City Council
NOTE: This weekly summary provides highlights of meeting agendas. For full agendas and Zoom links, click the links that are in bold.
Public Facilities will meet TONIGHT to discuss a request to transfer $280,000 from Free Cash to fund unanticipated remaining contractor invoices not yet received.
Finance will meet TONIGHT:
- Appropriate $250,000 for Election Equipment
- Two requested transfers totaling $380,000 for Snow and Ice Contractors:
- Request to appropriate $300,000 from Free Cash to replace Fire Emergency Response Unit
- Two requested transfers totaling $950,000 related to the Library’s HVAC System
- Grant fund acceptances:
- $100,000 for continued consulting work on Village Center/MBTA Communities zoning
- $340,398 from the FY23 State MassTrails and $20,000 from the Newton Conservators and the Solomon Foundation for the Marty Sender Greenway Phase 2 Restoration Project
- $75,000 from the Massachusetts State Budget to help fund the construction of the Spears Park community garden
- $400,000 from the Massachusetts State Budget to help fund the Gath Pool improvements project
- $125,000 donation from the Friends of Coletti-Magni Park to beautify the park and upgrade the electrical infrastructure
- Appropriate $9,099,787 for the Athletic Field CIP Construction Phase III ($4,099,787 from the CPA’s Unrestricted Prior Year Fund and $5,000,000 from bonding)
Zoning and Planning will meet TONIGHT:
- Planning staff, Landwise, and Utile will present an economic analysis of the proposed MRT district
- Discussion of Village Center Zoning and state guidance for implementing the Housing Choice Bill
- Discussion and possible ordinance to allow for breweries, brew pubs, and other craft beverage production
- Reappointments to the Newtonville Historic District Commission: John Martin and Jim Gross
- Reappointments to the Zoning Board of Appeals: Michael Rossi, Jennifer Pucci, and Stuart Snyder
- Reappointments to the Newton Affordable Housing Trust: Tamirirashe Gambiza, Ann Houston, and Peter Sargent
Land Use will meet on Tuesday for these requests:
- Amend the site plan to allow a curb cut exceeding 20 feet in width at 63-65 Broadway
- Locate an oversized second principal sign for the medical office at 714 Beacon Street
- Construct a one-story rear addition to provide an accessible living space at 25 Breamore Road
- Administrative Site Plan Review to convert the basement space for use as a church with classroom space, as well as a 72-seat café which will be open to the public, and a waiver of 64 parking stalls at 1173 Walnut Street
- Construct a drive-through window with waivers for parking, lighting and signs at 940 Boylston Street
Zoning and Planning will hold a public hearing on Wednesday on the adoption of an ordinance as per the requirements under the Municipal Fossil Fuel Free Building Construction and Renovation Demonstration Project (the Ten Communities program), which would allow Newton to require electrification of all new building construction and substantial renovations.
Traffic Council will meet on Thursday for these requests:
- Parking restrictions on Troy Lane
- Update the Traffic and Parking Regulations (TPR) to allow bicycles to legally travel southbound on the one-way northbound block of Brookside Avenue between Watertown Street and Albemarle Road
- Parking restrictions on Johnson Place
- Remove the accessible parking space at 58 Churchill Street
- Modify the parking regulations on the west side of Adams Street within 50 feet of Clinton Street, both sides
- Change the free 1-hour parking zone on the north side of Washington Street in the area of Honda Village and Walgreens into a free 2-hour parking zone, for the convenience of customers
- Change all the 1-hour on-street parking meters along Washington Street and Centre Street in Newton Corner into 2-hour meters
- Change the 30-minute space and the 1-hour meter on Charlesbank Road into two long-term metered parking spaces.
School Committee
Negotiations Subcommittee will meet on Monday at 4PM to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with the NTA and conduct a collective bargaining session with the NTA, Units A-E.
School Committee will meet TONIGHT and vote on/discuss:
- Out-of-State Field Trips
- Wellness Policy Revisions
- Underwood/Ward Mission Statement & Guiding Principles
- Updates on SEPAC
- Franklin School Educational Design and Enrollment Plan Review
- Interim Superintendent Goals (Includes Literacy Pilot Update)
- Update on negotiations
Underwood and Ward Facility and Enrollment Study Task Force will meet on Tuesday and discuss existing building and site conditions and the existing utilization of space at both schools.
