What’s Up in Newton – Week of 12/8/2024

Highlights this week…

Zoning & Planning and Finance …considering $98,500 in CPA funds for West Newton Cinema’s renovation feasibility study
Finance …considering $2 million for NPS math curriculum, $1 million for Union Street drainage, and $300,000 for high-school phone system upgrades
Newton Public Schools …hosting a family discussion of students’ mental health and use of technology
Human Rights Commission …holding Newton Human Rights Award Ceremony on Tuesday
Economic Development Commission …guest speaker Allan Cohen, City’s Commercial Assessor
Conservation Commission …public hearings on beaver lodge at 2 Wells Avenue and 40B development at 528 Boylston Street
Law Department …public hearing on the public and City needs regarding cable license renewals
Parks, Recreation & Culture …public hearing on proposed off-leash area in Edmands Park

City Council

City Council is not scheduled to meet this week.

Zoning & Planning will meet with Finance on Monday to consider appropriating $98,500 in Community Preservation Act funds to the West Newton Cinema for a feasibility study of its renovation.

Finance will continue that Monday meeting to consider requests for:

$119,984 from the Massachusetts Office on Disability for accessibility improvements at the intersection of Watertown and Chapel Streets
$75,000 from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism for improvements to Pellegrini Park and fieldhouse
$50,000 from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism to develop a master plan for the Officer Bobby Braceland Playground
$33,333 of $100,000 in transportation mitigation funds from the 15 Riverdale Avenue development
$5,000 in transportation mitigation funds from the Green Lady Marijuana Establishment
$2,000,000 from Certified Free Cash for Math Curriculum in the Newton Public Schools
$300,000 from Certified Free Cash to improve the phone systems at Newton North and Newton South High Schools
$997,942 with general obligation borrowing for the Union Street main drainage extension
$10,000 for settlement of Tom Bourgoin v. City of Newton.
$27,500 to settle a Worker’s Compensation Claim

Land Use will meet on Tuesday to consider requests for:

Class 2 Auto Licenses: Luxury Motors, Old Time Garage, Auction Direct Preowned, Yes Auto Center
Class 1 Auto Dealer License: McGovern Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM
Postponement of consideration of retaining walls over four feet in height at adjoining properties at 52 Kingston Road and 166 Plymouth Road
Amending previously approved special permits to raze the existing golf cart barn and replace it with a new Member Center at 483-655 Dedham Street – Charles River Country Club
Raze the existing dwelling and construct three single-family attached dwellings in one building at 15 Algonquin Road
Raze the existing detached garage and construct an additional separate unit, resulting in three single-family attached dwellings in two separate structures at 237-239 Langley Road
Discussion of the appropriateness of considering the historic importance of a building as a factor when making determinations related to approving a special permit

Schools

School Committee has no meetings scheduled this week.

NPS Office of Family Engagement will host a panel discussion — Healthy Kids Forum: Mental Health, Use of Technology, Limit-Setting and Creating Kids with Grit and Independence — on Thursday.

Boards and Commissions

Newton Free Library Board of Trustees – Development Committee will meet on Monday with an agenda including Spring Fling 25 planning.

Board of License Commissioners will hold a special meeting on Monday to consider One-Day Temporary Entertainment Licenses for a musical production to be held on six evenings in December at the Windsor Club in Waban.

Commission on Disability will meet on Monday to consider:

Introduction to MTM Transit Organization
Accessible Fines Reports
Overnight Parking Ban Accommodation Options
Review of CDBG Potential Architectural Access Project Recommendations
2024 Mass Office on Disability Grant Announcement – ADA improvement Grant
List of Areas of Concern for Snow Removal
Co-Chairs Corner: Dec. 12 Film Screening, West Newton Cinema Letter, NPS Curriculum, Fines Fund, NPS Alumni Breakfast

Youth Commission will meet on Monday to consider voting on Youth Commission Officers.

