Highlights this week…
- A potentially quiet week …
City Council
City Council is not scheduled to meet this week.
Finance will meet on Monday regarding:
- Free Cash Appropriations:
- $1,300,000 for additional paving, sidewalk, and ADA ramp improvements in the City’s Transportation Network Improvements Program
- $1,250,000 (plus transfer $3,260,000 from FY2025 Current Year Wage Reserve) toward settlement of the Newton Patrol Association FY22-24 Collective Bargaining Agreement
- $250,000 (plus transfer $750,000 from DPW Street – Full-time Wages) for snow and ice removal
- $25,000 to cover remaining FY25 Veteran Benefit expenses
- Transfers:
- $1,952,500 from FY2026 Current Year Wage Reserve, to FY2026 Police Patrol Services toward settlement of the Newton Patrol Association FY22-24 Collective Bargaining Agreement
- $150,000 from the Legal – Full Time Salaries, to the Legal – Legal Services to use outside legal firms
- $139,000 (i.e., $58,000 from Water Fund – FT Wages, Water Fund – NCRS Pension, and $81,000 from Sewer Fund – FT Wages to Sewer Fund – NCRS Pension) to cover pension obligation shortfall in Water and Sewer Funds
- $125,000 from Library – Full Time Salaries to Library Building Maintenance – Electricity
- $2,925 from Executive – Full Time Salaries to Interest – Long Term Debt – High School to cover a shortfall
- $50 from the Veteran Services – Printing to the Veteran Services – Full Time Salaries
- Any unexpected General Fund municipal health insurance funds as of June 30, 2025 into the Health Insurance Trust Fund
- Other appropriations:
- $2,453,904 from inflow and infiltration mitigation accounts for capital improvement plan inflow and infiltration projects
- $200,000 from PEG Access and Cable Related Fund to Newton Communications Access Center, Inc.
- $50,000 Commonwealth of Massachusetts FY25 State earmark for the Washington Street Pilot
- $50,000 in Dunstan East mitigation funds for bus stop improvements in the Washington Street Pilot
- $31,073 in permit mitigation funds from development projects for traffic safety and operations
- $10,000 from Judgement and Settlements for the full and final settlement of Farmers Ins. a/s/o Vadim Flekel v. City of Newton
Zoning and Planning will meet on Monday regarding requests for:
- An addition of a maximum residential facade build-out ratio to Zoning ordinances to aid in new development being contextual to the surrounding neighborhood
- Possible amendments to Zoning or other City Ordinances to enhance the preservation of existing homes over their replacement by larger and more expensive structures
- Discussion with Planning Department to consider ordinance amendments to revise metrics in the multi-residence zones, 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 housing
- Possible amendments to Zoning ordinances to allow certain routine residential alterations by right to streamline City processes for Newton property owners
- Amendments to Zoning – Two-Family Detached
Real Property Reuse will meet on Thursday regarding reuse of the land on 169 Grove Street and 136 Hancock Street.
Traffic Council will meet on Thursday regarding requests to:
- Consider implementing trial, and perhaps eventually to make permanent, a change to the traffic circulation on Elm Road so that it becomes one-way westbound, from Walnut Street to Lowell Avenue, at all times, for all vehicles.
- Continue the trial that restricts access to Elm Road (from Lowell Avenue) to Elm Road residents, Newton North High School staff, school buses and bicyclists.
- Add four new parking meters on the north side of Beacon Street, between Saint Jude Gate and College Road.
- Change the parking regulations on Howley Avenue to ensure access for emergency, trash, and recycling vehicles.
- Change the parking regulations on Norman Road, including restricted parking between Memorial Day and Labor Day on Norman Road, and possible restrictions near the corner of Norman Road and Lakewood Road.
- Install a traffic signal at the eastbound/westbound Washington Street merge to the Centre Avenue bridge in Newton Corner.
- Add a “no turn on red’ sign on Commonwealth Avenue eastbound at Hammond Street.
- Add a “left lane must turn left” restriction from Walnut Street southbound onto Homer Street eastbound.
- Prohibit parking on the east side of Walnut Street, from Fenno Road to a point 150 feet north.
- Prohibit parking on the east side of Walnut Street, from 590 feet north of Fenno Road to Commonwealth Avenue.
School Committee
School Committee is not scheduled to meet this week.
Boards and Commissions
Community Preservation Committee will meet on Tuesday regarding:
- Community Farm Deck Project Cost Update
- Discussion of future City Hall projects with Commissioner Josh Morse
Auburndale Historic District Commission will meet on Tuesday regarding a Certificate of Appropriateness to remediate work done to install fencing at 71 Studio Road.
Economic Development Commission will meet on Tuesday regarding:
- Riverside development
- Working Group updates: Culture, Licensing & Permitting, Zoning Updates, Education
- City updates: Business attraction, Strategy update, Website additions
Urban Design Commission will meet on Wednesday regardin:
- Sign Permits: 43-53 Lincoln Street – The Agency, 131-181 Needham Street—Trader Joe’s
- Fence Appeal: 9 Forest Street
Newton Upper Falls Historic District Commission will meet on Thursday regarding requests for:
- Certificates of Appropriateness to:
- Install rooftop solar panels on the house at 99 High Street
- Install handrail on the stairway facing the street at 207-209 Elliot Street
- Construct a two-story addition on the existing building and construct a new building on the rear of the lot at 981 Chestnut Street
- Feedback on proposed plan to demolish ca. 1828 Pettee House to construct a new building at 277 Elliot Street (Stone Institute)
Other
Newtonville Area Council will meet on Thursday regarding:
- Cooper Center Building Plan Renderings & Usage Feedback Opportunities
- Election Staffing/Operations
- Village Day Committee Update
- I ❤️Newton Signs & Business Survey Volunteers
- Piano Pals Volunteers
- City Budget Outcomes
Waban Area Council will meet on Thursday regarding:
- Renovation plans for Historic Staples-Craft -Wiswall Farmhouse for Suzuki Music school
- Proposed Series on Newton Government to be held in the fall, co-sponsored by Newtonville, Highlands, and Upper Falls Area Councils
Development Review Team (DRT) is scheduled to meet this week regarding Special Permits for the following potential projects/proposals (see DRT Snapshot):
- 76-78, 82 Los Angeles Street: Combine lots and construct 3-story multifamily dwelling with up to 21 units
- 82-84 East Side Parkway: Retaining wall exceeding 4’ in height
- 136 Gordon Road: Exceeding FAR for a single-family dwelling
This week’s road construction schedule has not yet been posted.
Ed. Note: We updated this post to include the Waban Area Council meeting, which was posted after initial publication.