School Committee will meet in Executive Session on Wednesday to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel
Boards and Commissions
Commission on Disability will meet on Monday and discuss/review the following:
- FY25 CDBG-Funded Projects -Library Site Visits
- Generally Accessible Trail Walk Event
- Update-Lincoln Eliot Playground Design & at DRC
- July 4th Festivities & Accessibility for Future City Events
- UOD & NPS Disability Awareness Education & Dr. Nolin Update
- Upcoming Co-Chairs’ Meeting with Mayor on June 15
- ADA 33rd Anniversary 7/26/23 Celebration
- COD Awareness Event 2024- Ideas
- More Project Ideas for MOD ADA Improvement Grant
Economic Development Commission will meet on Tuesday and discuss the following: Streng
- Strengthening village centers: Village Center Overlay District v. 2.0, Newton Highlands Enhancement Project
- Increasing Newton’s commercial tax base: California Street Study
- Advancing DEI: Underrepresented Vendor List
- Facilitate owning and operating businesses: Commercial Cardboard recycling and Brewpub/Bottling update
Newton Fair Housing Committee and Lease Up Sub-Committee will meet on Tuesday and discuss the City’s role in the lottery process, data need to document the process and outcome and develop a workplan and priorities for the coming year.
Design Review Committee will meet on Wednesday and discuss the Gath Pool and Lincoln Eliot projects.
Newton Free Library Board of Trustees Development Committee will meet on Wednesday and discuss its Mission Statement, FY24 Goals, Committee responsibilities, and staffing and planning for its annual appeal.
Urban Design Commission will meet on Wednesday and review 3 sign permits: Mass General, Bakey, and Oak n Barrel, and review 2 fence appeals: 5 Longmeadow Road and 3-5 Potter Street.
Youth Commission will meet on Wednesday featuring Mayor Fuller as the guest speaker.
Chestnut Hill Historic District Commission will meet on Thursday and review three requests:
- Installation of a wrought iron handrail at 342 Beacon Street
- Roof replacement and chimney repairs at 17 Suffolk Road
- Landscape plan amendment and final approval of project work at 9 Old Orchard Road.
Conservation Commission will meet on Thursday and review 4 requests for Certificate of Compliance: 210 Upland Road, 400 Beacon Street, 24 Village Road, and 39 Norwood Road, and discuss rodenticide restrictions and support modifications to Newton’s rodent control policy.
Election Commission will meet on Thursday: Polling location changes for Pelligrini and Albemarle Field House, recommendation of early voting dates, an update on new tabulators, and election of Chair.
Urban Tree Commission will meet on Friday:
- Forestry Department update
- Tree removal requests
- Review the status of proposed changes to the City Tree Ordinance
Other
Bicycle/ Pedestrian Network Plan Public Meeting will be held virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, June 13 at 7PM to provide a plan update, including a project overview, existing conditions report, the results of initial community input, and the next steps, and provide for interactive polling and opportunities to provide public comment and Q&A. Go here for information about the network plan or email bikepedplan@newtonma.gov
Village Center Zoning/MBTA Communities Act Updates
- The public hearing on a citizen’s petition requesting proposed ballot questions regarding zoning was held last week (see Fig City News story). The Programs and Services Committee voted No Action Necessary (see NewTV video).
- Ward 7 Councilor Marc Laredo submitted questions to the Planning Department regarding Village Center Zoning and compliance with the MBTA Communities Law.
- Zoning and Planning will receive an economic analysis presentation from the Planning staff, and consultants Landwise and Utile of the proposed MRT district.
- Green Newton is hosting a virtual (Zoom link registration) webinar entitled “The Impact of Newton’s Zoning and the MBTA Communities Law on Climate Change” on Tuesday, June 13 at 7PM. According to Green Newton’s webpage, “Kathy Pillsbury, former climate change researcher for the Union of Concerned Scientists, and an active member of 350 Mass Newton Node as well as the Engine 6 Zoning Group will present the details of the plan. Jay Walter, a local architect and founder of the Building Professionals Zoning Working Group, will also speak on several ways that the proposed zoning changes can benefit our community.”
- Public Hearing on amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map regarding village center districts is scheduled for June 26.
Environmental Updates
- Newton Citizens Commission on Energy (NCCE) Supports “A Future Without Gas” Resolution: The NCCE submitted a letter in support of this resolution, which calls for a city-wide plan that would “reduce emissions and risks by accelerating the retirement of gas infrastructure through triage and repair of gas leaks” and “expedite the electrification of residences and business.” It also calls for the establishment of a Gas Leaks Working Group to build a framework and identify “opportunities” and combine its efforts with “Recommendations for Meeting Goals for the Residential Sector,” submitted to the Mayor in April 2023.
- City’s Sustainability Team issues an update on BERDO as the Zoning and Planning Committee considers taking the issue up for discussion. In the update, Sustainability co-chair, William Ferguson details the importance of BERDO as an important strategy to lower emissions in the City as they, working with the Newton Citizens Commission on Energy, have “determined that about 27% of the total emissions in Newton come from about 400 of the largest buildings.”
- Zoning and Planning will hold a public hearing on the adoption of an ordinance that will allow Newton to require electrification of all new building construction and substantial renovations.
- Conservation Commission will discuss City’s Rodent Control policy at its meeting on Thursday (see above)
- The Programs and Services Committee will hold a public hearing on a Citizen’s Petition requesting amendments to Tree Preservation Ordinance will be held on June 28.
This week’s road construction schedule can be found here.