Zoning and Planning will meet in person (Council Chamber) and virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, October 14 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:
- Appointment of Christopher Steele to the Economic Development Commission
- Request for addition of a maximum residential facade build out ratio to Chapter 30, Zoning to aid in new development being contextual to the surrounding neighborhood
- Request for a discussion and possible amendments to Chapter 30 Zoning or other City Ordinances to enhance the preservation of existing homes over their replacement by larger and more expensive structures
- Request for a discussion with the Planning Department to consider ordinance amendments that would revise the metrics in the multi-residence (MR1, MR2 and MR3) 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 housing stock
- Request for a discussion and possible amendments to Newton’s zoning ordinance to remove or reduce the parking minimums for first-floor commercial uses in commercial centers
- Request for a discussion with the Planning and Development Department and the Newton Housing Partnership about the City’s Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance and possible amendments to the ordinance to include 4-6 units, including raising the requirements for the number of affordable units in large developments
- Request amendments to Chapter 30 Zoning to create a new Adult Day Care use. (Chair’s Note: The Chair intends to ask the Committee to set a public hearing date for this item for November 10, 2025.)
- Reappointment of Leigh Gilligan to the Conservation Commission
- Reappointment of Charles Eisenberg to the Zoning Board of Appeals
- Reappointment of Scott Aquilina, Rick Wetmore, Susana Lannik, and Robert Imperato to the Chestnut Hill Historic District Commission
- Reappointment of Deb Crossley to the Zoning Board of Appeals
Finance will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Wednesday, October 15 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:
- Request to appropriate and expend $152,255 from the Energy Stabilization Fund to fund a LED Lighting Project at the Newton Education Center
- CPC recommendation to appropriate $2,154,544 in Community Preservation Act funding, with $1,654,544 from the CPA Unrestricted Fund Balance and $500,000 from the CPA Housing FY26 Budgeted Reserves, for a grant to the Newton Affordable Housing Trust for their FY26 funding
- Request to set salary for City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council
- Request for fact finding and discussion regarding a workers’ compensation claim filed by Loretta Busa.(Chair’s note: A motion for Executive Session may be entertained for this item.)
Traffic Council will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Thursday, October 16 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following requests:
- Review and possible changes to the parking regulations on Woodland Road between Washington Street and Windermere Road, which may include inclusion in the Auburndale Village Parking District.
- Consider restricting parking along either one side or both sides of the block of Islington Road between Commonwealth Avenue and Ryder Terrace. (Item re-docketed due to notification issue.)
- Trial to remove a portion of the two westernmost rows of parking within the Langley Road (Triangle) Municipal Parking Lot in Newton Centre and relocate the twelve (12) reserved spots for employee parking, the two (2) reserved spots for Zip Car and the two (2) reserved spots for BlueBikes (for a net reduction of between five (5) and ten (10) Triangle Lot public parking spaces), to allow for the creation of a temporary public plaza for gathering, arts, and play in the heart of Newton Centre.
- Discussion and potential action to create a short-term parking space near Union Pharmacy in Newton Centre
- Discussion and potential action to create one or two combined parking areas/loading zones along Herrick Road and Union Street in Newton Centre
- Traffic Bureau to provide 15 permits for staff to park in the Austin Street Municipal Lot without paying the kiosk during enforcement hours
- Change the TPR to officially designate the one-way loop around the reservation areas of Waban Park and Walnut Park.
