What’s Up in Newton – Week of 9/8/2024 [UPDATED]

Highlights this week:

• Finance… considering funding for Newton South HS LED lighting, traffic lights at Washington & Lowell, and the Spears Park Community Garden
• Zoning and Planning… considering CPC’s recommendations for $2 million to renovate the bell tower of First Baptist Church, and $650,000 for Newton Family Access to renovate the Davis School Building
• Community Preservation Committee… holding a public hearing on a proposal by West Newton Cinema Foundation to match a Mass Cultural Council award for planning renovation of the Cinema
• Conservation Commission… considering project to renovate of Albemarle fields and courts

City Council

Finance will meet on Monday to consider:

• Accepting grants:
  • $60,000 for road safety
  • $302,922 to assist with 911 Dispatch operations
• Appropriations:
  • $7,416 for final settlement of a minor’s claim against the City
  • $25,000 for continuing education and training of Inspectional Services inspectors
  • S105,253 for an LED Lighting Project at Newton South High School
  • $93,376 for Drinking Water Lead Service Line Replacement Planning Project
  • $215,000 from Trio mitigation funds for the new traffic signal equipment at the Lowell Avenue/Washington Street intersection
  • $121,734.56 and $28,265.44 in CPA funds to create the Spears Park Community Garden
• Borrowing:
  • $4,403,000 in an interest-free, 10-year loan from the MWRA for the design and construction of Sewer CIP Project 10
  • $1,957,300 in an interest-free, 10-year loan from the MWRA Phase 4 water loan program
• Reappointing Jeffrey Silton as a Constable

Zoning and Planning will meet on Monday to consider:

• CPC’s recommendation to appropriate $2,000,000 for the restoration of the bell tower of the First Baptist Church
• CPC’s recommendation to appropriate $650,000 for Newton Family Access to renovate the historic former Davis School Building, to allow for necessary code-related upgrades
• Possible amendments to ordinances to enhance the preservation of existing homes over their replacement by larger and more expensive structures
• Possible ordinance amendments 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

Land Use will meet on Tuesday to consider:

• Requests for Extension of Time to exercise Special Permits at 113 Grove Street, 107-109 Elliot Street, and 43 Crafts Street
• Special Permits/Site Plan Approvals:
  • Second-story addition over an existing sunroom at 228 Grove Street
  • Waiver two parking stalls at 15-17 Playstead Road
  • Basement, first-, and second-story additions, and reconstruct the roof of the detached garage and add a roof deck at 35 Hood Street
  • A larger front landing and new steps at 98 Parker Avenue
  • Demolition of existing structures, combining lots, and constructing four residential dwelling units in one three-story building at 340 River Street and 76 Lexington Street

Traffic Council will meet on Thursday to consider requests for:

• Accessible parking spaces at 15 Crystal Street, 25 Lincoln Road, and 21 Newbury Street
• Stop sign at Emerson Street where it intersects with Pearl Street
• Changes in parking regulations on Phillips Lane, Russell Road, Nonantum Place, Charlesbank Road, and potentially Jefferson Street, Russell Road, and Maple Street

Schools

[UPDATE] School Committee will meet on Monday to consider:

• Management of Personal Electronic Devices Policy
• Non-Discrimination including Harassment & Retaliation
• Policy: Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Sex, including Sex-Based
  Harassment & Retaliation Under Title IX
• NPS Rights & Responsibilities Handbook, NNHS Student Handbook, NSHS Student
  Handbook
• District Goals
• FY25 School Committee Calendar Agenda Items

Policy Subcommittee will meet on Tuesday to consider policy updates and revisions.

Negotiations Subcommittee will meet in Executive Session on Wednesday to consider strategy with respect to collective bargaining with the Newton Educational Secretaries Association (NESA)

Boards and Commissions

Commission on Disability will meet on Monday to discuss an MBTA presentation, July’s Disability Pride event, Harvest Fair, proposed screening of The Ride Ahead, Marty Sender Path reopening, and other business.

Planning and Development Board will meet on Tuesday to consider, among other items, possible amendments to enhance the preservation of existing homes.

Zoning Board of Appeals will meet on Monday to conduct public hearings on:

• A 16-unit residential development at 41 Washington Street
• Switching the subsidy program for 73 affordable housing units at 1185 Washington Street
• Switching the subsidy program for 52 affordable units, and make schedule changes, at 2-4 Los Angeles Street

Auburndale Historic District Commission will meet on Tuesday to consider:

• A rear addition at 360 Central Street
• Installation of a hot tub for therapeutic treatment at 8 Leighton Road
• Installation of solar panels at 324 Central Street
• Feedback on project to install hardscaping at 245 Grove Street

Community Preservation Committee will meet on Tuesday to hold a public hearing on the West Newton Cinema Foundation‘s request for a CPC grant to match a Mass Cultural Council award for planning the rehabilitation of the historic building.

Human Rights Commission will meet on Tuesday to review the update of the HRC Ordinance, student reports, police reports, complaints received, and programming for 2024-25.

Design Review Committee will meet on Wednesday to review updates for the Franklin School project.

Urban Design Commission will meet on Wednesday to consider:

• Sign permits:
  • The Green Lady Newton Centre Cannabis Dispensary – 740 Beacon Street
  • John W. Weeks House – 7 Hereward Road
  • Multiple signs at 269-287 Grove Street
• Fence Appeals:
  • 6-8 Charles Street, Unit 6
  • 126 Parker Street
• Sign Ordinance and Policy Changes

Conservation Commission will meet on Thursday to consider:

• Notices of Intent:
  • Install benches and invasives management on DCR Charles River Greenway at 2-4 Los Angeles Street
  • Project at Albemarle Park fields/courts at 250 Albemarle Road
• Requests:
  • Amended order regarding violation of plans at 71 Harwich Road
  • 2-year extension on an order of conditions regarding parking at 188-210 Needham Street
  • Closeout of an Enforcement Order for the DCR/Newton Yacht Club at 1 Nonantum Road
  • Certificate of Compliance for grading in the rear of property at 49 Staniford Street
  • Certificate of Compliance for the 40B development located at 2 -4 Los Angeles Street
  • Certificate of Compliance for slope revegetation at 193 Lake Avenue
  • Certificate of Compliance for a garage addition at 24 Village Road

Upper Falls Historic District Commission will meet on Thursday to consider requests:

• Renovate the existing house, enlarge the dormer, build an addition on the back, and make changes to the side elevations, driveways, and hardscaping at 16-20 Winter Street
• Renovate the house, rebuild the front entry porch, raise the roof height, demolish the chimney, rear addition, and garage, and build a rear addition at 103 High Street
• Renovate the existing building, add dormers, carport, and parking, and driveway and site changes at 44 Oak Street
• Feedback on a proposed renovation of and addition to the existing building, new multi-unit building and driveway at 981 Chestnut Street

Other

The Development Review Team will meet to consider an oversized, detached Auxiliary Dwelling Unit at 2077 Washington Street and a retaining wall over four feet in height spanning two properties at 52 Kingston Street/166 Plymouth Road.

This week’s road construction schedule.

Ed. Note: This post was updated to include the School Committee meeting on September 9 and to note that the Planning and Development Board will meet on Tuesday, not Monday.