Newton Human Rights Commission will hold the Newton Human Rights Award Ceremony on Tuesday at 5:30PM at the War Memorial Auditorium at City Hall.

Auburndale Historic District Commission will meet on Tuesday to consider requests to:

Remediate violation and install a fence at 71 Studio Road
Replace front wood gutter with aluminum gutter at 6 Hawthorne Avenue
Relocate heat pumps and modify and re-install existing fence at 114 Windermere Road
Install new fencing and walkway on the right side of the property at 99 Hancock Street
Amend the previously approved fencing at 113 Grove Street and 17 Lasell Street
Amend a previously approved garage and breezeway at 176 Grove Street
Change the windows and doors on the main house at 176 Grove Street

Community Preservation Committee will meet on Tuesday to consider:

Newton Community Farm Pre-proposal Meeting
Jackson Homestead Full Proposal – Public Hearing
War Memorial Stair Pre-proposal Meeting

Economic Development Commission will meet on Tuesday to hear guest speaker Allan Cohen, the City’s Commercial Assessor, along with staff update on website revisions, business-friendly zoning, and economic strategy.

Design Review Committee/Franklin School Building Committee will meet on Wednesday.

Urban Design Commission will meet on Wednesday to consider:

Sign Permits: Suzuki School of Newton (1615 Beacon Street), Dunkin (11-21 Commonwealth Avenue), Ferguson Home (188-192 Needham Street)
Design Review: Internal Accessory Dwelling Unit at 1599 Washington Street

Walker Center Joint Advisory Planning Group will meet on Thursday regarding Harding Complex and Hume House layout options, Howard House site scenarios, and preferred alternatives.

Conservation Commission will meet on Thursday regarding wetlands decisions about:

Wetlands Decisions:
Debris removal/trash gate at 2 Wells Avenue
Public Hearing regarding the beaver lodge/sewer manhole at 2 Wells Avenue
Replacing a garage foundation at 14 Phillips Lane
Public Hearing regarding repaving at 300 Hammond Pond Parkway
Informal discussion regarding unpermitted addition, new driveway, tree removals, mitigation plantings at 70 Kingwood Road
Public Hearing regarding 40B development of a multi-family residential building at 528 Boylston Street
Demolition and construction of a single-family home at 37 Truman Road

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

Renovate and add on to the existing building, build garages and a new multi-unit building, and add a driveway and hardscaping at 981 Chestnut Street
Renovate the existing building, add dormers, windows, carport, hardscaping, sign, and site changes at 44 Oak Street

Waban Area Council will meet on Thursday regarding street safety and traffic, an update from Friends of Quinobequin, and surveys.

UMass Amherst/Mt. Ida Campus Neighborhood Council will meet on Friday regarding campus updates, neighborhood updates, and city updates.

Newton Housing Authority Board will meet on Friday regarding:

Renovations at 390 Newtonville Avenue, CLN House, for $101,200, reimbursed by CDBG funds of $100,000
Financial statement auditing and related services
Complete renovation at 20 Carter Street, including mold remediation for $162,440
Substantial and final completion of exterior repairs and painting of 515 Walnut Street for a final contract cost of $159,577.76
Approval of FY 2025 Budget
Approval of FY 2025 budget for Haywood House
Executive Director transition

Newton Retirement Board will meet on Friday for three Show Cause Hearings regarding 2023 Post-Retirement Earnings.

City Departments

Law Department will hold a Comcast and Verizon Cable Renewal Hearing on Tuesday for the public to comment on public and City needs regarding cable license renewals.

Parks, Recreation and Culture Department will host a community meeting regarding the Edmands Park Off-Leash Area Proposal on Wednesday

Other

Mass Development Finance Agency will hold a telephonic public hearing on Tuesday, December 10 at 10AM regarding issuance of $150 million in MassDevelopment bonds for Lasell Village‘s acquisition of properties at 120 Seminary Avenue, 222 Grove Street, 216 Grove Street, and 24 Robin Dell. Dial 888-305-1655 with Participant Code 309-639.