What’s Up in Newton – Week of 7/6/2025

Highlights this week…

Newtonville, Newton Highlands, and Waban Area Councils …each with packed agendas on Thursday
Economic Development Commission …on economic development strategy and business attraction
Elected Officials’ Office Hours …by Rep. Amy Sangiolo, and Councilors David Micley and Rena Getz

City Council

City Council is not scheduled to meet this week.

Land Use will on Tuesday regarding requests to:

Construct a 2.5-story rear addition, extending the nonconforming residential use at 19 Quirk Court
Raze the existing dwelling and construct a new, two-story, single-family dwelling, exceeding the maximum FAR and extending the nonconforming side and front setbacks at 270 Derby Street
Remove an existing covered porch along the rear facade and construct a 149 sq. ft. one-story mudroom and raze the existing 443 sq. ft. detached garage and construct a new 528 sq. ft. detached garage slightly further back at 39 Valentine Park
Allow Keno use by adding two lottery screens in the lounge area of the restaurant at 1064-1070 Chestnut Street
Reconfigure the interior to accommodate six residential dwelling units and allow for a free-standing sign near the main driveway entrance at 44 Oak Street

Zoning and Planning will meet on Wednesday to consider requests for discussion about:

Current state of Newton’s commercial office space, and strategies to recruit new commercial office tenants to Newton
Parking needs in our commercial village centers
Possible amendments to remove or reduce parking minimums for commercial uses in commercial centers
Possible amendment to remove the minimum parking requirement in the MRT zone adopted as part of the Village Center Overlay District work

The Chair intends to defer discussion on the following and request to set a public hearing for them:

Re-evaluation and possible amendments to Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance
Possible amendment to require that developers and property managers provide training for their employees regarding bias toward residents of the Inclusionary Zoning units and how to mitigate this bias

School Committee is not scheduled to meet this week.

Auburndale Historic District Commission will meet on Tuesday regarding requests for:

Camoin Associates draft framework of the economic development strategy update
Working Group updates: Culture, Licensing & Permitting, Zoning Updates, Education
City updates: Business attraction

Urban Design Commission will meet on Wednesday regarding sign permits for:

Newtonville Area Council will meet on Thursday regarding:

Waban Area Council will meet on Thursday regarding:

Gas Line Replacements
Four Area Council Debates and Interviews with Mayoral, School Committee and City Council Candidates. October 18 &19
Proposed Series on Newton Government to be held in the fall, co-sponsored by Newtonville, Highlands, and Upper Falls Area Council

Office Hours this Week: These are the ones we know about. Elected Officials: Please send your office hours to [email protected].

Councilor David Micley: Monday, 4PM-5PM, Clover, 385 Washington Street
Councilor Rena Getz: Wednesday, 10AM-11AM, Bettina’s Bakery, 295 Eliot Street
State Rep. Amy Sangiolo: Friday, 11AM-12:30PM, City Hall Room 211

Newton Planning and Development Department has issued a notice indicating that:

On or after July 1, the City will issue a request to the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for funding, estimated at $1,855,699, for the City’s Housing Rehabilitation and Development Program (HRDP), which provides Community Development Block Grant and HOME Partnership Investment Program funds to low-and-moderate income households in Newton for minor to moderate repairs to their homes.
Projects under the HRDP may require lead paint abatement, following federal and state guidelines.
Newton Planning and Development Department will accept public comments (addressed to [email protected]) about this until 5PM on July 11 , after which the City will submit the request to HUD, and HUD will then accept public comment for the next 15 days.

Preliminary Screening Committee for the position of City Clerk/Clerk of the Council will meet in Executive Session on Wednesday, July 9 at 9AM in City Hall, Room 211 to discuss candidate resumes and interview feedback, and to conduct preliminary interviews for the position.

This week’s road construction schedule has not yet been posted.

Ed. Note: We revised this post to include the Waban Area Council meeting, which was posted later after our newsletter publication.