- Discussion and possible ordinance to require reporting of energy use for large buildings (BERDO), with amendment proposed by Councilor Gentile
- Allow three attached single-family dwellings at 15 Algonquin Road
- Allow for construction of a new Member Center at 483-655 Dedham Street
- Class 2 Auto Dealer Licenses: Luxury Motors, Old Time Garage, Auction Direct Pre-Owned, Yes Auto Center
- Class 1 Auto Dealer License: McGovern Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM
- Appropriate $98,500 in CPA funding for West Newton Cinema feasibility study
- Appropriate $2,000,000 for Math Curriculum in the Newton Public Schools
- Appropriate $300,000 for improved phone systems at Newton North and Newton South High Schools
- Reappoint Despina Felis to the Biosafety Committee
- New Public Auto License: Tom Mountain
- Renewals of Public Auto Licenses: Michael Gimmelfarb, Lahcene Belhouchet, Donald LaPlante, Dhanraj Mahase, Rajiv Kumar, Vasif Vali, Abderrahmane Fellah
- Grants of location to install and maintain gas mains in Centre Street, Walnut Street, Washington Street, Canterbury Road, and Beacon Street
- Accept $119,984 grant from the Massachusetts Office on Disability for accessibility improvements at the intersection of Watertown Street and Chapel Street
- Appropriate $997,942 to construct the Union Street main drainage extension
- Expend $33,333 in transportation mitigation funds from the 15 Riverdale Avenue development
- Expend $5,000 in transportation mitigation funds from the Green Lady Marijuana Establishment
- Expend $75,000 from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism for improvements to Pellegrini Park and fieldhouse
- Expend $50,000 from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism for a master plan for the Officer Bobby Braceland Playground
- Expend $27,500 to settle a Worker’s Compensation Claim
- Expend $10,000 to settle Tom Bourgoin v. City of Newton
Committees recommended No Action Necessary on the following:
- Discussion on considering the historic importance of a building as a factor related to approving a special permit
- Discussion of Aging in Newton: A Community Needs Assessment
- Presentation and discussion with the MBTA Advisory Board about the consequences for Newton and the region of underfunding of the MBTA, and possible Council action
The New Docket includes the following requests:
- Appointing:
- Craig McPherson to the Boston College Neighborhood Council
- Christopher Pitt to the Planning and Development Board
- W. David Power to the Election Commission
- Shawna Sullivan as Commissioner of the Department of Public Works
- Reappointing Dan Green to the Conservation Commission
- Class 1 Auto Dealers License: Honda Village, 371 Washington Street
- Class 2 Auto Dealers License: KG Motors LLV,1235 Washington Street
- Discussing the new senior transportation system: Go-Go Newton.
- Reviewing and potentially amending Newton’s Welcoming City Ordinance
- Discussing distressed properties, improving rodent and harborage management city-wide
- Accepting $500,000 reimbursable grant from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Complete Streets Program to provide sidewalks on the north side of Nahanton Street from Wells Avenue to Dedham Street and improve the Wells Avenue/Nahanton Street intersection for pedestrians
- Accepting a grant of up to $250,000 from Newton Little League for sport lighting and other improvements for Murphy Field at Albemarle Park
- Expending $10,000 to settle Weberson Pinto v. City of Newton
- Appropriating $180,000 for the March 2025 Special Election
Land Use will meet on Tuesday to consider the following requests:
- Appointment of Craig McPherson to the Boston College Neighborhood Council
- Class 1 Auto Dealer License: Village Motors Group Inc d/b/a Honda Village, 371 Washington Street
- Class 2 Auto Dealer License: KG Motors LLC d/b/a KG Motors LLV, 1235 Washington Street
- Rezone parcel from Business 1 to Mixed Use 4 at 386-394 Watertown Street (joint meeting with the Planning & Development Board)
- Special Permit/Site Plan Approvals to:
- Construct a four-story, mixed-use building with 13 residential units and 14 at-grade parking stalls at 386 394 Watertown Street
- Construct a two-story rear addition, exceeding the maximum FAR at 29 Walter Street
- Construct an addition within the existing footprint, creating a three-story building at 48 Lantern Lane
- Construct a detached garage and modify the two-family dwelling by enclosing the rear porches, constructing a covered front porch, raising the roof, and constructing dormers, resulting in a three-story structure at 52-54 Hatfield Road
- Raze the existing dwelling and construct four attached single-family dwellings in two separate buildings with dimensional relief and parking relief at 49 Dalby Street
Programs and Services regularly scheduled meeting has been canceled.
Public Safety and Transportation regularly scheduled meeting has been canceled,
Public Facilities will meet on Wednesday to consider:
- Appointment of Shawna Sullivan as Commissioner of Public Works
- Changes to City ordinances to clarify the requirement to install sidewalks in locations that did not previously have a sidewalk
Financial Audit Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday to review draft financial statements and management letter.
Zoning and Planning will meet on Thursday to consider requests for:
- Appointment of Hema Narayanan to the Economic Development Commission
- Discussion and possible amendments to City Ordinances to enhance the preservation of existing homes over their replacement by larger and more expensive structures
- Discussion with the Planning Department to consider ordinance amendments to regulate the size of new buildings better, enable a wider range of housing options close to public transit, and better incentivize the preservation and renovation of existing housing stock
- Discussion and possible amendments to retaining wall regulations for Multi-Family/Commercial/Industrial/Civic Buildings (joint meeting with the Planning & Development Board)
- Discussion and amendments to Newton’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance so it complies with the State’s Zoning Act
- Reappointment of Dan Green to the Conservation Commission
Traffic Council will meet on Thursday to consider requests for:
- A parking regulation along a portion of the west side of Elm Street between River Street and Webster Street.
