The Full City Council will meet in person (Council Chamber) and virtually (Zoom link) tonight, Monday, October 3 at 7:45PM (see Reports Docket and New Docket). The Council is expected to vote on two zoning amendments now that the Planning and Development Board has submitted its recommendations. (See Planning and Development Board recommendation on ADUs and on Inclusionary Zoning Cash Payments and the Affordable Housing Trust fund.)
- Request to review and amend Section 6.7.1 Accessory Apartments, to remove barriers to creating accessory apartments – including allowing detached ADUs by right, allowing ADUs to be permitted as part of new construction, and amend setback requirements.
- Request to amend Section 5.11.5.E to specify that the Affordable Housing Trust will be the entity to receive and distribute one-half of new Inclusionary Zoning funds, rather than having these funds go to a separate City account.
Councilor Crossley submitted this memo to clarify information on specifics being proposed and amended.
The Council is also expected to vote to approve a $4,127,000 funding/borrowing request for the Newton Pump Station Rehabilitation CIP Project 1 and design for Project 2, $75K in CPA funds to complete the first phase of the Jackson Homestead Basement Restoration Project, $1,948,056 in CPA funding – $556,588 to come from the FY23 Community Housing Reserve Account and $1,391,468 to come from FY23 Unrestricted Funding Account, to provide funding to the Newton Affordable Housing Trust, the creation of a mattress recycling program, and approval to set the number of detailed police officers at polling locations for all elections. (See Reports Docket.)
New on the docket for the City Council is a Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to construct six-units of multifamily housing with below-grade parking accommodating 12 vehicles, and other waivers at 416 and 418 Langley Road (public hearing scheduled for November 1), an appeal of a Traffic Council decision regarding the addition of a stop sign at the end of Exeter Street and Berkley Street, a request to rename a portion of Brandeis Road to Lion Drive (beginning east of #131 and #132 Brandies Road to the intersection of Greenwood), acceptance of an Assistance to Firefighter Grant through the Department of Homeland Security for Fire Department training on structural collapse props and to purchase a structural collapse prop structure, acceptance of a Fire Prevention & Safety grant through the Department of Homeland Security to conduct training for 30 members on Arson/Fire Investigation and to purchase fire investigation kits which include tools and PPE, requests to transfer funds from the Energy Stabilization Fund for the design of a new HVAC system to replace the aging 30+ year old systems at the Newton Free Library which will make the building fully electric and for the design of a new HVAC system that will convert the existing fuel system at Pierce Elementary School to a fossil-free fuel HVAC system.
The School Committee will meet in person (Room 210, Ed Center) and virtually (Zoom link) TONIGHT, Monday, October 3 (see agenda) beginning at 6PM with an Executive Session to discuss strategy related to collective bargaining or litigation. It will then convene in Open Session and will discuss the following:
- Updates on the Capital Improvement Projects
- Updates on the Literacy Curriculum – funded by $2M ARPA funds
- Policy revisions on Non-Discrimination, Professional Staff Hiring, Equal Employment, Equal Educational Opportunities, School Choice, Student Dress Code, Home School, and Student Discipline
- Massachusetts Association of School Committee (MASC) Resolutions
- Superintendent Search
The School Committee is also scheduled to vote on:
- Final FY2023 Systemwide Goals and Metrics
- MASC/MASS Conference Delegate and Alternate
- Overnight and International Trips
- School Committee Secretary
The Four Area Councils (Newtonville, Newton Highlands, Upper Falls, and Waban) will be hosting a second community outreach and engagement session on Village Center Zoning, in person (Waban Library) and virtually (Zoom link) tonight, Monday, October 3 at 7PM (see Meeting Notice). The deadline for community feedback is October 16. The Newton Free Library is hosting an exhibit on the 2nd floor, Room C or you can go here to view the online exhibit. Input can be provided by going to this online feedback tool.
The zoning petition for the property located at 136-144 Hancock Street (Walker Center) will be reviewed, discussed, and possibly voted on by the Planning and Development Board at its virtual (Zoom link) meeting tonight, Monday, October 3 at 7PM (see agenda). The request to rezone 2 parcels at 11 Florence Street and 318 Boylston Street will be heard at its November 7 meeting. The Planning and Development Board will also review its recommendation letter regarding the rezoning request for 1314 Washington Street.
The Fair Housing Committee will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, October 4 at 8AM. Among the items on its agenda will be an Armory presentation, training program planning for the winder, update and follow-up on ARPA, Village Center Zoning review, and subcommittee updates.
The on-site meeting of Newton Parks, Recreation, and Culture to discuss the Spears Park Community Gardens Project has been rescheduled from Tuesday, October 4 to Tuesday, October 18 at 6PM (see Meeting Notice).
Two projects in Auburndale will go before the Newton Historical Commission at its virtual meeting (Zoom link) on Wednesday, October 5 at 7PM (see agenda and Packet documents):
- A request to demolish a barn at 70 Auburn Street
- A request for Local Landmark Review of 242 Islington Road
1314 Washington Street Rezoning request and Special Permit/Site Plan Approval request will be heard at the Land Use Committee meeting (in person: Council Chamber; virtual: Zoom link) on Thursday, October 6 at 7PM (see agenda).
The Newton Highlands Area Council has a packed agenda for its meeting (in person: Brigham House; virtual: Zoom link) on Thursday, October 6 at 7PM. A number of substantive items will be discussed including: Area Councilor nomination and selection, the Newton Highlands Congregational Church 150th anniversary, the MBTA D Line closure and busing, traffic on Lincoln Street, Crystal Lake Park, the proposed amendments to the Tree Ordinance, the MBTA Communities Act Zoning, and Zoning Redesign – Village Center Zoning.
The Fair Housing Committee’s Lottery Results and Lease Up Subcommittee will hear a presentation from Brian Engler of SEB Consulting on the Lease Up Process at its virtual (Zoom link) meeting on Friday, October 7 at 8AM (see agenda).
City Councilors submitted this letter on September 27, to the Federal Transit Commission, in support of the MBTA’s Newton Commuter Rail Accessibility Improvements Project and grant application.
This week’s road construction schedule can be found here.