Highlights this week…
- President’s Day on Monday …Government offices are closed. Pickup of trash and recycling is delayed one day all week.
- School vacation …Schools are closed all week, and there are no School Committee meetings.
- City Council …voting on a new City Seal (deferred from last meeting)
- Public Safety and Transportation …discussing proposed pilot plaza in Newton Centre parking lot
- Public Facilities …discussing possible ordinance regarding water movement between properties
City Council
City Council will meet on Tuesday and is expected to vote on the following (see Reports Docket):
- A new City Seal (item was chartered at last meeting)
- Appointments:
- Robert Jampol to the Conservation Commission
- Molly Doris-Pierce to the Health and Human Services Advisory Board
- Reappointments:
- Amy Dain to the Planning and Development Board
- Edward Chapman to the Parks & Recreation Commission
- Matthew Stafford and Assa Fanelli to Health and Human Services Advisory Council
- Amendments to the Flood Plain Ordinance
- Recommendation of No Action Necessary:
- Discussion with the Department of Public Works on the work to upgrade the water, sewer, and storm water infrastructure
The New Docket includes the following:
- Reappointment of Kenneth Lyons and Karine Alexander to the Boston College Neighborhood Council
- Public hearings on March 4 for requests to:
- Allow a free-standing sign at 7 Hereward Road
- Allow a system of retaining walls exceeding four feet in height at 124 Neshobe Road
- Exceed FAR at 16 Pine Ridge Road
- Zoning and Planning to consider:
- Removing the minimum parking requirement from the multi-residence transit (MRT) zone
- Amending the definition of Two-Family Detached
- Adding maximum residential facade build out ratio to Ch. 30 Zoning
- Programs and Services to consider:
- Possible responses to reduced federal funding for Newton Public Schools
- Public Facilities to consider:
- Updates on the Washington St. road redesign pilot
- 5-year curbside collection contract
- Finance to consider:
- $109,930 grant from Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for waste reduction
- $50,000 State Budget earmark for sidewalk improvements around Underwood Elementary School
- $35,000 grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and the Department of Fire Services
- 5-year contract for curbside collection and recycling processing
- $200,000 from Transportation Network Company (TNC) Ride Share funds for the Nahanton Street Pedestrian Improvements project
Finance will meet on Tuesday before the City Council meeting to consider:
- Reappointing Brian Davis to the Board of Assessors
- Accepting a $56,000 grant from Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Programs and Services regularly scheduled meeting has been canceled.
Public Safety and Transportation will meet on Wednesday to discuss:
- Possible amendment to Traffic Council regulations to allow for an appeal on Field Trials
- Proposed temporary carving out of 51 parking spaces to install a trial public plaza in the Langley Parking Lot
Public Facilities will meet on Wednesday to consider:
- Appropriating $1,471,000 plus $204,000 for rehabilitating the basement of the Jackson Homestead and Museum
- Proposed five-year contract for curbside collection and recycling processing (with the Public Facilities Committee)
- Stormwater mitigation (with Department of Public Works)
- Possible ordinance amendment regarding how water movement between properties is assessed, monitored, and tracked
School Committee
School Committee has no meetings scheduled this week.
Boards and Commissions
Newton Commonwealth Foundation Greens Subcommittee will meet on Tuesday to finalize the order of capital improvements for 2025-2029.
Board of Assessors will meet on Wednesday to approve January 2025 Exemption and Abatement Reports.
Chestnut Hill Historic District Commission will meet on Thursday to consider requests to:
- Build a sauna at 46 Chestnut Hill Road
- Demolish a chimney and replace windows on a rear addition at 116 Chestnut Hill Road
Conservation Commission will meet on Thursday for:
- Appointing Bob Jampol as full commissioner and Sean Macamaux as an associate commissioner
- Public Hearings on:
- Repaving a parking lot at 300 Hammond Pond Parkway
- 40B development of a multi-family residential building at 528 Bolyston Street
- Minor Plan Change for a fence along the stream at 27 Cross Street
- Update stormwater management associated with a subdivision at 85 Dudley Road
- Discussing improvements in Norumbega Conservation Area and Kesseler Conservation Area, Conservation Area web page, annual maintenance contract, draft Field Book, and Stewards walk
Urban Tree Commission will meet on Friday to hear a Forestry Department update and consider tree-removal requests.
Other
Development Review Team (DRT) is scheduled to meet this week regarding:
- 65 Clark Street: Special Permit to extend nonconforming height and exceed FAR
- 790 Watertown Street: Special permit for three units
- 50 Braeland Avenue: Special permit to exceed FAR
This week’s road construction schedule.
