Highlights this week…
- City Council …has released its calendar for reviewing the FY26 City Budget
- Land Use …continuing a public hearing on Northland project
- School Committee …continuing discussion of FY26 NPS Budget
- Planning and Development Board …holding a public hearing on amending zoning
- Retirement Board …holding a public hearing on retiree cost-of-living increase
- Yard waste …collection resumes this week
City Council
Finance will meet on Monday to consider:
- $750,000 for engineering/design work for stormwater control in City’s Phosphorus Control Plan
- $122,834 Mass. DPH grant for homelessness programs and solutions
- $20,592 Mass. grant for expert case review and reporting of Emergency Medical Dispatch calls
Zoning and Planning will meet on Monday:
- Public Hearing on adding a maximum residential facade build-out ratio to zoning ordinances
- Possible amendments to enhance preservation of existing homes over their replacement by larger and more expensive structures
- Revising metrics in multi-residence zones to regulate the size of new buildings better, enable a wider range of housing options close to public transit, and better incentivize preservation and renovation of existing buildings
- Possible amendments to Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance to comply with state zoning
- Other possible amendments to Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance
- Appointing James O’Connell to the Planning and Development Board and Sean Macamaux to the Conservation Commission
- Reappointing Scot Friedman to the Newton Historical Commission and Tamirirashe Gambiza to the Newton Affordable Housing Trust
Land Use will meet on Tuesday to consider amending the Northland Special Permit to eliminate five buildings, convert office space to residential use, increase number of residential units by 22 units, modify building designs, and alter surface and structured parking at 55 Tower Road
City Council has released its FY26 Budget review calendar. Here’s when the various committees will review parts of the budget:
- Programs & Services and Finance: School Department (April 17)
- City Council: Mayor’s Budget Address (April 22)
- Public Facilities: Public Works (April 23)
- Programs & Services: City Clerk, Information Technology, Museum, Library Parks Recreation & Culture (April 24)
- Finance: Comptroller, Retirement, Treasurer, Purchasing (April 28)
- Zoning & Planning: Planning, Community Preservation, Inspectional Services (April 29)
- Public Facilities: Public Buildings (April 30)
- Public Safety & Transportation: Fire, Police (May 1)
- Programs & Services: Veterans, Health & Human Services, Older Adult Services, City Solicitor (May 7)
- Finance: Assessing, Financial Services, Executive, Sustainability, Human Resources (May 12)
- City Council: FY26 CIP deliberations, Resolutions to the Mayor (May 15)
- City Council: Budget deliberations, Resolutions responses, Budget vote (if ready) (May 19)
- City Council: Budget deliberations, Resolutions responses, Budget vote (if needed) (May 21)
School Committee
School Committee will meet on Monday to continue discussion of the FY26 Budget. [UPDATE: A public comment period has been added to the agenda for this meeting.]
Negotiations Subcommittee of the School Committee will meet in Executive Session on Wednesday to review a grievance with the Newton Education Secretaries Association.
Boards and Commissions
Newton Cultural Council will meet on Monday to consider:
- Modification request: Suzuki School
- Brief report on grantee events attended by council members
- Planning for Spring Arts and Culture Summit
Planning and Development Board will meet jointly with the Zoning and Planning Committee on Monday to conduct a public hearing on amending zoning ordinances to add a maximum residential facade build-out ratio to aid in new development being contextual to the surrounding neighborhood.
Newton Retirement Board will meet on Tuesday for:
- Public hearing to discuss FY26 retiree cost-of-living increase
- Accidental disability retirement applications
Newton Housing Partnership will meet on Tuesday to consider:
- Fair Housing Committee Integration with NHP
- Update on Revision to ADU Ordinance
- FY26 Annual Action Plan
- Open Meeting Law Training
- Federal policies, cutbacks, etc.
Youth Commission Advisory Board Mental Health Subcommittee will meet on Tuesday.
Newton Commonwealth Foundation, which manages the municipal golf course, will meet on Tuesday.
Council on Aging will meet on Tuesday:
- Newton Department of Older Adult Services Annual Report
- Community Outreach Plan
- Cooper Center: Furnishings, Fixtures and Equipment Procurement
- Department of Older Adult Services
Newton Citizens Commission on Energy will meet on Wednesday to consider:
- Community Survey
- Chestnut Hill Towers
- Docket #322-24 and Smaller Buildings
- Updated Climate Action Plan
Zoning Board of Appeals will meet on Wednesday consider:
- Appeal of Commissioner of Inspectional Services ruling on change in grade at 9 Forest Street
- Whether proposed changes to a Comprehensive Permit at 1185 Washington Street are substantial
Newton Historical Commission will meet on Thursday to consider:
- Demolition Requests: 78 Manchester Road, 132 Brandeis Road, 518 California Street, 250 Webster Street, 65 Levbert Road
- Partial Demolition Requests: 16 Chaske Avenue, 72 Indiana Terrace, 55 Exeter Street
- Waiver of Demolition Delay Requests: 30 Timson Path, 123 Langley Road, 411 Dudley Road, 5 Keller Path
Sustainable Materials Management Commission will meet on Thursday for a discussion with Amber Schmidt, Rethink Disposables/Clean Water Action about what other school districts are doing with regard to Share Tables, Food Donation, Reusables, and Zero-waste cafeterias.
Other
Development Review Team (DRT) is scheduled to meet this week regarding:
- 48 Erie Avenue: Special permit to exceed FAR
- 135 Hartman Road: Special permit for FAR and retaining walls 4+ feet
- 312 Lake Avenue: Special permit for three single-family attached dwellings in two buildings
This week’s road construction schedule has not yet been posted.
