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What’s up in Newton this week – 3/5/2023


City Council

City Council Committee Chairs will meet TONIGHT to discuss Council Rules, the use of the Sunshine Fund, in-person attendance, Open Meeting Law Reminders, and Docket Tracking system.

Full City Council will meet TONIGHT at 7:45PM. The Council is expected to vote on the following:

  • Request to construct a five-unit dwelling and parking waiver at 194 Adams Street
  • Request for discussion regarding new MA Building Energy Code amendments and adoption of the Specialized Energy Code (NOTE: This item was postponed from the last Council meeting.)
  • Request to amend Special Permit #289-18 at 697 Washington Street – Garden Remedies. This item was recommitted to Land Use at the last Council meeting.
  • Request to authorize the partial release of the Declaration of Affordable Housing Covenants at 2Life Communities, 677 Winchester Street
  • Appointment of Anne Marie Stein to the Newton Historical Commission

Land Use Committee will meet on Tuesday at 7PM and will discuss the following:

  • Three requests for extensions of time:
    • 4 Clarendon Street: Second-story addition
    • 229 Bellevue Street: Garage accommodating more than three vehicles and exceeding 700 sq. ft.
    • 383-387 Boylston: Three-story, 12-unit multi-family dwelling
  • Request to further extend the nonconforming front and rear setbacks and parking waivers at 43 River Avenue
  • Request to allow six single-family attached dwellings at 71 Commonwealth Avenue and 15 Algonquin Road
  • Request to allow a three-story structure with 32 feet in height, an FAR of 1.42, and to waive seven parking stalls at 296 Watertown Street

Public Facilities will meet on Wednesday and discuss the following:

  • Eversource petition for Grant of Location in Centre Street (a vote of NO ACTION NECESSARY – anticipated)
  • Request for a grant of location in California Street at the Bridge Street intersection: installation of a below-grade vault and one traffic box and three vent poles
  • Authorization to accept $3,255,000 MWRA grant/loan program and to borrow $1,085,000 in an interest-free loan from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) Sewer Infiltration/Inflow Local Financial Assistance Program Phase 14, 25% loan/75% grant program for a total of $4,340,000 for the design and construction of Sewer CIP Project 9.
  • Two reappointments to the Sustainable Materials Management Commission:
    • Meryl Kessler and Carl Valente

Programs and Services will meet on Wednesday and discuss the following:

  • Appointment of Ruth Goldman to the Urban Tree Commission
  • Requesting report as to the implementation of the leaf-blower landscaper registration and enforcement. NOTE: The Committee will meet jointly with Public Safety and Transportation Committee.
  • Discussion item and possible ordinance amendment regarding processes that could prevent abandoned or condemned properties
  • Requesting a discussion regarding Newton’s Economic Stability/Mobility Initiative – EMPath

Public Safety will meet on Wednesday and discuss the following:

  • Requesting report as to the implementation of the leaf­blower landscaper registration and enforcement (NOTE: Will join the Programs and Services Committee.)
  • Requesting authorization to bring the City’s ordinances relating to special officers (i.e., retired police officers) in conformance with the State law.
  • Acceptance of $190,000 from MassDOT’s Community Transit Grant Program – FY23 for Newton in Motion (NewMO) Senior Transportation micro transit program
  • Acceptance of $712,459 from MassDOT Community Connections Program FY23­25 for Newton in Motion (NewMO) micro transit program
  • Discussion of short-­term prevention strategies at Crafts/Albemarle/North Streets

Schools

School Committee will hold a Budget Workshop on Tuesday, 2PM – 6PM (see agenda).

Boards and Commissions

Planning and Development Board will meet TONIGHT and discuss the following:

  • FY24 HOME-American Rescue Plan Public Hearing
  • Deliberation/Potential Vote on Rezoning Petitions
    • Request to Rezone 2 parcels (11 Florence Street/318 Boylston Street) to Business Use-4
    • Request to Rezone 29 Hunter Street from Multi-Residence 2 to Multi-Residence 3
  • Village Center Zoning Continued Discussion

Council on Aging and Advisory Board will meet on Tuesday and discuss the following:

  • NewCAL – project update, planning programming, other observations fro other senior center sites
  • Update on Newton Senior Services
  • COA/Advisory Committee priorities
  • Override voting schedule

Community Preservation Committee will meet on Tuesday and discuss the following:

  • Discussion of CPA bonding process and its potential use for the Gath Pool/Newton Athletic Field CPA funding proposals
  • Discussion of Alternate Date for CPA Program Information Session

Northland Newton Development Community Liaison Committee will meet on Wednesday.

Youth Commission will meet on Wednesday and discuss the following:

  • Commission & Youth Services Updates: Career Pathways event (3/15), Medical Industry Career Event (3/23), DA Marian Ryan visit (4/12)
  • Project/Event Brainstorm: reflect on last month’s meeting
  • Subcommittee updates

Countryside School Building Committee will hold a Community Forum on Thursday, March 9 at 6PM (Register here).

Newton Upper Falls Historic District Commission will meet on Thursday and discuss the following:

  • 88 High Street, Garage: Siding and right-side window and door replacement and removal of A/C unit
  • 14 Summer Street: Renovation of existing house and new addition with attached garage and new unit with attached garage

Other

This week’s road construction schedule can be found here.

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