Highlights this week…
- Massachusetts Special Commission on Combating Anti-Semitism …holding a public hearing at Newton City Hall War Memorial Auditorium on Monday, 1PM-5PM
- City Council …considering amendments to Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance
- City Tax Collector …intending to take ownership of properties for nonpayment of taxes, assessments, interest, and related costs
City Council
City Council will meet on Monday and is expected to vote on the following (see Reports Docket):
- Special Permits to:
- Raze the dwelling and constructing a new single-family dwelling at 35 Village Circle
- [Withdrawal without prejudice] Construct a 2,000 sq. ft., two-story addition, adding a preschool room and large music room at 1615 Beacon Street
- Construct retaining walls with a combined height exceeding four feet at 298-304 Elliot Street
- Proposed amendments to the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance so it complies with the State Zoning, and for other purposes recommended by Zoning and Planning
- Appointments:
- James O’Connell to the Planning and Development Board
- Sean Macamaux to the Conservation Commission
- Daniel Manning to the Sustainable Materials Management Commission
- Reappointments:
- Scott Friedman to the Newton Historical Commission
- Tamirirashe Gambiza reappointed to the Newton Affordable Housing Trust
- $750,000 for engineering/design services for stormwater control for City’s Phosphorus Control Plan
- $122,834 grant from Mass. Dept. of Public Health for homelessness programs and solutions
- $20,592 grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security for expert case review and reporting of Emergency Medical Dispatch calls
The New Docket includes the following:
- Mayor’s submittal of FY26 Municipal/School Operating Budget
- Public Hearings on May 5:
- Mayor’s FY26-30 Capital Improvement Plan
- Mayor’s FY26-30 Supplemental Capital Improvement Plan
- Mayor’s Proposed Water, Sewer and Stormwater Rates
- Public Hearings on April 8 on Special Permits to:
- Allow a Marijuana Transporter where a marijuana delivery operator currently exists at 16 Maguire Court
- [Amendment] allow a three-story structure at 148 Auburndale Avenue
- Construct a new two-family dwelling exceeding FAR with over-sized dormers at 71 Commonwealth Avenue
- Appointments:
- David Hedison, Mark Clay, JJ Kazakoff-Eigen, and Dante Capasso to the BERDO Advisory Commission
- Michelle Howard-Sparks to the Institutional Biosafety Committee
- Approve September 9 as date for 2025 Preliminary Election
- Review and accept:
- Police Department report of semi-annual public auto inspections
- Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and external audit reports for FY2024
- Authorizations and acceptances:
- $189,300 in CPA funding for architecture, engineering, and investigative expenses for the restoration of War Memorial Stairs
- $75,000 in CPA funding for replacing the deck at the Newton Community Farm
- $59,400 gift from Angier PTO for playground improvements
- $28,763 to pay a veterans’ benefit settlement case
- Requested discussion of current state of Newton’s commercial office space and strategies for recruitment
Land Use Committee will meet on Tuesday for public hearings on Special Permits to:
- Construct rear addition of two dwelling units resulting in four attached single family dwellings at 75 Prescott Street
- Change the configuration of the rear addition, resulting in a three-story structure at 148 Auburndale Avenue
- New two-family dwelling at 71 Commonwealth Avenue
- Add marijuana transporter where a marijuana delivery operator exists at 16 Maguire Court
- Raze existing dwelling and construct four attached single-family dwellings at 640 Watertown Street
Financial Audit Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday to discuss and vote on the FY24 Single Audit Report and discuss plans for FY25 Audit.
Public Facilities will meet on Wednesday regarding an update from the Department of Public Works on the Transportation Network Improvement Plan.
Programs and Services will meet on Wednesday regarding:
- Appointing Rabbi Keith Stern as a Newton Library Trustee and Michelle Howard-Sparks to the Institutional Biosafety Committee
- Approval of September 9, 2025 as the date for the 2025 Preliminary Election, if needed
- Resolution to formally recognize the Newton Cultural Council
- An update on leaf-blower landscaper registration and enforcement ordinance
Public Safety and Transportation Committee’s regularly scheduled meeting has been canceled.
Rules Subcommittee will meet on Thursday regarding:
- Development of a code of conduct for the City Council
- Balancing the workload amongst Committees
- Requiring presentations to be submitted 48 hours prior to a meeting
- Potential changes to budget meeting process
Traffic Council will meet on Thursday to consider requests to:
- Designate Linwood Avenue, from Crafts Street to Nevada Street, as a school zone for the Horace Mann School
- Add stop signs on River Street, eastbound and westbound, at the intersection of Auburndale Avenue, to create an all-way stop-controlled intersection
- Change the parking regulations on the block of Norwood Avenue between Parkview Avenue and Bridges Avenue
- Extend the parking zone on the north side of Beacon Street from Holly Road (where parking currently terminates) to a point further west, along a portion of the frontage of 1915 Beacon Street
- Update the Traffic and Parking Regulations to reflect all of the changes associated with the reconstruction of Needham Street
- Add a “no turn on red” restriction on Walnut Street northbound at Commonwealth Avenue
- Add a “right lane must turn right” restriction on Commonwealth Avenue eastbound at Day Street and Fuller Street
School Committee
Negotiations Subcommittee of the Newton School Committee will meet on Tuesday for an impact bargaining session related to structural reorganization with the Newton Teachers Association.
Boards and Commissions
Commission on Disability will meet on Monday:
- Accessible Fines Report
- Review of MAAB Variance Application at 770 Centre Street
- Inclusive Design Newton
- Disability Pride Event
- Massachusetts Office on Disability Presentation-COD Best Practices
- Ideas for MOD grant
- Co-Chairs Corner
- West Newton Cinema Letter
- Gath pool equipment update
- Disability Dialogue Book Group
- NPS-DAG Update
- Fig City News
Planning and Development Board will meet on Monday:
- Public Hearing: FY26 Annual Action Plan for the City of Newton and the WestMetro HOME Consortium
- Potential zoning amendment to add a maximum residential facade build-out ratio to aid in new development being contextual to the surrounding neighborhood
Auburndale Historic District Commission will meet on Tuesday:
- Remediate work to install fencing at 71 Studio Road
- Changes to previously approved design at 120 Seminary Avenue
- Enclose porch featuring screen windows at 15 Hawthorne Avenue
- Replace twelve second-floor windows at 239 Woodland Road
Community Preservation Committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss budget, current projects, and finances.
Economic Development Commission will meet on Tuesday to discuss 2025 goals and the Northland development project.
Urban Design Commission will meet on Wednesday to consider sign permits for:
- Coldwell Banker Realty: 1261-1269 Centre Street
- Dunkin’: 1250 Washington Street and 36-46 Langley Road
- Lab 13 Handroll Bar: 200-220 Boylston Street
Newton Cultural Council Working Group for Arts Summit Working Group will meet on Friday to plan and discuss the Arts Summit.
Other
The Massachusetts Special Commission on Combating Anti-Semitism (site) will hold its 6th meeting on Monday, April 7 at 1PM at the War Memorial at Newton City Hall. The agenda includes public comment (3 minutes each) by those who signed up (signup list is full). This virtual meeting will be viewable by the public via livestream. [NOTE: These links on the MassLegislature.gov site were working on April 6 but on April 7 are not working.]
Collector of Taxes has notified owners of parcels listed on this notice that on April 11, 2025, at 10:00AM at Newton City Hall, Room B15, the Collector of Taxes intends to take those parcels for non-payment of taxes, and other assessments as applicable, that are due, with interest and all incidental expenses and costs to the date of taking, unless the same shall have been paid before that date.
This week’s road construction schedule has not yet been posted.