- Updating the Traffic and Parking Regulations to reflect the existing parking regulations along Albemarle Road, including the location of accessible parking spaces
- A long-term trial on the northbound section of Albemarle Road between Watertown Street and Crafts Street which may include changes to parking spaces to respond to changing conditions due to municipal redevelopments and parking demands
- Stop signs at the T intersections where Lasell Street, Fern Street, and Williston Road meet Hancock Street, but not on Hancock Street itself
- Asking MassDOT to rescind the 35 MPH Special Speed Regulation on Beacon Street from Chestnut to the entrance of Cold Spring Park in both directions, putting into effect the statutory speed limit of 25 MPH
Schools
School Committee will meet three times on Monday.
- In Executive Session to prepare for negotiations with non-union personnel and to discuss strategy with respect to an existing civil action and a likely new one
- In Open Session to kick off the Strategic Planning Focus Groups
- In its Regular Meeting including:
- Family Engagement Office Entry Plan
- MCAS Report
- Hourly Rates and Fees
- Superintendent and Non-Aligned Salary Increase Vote
- Newton Community Education (NCE) Update
Boards and Commissions
Newton Affordable Housing Trust will meet on Monday to discuss a potential project at Newton Gardens and an update on the RFP process for a Feasibility Consultant.
Newton Cultural Council will meet on Monday to adjudicate grant applications.
Newton Retirement Board will meet on Tuesday.
Board of License Commissioners will meet on Tuesday to consider
- Requests for One-Day Temporary Wine and Malt Licenses:
- Soup/Chili Cookoff, February 9, at the Church of the Redeemer, 379 Hammond Street
- Art Exhibition, January 30, New Art Center, 245 Walnut Street
- Request for a One-Day Temporary All Alcohol License and Entertainment License
- Mason-Rice Elementary School PTO Parent Teacher Social, January 25, Windsor Club, 1601 Beacon Street
- Change to Corporate Structure from Fred Kanavos to Tom’s Pizza LLC d/b/a Tom’s Pizza and Sandwich Shop
- State Required Correction to Change to on-site Manager Applications for LSF Chestnut Hill, LLC d/b/a Legal Sea Foods (package store and restaurant), 55 Boylston Street from Stephen J. Donahue to Amy Murphy
- Requested Appearance regarding alleged violation of license held by JiLong, Inc d/b/a Edamame Asian Cuisine (148 California Street)
- Notifications received of non-renewal of alcohol licenses: Bill’s House of Pizza (753 Beacon Street), Bocca Bella Cafe & Bistro (442 Lexington Street), Comella’s (1302 Washington Street), Moldova Restaurant (344 Watertown Street)
- Late submissions of renewals: DePasquale’s Gourmet Foods & Liquor (241 Adams Street), Forty Carrots at Bloomingdale’s (225 Boylston Street)
- Expiring alcohol licenses: River Street Eatery (69 River Street), Gordon’s Fine Wines & Liquors (31 Austin Street)
Council on Aging will meet on Tuesday with an agenda that includes:
- Needs Assessment Results and Report Update
- Words Matter – How should we be talking about aging
- Department of Older Adult Services – Director’s Report
Newton Housing Partnership will meet on Tuesday to consider:
- Strategic Plan
- Review and Revise the Purpose, Roles, and Structure Document
- Discussion: Priorities Group Report, Resident Services Statement, Mitigation Analysis
- Next Steps
- Relationship between Housing Boards/Commissions
- Priorities of Newton Housing Partnership for 2025
- Updates to Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Legislation
- Discussion of “Free Cash”
Board of Assessors will meet on Wednesday to approve the November 2024 Exemption and Abatement Reports.
Newton Free Library Board of Trustees will meet on Wednesday with an agenda that includes:
- Training-Intellectual Freedom Challenges/Communication
- Reports: Plaza Project Update, Behavior Policy Update, Purchasing Flow Chart
Newton Citizens Commission on Energy will meet on Wednesday to discuss:
- BERDO update and strategy
- Filling the NCCE’s vacancies
- Residential sector
Chestnut Hill Historic District will meet on Thursday to consider:
- Requests for a Certificates of Appropriateness to replace siding at 142 Beacon Street (Boston College), to replace windows on the right-side sunporch at 160 Chestnut Hill Road, and to build a sauna at 46 Chestnut Hill Road
- Request for Final Project Approval for chimney, rear balustrade, and columns at 46 Woodman Road
Newton Historical Commission will meet on Thursday to consider:
- Violation of Demolition Delay Ordinance at 235 California Street
- Requests for Total Demolition: 30 Dorr Road, 44 Erie Avenue (carriage house), 3 Newland Street (house and shed view), 1381-1389 Washington Street, 60 Audubon Drive, 31 Emerald Street, 17 Caldon Path, 34 West Street
- Requests for Waiver of Demolition Delay: 38 Park Lane, 454 Dudley Road, 208 Chapel Street, 101 Alban Road, 790 Watertown Street
Urban Tree Commission will meet on Friday to consider a Forestry Department update and tree-removal requests.
Other
Retiring State Representatives Kay Khan (Middlesex 11th) and Ruth Balser (Middlesex 12th) will deliver their final speeches as State Representatives at the State House on Monday.
This week’s road construction schedule has not yet been posted
