Highlights this week…
- Rep. Greg Schwartz …holding office hours on Monday, 9:30AM-11AM at Newton Free Library, Room 2H
- Candidates for City Clerk …names submitted to the City Council
- City Council …voting on allowing Keno at a restaurant in Upper Falls
- Public Facilities …considering four requests to install gas mains in several streets
City Council
City Council Committee Chairs will meet on Monday for an update from the Council’s Community Dialogue Working Group.
City Council will meet on Monday and is expected to vote on (see Reports Docket):
- Special permits for:
- Allowing Keno via two lottery screens at a restaurant 1064-1070 Chestnut Street
- Three attached single-family dwellings in two separate buildings at 8 Central Avenue
- Extending nonconforming single-family dwelling in BU2 zone with rear addition at 19 Quirk Court
- Further extending nonconforming FAR with addition and garage replacement at 39 Valentine Park
- Four single-family attached dwellings and parking waiver at 237-239 Langley Road
- Appointment of Morgan Maeder to the Biosafety Committee
- Reappointment of Harvey Schorr to the Newton Historical Commission
- Resolution to support state legislation requiring in-school CPR and AED training for all high school students
- Requests to “withdraw without prejudice” previous requests to
- Exceed FAR at 135 Hartman Road
- Exceed FAR and construct two-family dwelling at 50 Braeland Avenue
- Modify two-family dwelling and setbacks at 52-54 Hatfield Road
The New Docket includes:
- Rezone two parcels from Single Residence to Multi Residence on Dudley and Brandeis Roads
- Allow 71 single-family attached dwellings in 27 buildings with associated dimensional waivers and inclusionary zoning exceptions at 85 Dudley Road
- Grants of location for National Grid to install gas mains in Washington Street, Grove Street, Colgate Road, Hagar Street, and Bacon Street (public hearings on July 16)
- Grants of location for Cingular Wireless to install small cell wireless facilities (public hearings on July 23):
- On replacement utility poles near 542 Hammond Street and 1152 Walnut Street
- On utility poles near 1185 Boylston Street and 4 Delmore Road
- Appointments:
- Scott Friedman and Travis Salters and Scott Friedman to the Newton Historical Commission
- James Miller to the Auburndale Historic District Commission
- Kristen Avila, Peter Barrer, Deb Crossley, Tom Gloria to to the BERDO Advisory Commission
- Sean Macamaux to the Conservation Commission
- Patrick Dober to the Newton Housing Authority
- Robert King to the Parks and Recreation Commission
- Reappointments:
- Jane Brown to the Commission on Disability
- Vincent O’Donnell to the Newton Housing Authority
- Christopher Murphy to the Institutional Biotechnology Committee
- Home Rule Petition to increase the maximum age for new police officers from 31 to 39
- Public meeting with candidates for City Clerk / Clerk of the Council
- Discussion about increasing City transparency and improving public access to information through website improvements and best practices
- Discussion with Department of Public Works about standard procedures for road work including planning, communication, police details, contractors, and work hours
- $15,000 in CPA funds to replace the deck at Newton Community Farm
Public Facilities will meet on Wednesday regarding:
- Appointment of Reihaneh Irani-Famili to the Citizens Commission on Energy
- Request for Grant of Location to install a small cell wireless communication facility with equipment on existing utility pole on the corner of Woodcliff Road and Boylston Street
- Requests for Grants of Location to install and maintain gas mains in:
- Commonwealth Avenue, the intersection of Oakland Avenue at Commonwealth Avenue, and Auburn Street
- Bacon Street from Washington to Pearl Street
- Grove Street, Colgate Road, and Hagar Street
- Washington Street to a new gas main in Kempton Place (a private way)
Programs and Services will meet on Wednesday regarding:
- Appointments:
- Patrick Dober to the Newton Housing Authority
- Robert King to the Parks and Recreation Commission
- Reappointments:
- Vincent O’Donnell to the Newton Housing Authority
- Christopher Murphy to the Institutional Biotechnology Committee
School Committee
School Committee is not scheduled to meet this week.
Boards and Commissions
Commission on Disability will meet on Monday regarding:
- Accessible Parking Application- 149 North Street
- Playground Accessibility Letter
- Disability Pride Event-Debrief
- Gath Pool Equipment Update
- ADA Proclamation
Library Trustees Finance Committee will meet on Tuesday regarding:
- FY25 Budget vs. Actual Review
- Highland Partners Charitable Fund Grant FY26
- FY26 Committee Priority Brainstorm
Board of License Commissioners will meet on Tuesday regarding applications for:
- One-Day Temporary Wine and Malt Licenses
- After-dinner meeting, Tuesday, September 9 at the Church of the Redeemer, 379 Hammond Street
- Church Reception, Sunday, September 28 at the Church of the Redeemer, 379 Hammond Street
- One-Day Temporary Wine and Malt Licenses
- Clambake and BBQ, Sunday, August 3 at The Cove, 104 W Pine Street
- Figure Drawing Classes at the New Art Center, 61 Washington Park: August 8 and September 12
- One Day Temporary All-Alcohol License: Legacy Circle Launch Gathering, Wednesday, July 30 at Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverly Avenue
- New Common Victualler License: Luna’s Cakes and Coffee, 1269 Centre Street.
- New All-Alcohol Restaurant License, Pledge, Management Agreement, New Common Victualler, and Annual Entertainment License: 2Life Opus Newton, 77 Winchester Street
Human Rights Commission will meet on Tuesday to discuss putting together a community panel discussion to bring members of our communities who can model talking across differences.
Board of Assessors will meet on Wednesday to approve June 2025 Exemption and Abatement Reports.
Zoning Board of Appeals will meet on Wednesday regarding a request to alter approved plans to include a second-story addition over the garage and a 237-sq.-ft. addition to construct an accessory dwelling unit at 25 Freeman Street.
CANCELLED: Chestnut Hill Historic District Commission will NOT meet on Thursday regarding requests to:
- Replace electric box and outlet for Electric Vehicle (EV) at 137 Suffolk Road
- Replace roofing materials, install aluminum drip edge and rake, copper cutter, composite soffit and fascia board, and cedar clapboards at 274 Chestnut Hill Road
- Replace existing fence at 381 Hammond Street
- Discuss curbing on Reservoir Ave.
Conservation Commission will meet on Thursday regarding:
- Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) for a garage addition at 1733 Commonwealth Avenue
- Informal discussion regarding a request to plant trees and shrubs as mitigation for improper fence installation at 152 Suffolk Road
[UPDATE] Upper Falls Area Council will meet on Thursday regarding:
- Pettee Square Improvement Project
- Little Luke’s re-opening
- Elliot Street Traffic Improvement Project letter
- Echo Bridge Pizza Keno application
- Area Council elections
- Promoting Upper Falls businesses
- Village Day Planning
- Area Council sponsored debates
- 93-103 Thurston Rd property proposal
- Newton Housing Trust properties
- UFAC promotion materials
Other
State Rep. Greg Schwartz will hold office hours on Monday, 9:30AM-11AM at the Newton Free Library, Room 2H.
Development Review Team will meet this week regarding a Special Permit for adding a 398 sq. ft. addition, which may exceed maximum lot coverage, at 199 Otis Street.
This week’s road construction schedule has not yet been posted.
Ed. Note: This post has been updated to include the Upper Falls Area Council meeting, which was posted after publication.
