What’s Up in Newton – Week of 8/17/2025

Yet another quiet summer week…

City Council

City Council is not scheduled to meet this week.

Land Use will meet on Tuesday regarding these requests:

Special Permits/Site Plan Approvals to:
- Allow for a second-story addition over the garage and a 237 sq. ft. addition at 25 Freeman Street
- Construct a two-story rear addition, further extending nonconforming height at 163 Lincoln Street
- Relocate a driveway from Clark Street to Cloverdale Road, placing parking within the front setback and within five feet from Cloverdale Road and construct a 2.5-story rear addition at 65 Clark Street
- Allow up to 80 students and 13 employees, with waivers for number of stalls required, at 288 Walnut Street
Amendments to previously approved site plans to:
- Allow a retaining wall exceeding four feet in height at 157 Baldpate Hill Road
- Change the configuration of the walls and allow a combination of retaining walls exceeding four feet in height at 667-673 Boylston Street

School Committee will meet on Thursday for its annual retreat.

Board of License Commissioners will meet on Tuesday regarding requests for:

One-Day Temporary Entertainment Licenses:
- Lecture on Tuesday, October 28, 7PM-9PM, at the City Hall War Memorial
- Fall concert on Saturday, September 20, 4PM-9PM on Campus Green, Boston College
One-Day Temporary All Alcohol License and Entertainment License:
- Annual Fundraiser on Friday, August 22 from 7PM-10PM at City Hall War Memorial
One-Day Temporary Wine-Malt Licenses:
- Induction and Awards Banquet on Saturday, October 25, 4PM-10PM, at Newton South High School
- Rehearsal dinner on Friday, September 26, 6PM-10PM, at Cabot’s Restaurant
- Party on Saturday, September 13, 6PM-9PM, at New Art Center
Change of Officers/Directors/LLC Managers and Ownership Interest at Shake Shack Boston Chestnut Hill
New all alcohol restaurant license, pledge, and management agreement at 2Life Opus Newton
New All Alcohol General on Premises and New Common Victualler at West Newton Cinema Foundation

Board of Assessors will meet on Wednesday to approve July 2025 Exemption and Abatement Reports.

Replace electric box and outlet for Electric Vehicle (EV) at 137 Suffolk Road
Install granite curbing at 53 Reservoir Avenue
Replace roofing materials, install aluminum drip edge and rake, copper gutter, composite soffit and fascia board, and cedar clapboards at 256 Chestnut Hill Road
Install vinyl fence at 51 Gate House Road
Install outdoor kitchen island by existing dining terrace at rear of property at 35 Longwood Road
Replace wood gutter with fiberglass and replace any rotted fascia or soffit sections with composite board at 12 Chestnut Hill Terrace
Build mudroom addition connecting the garage to the house; various changes to two-story projecting bay; remove pool; extend deck, patio, and dormer on rear; remove existing bay window and construct new in different arrangement on rear; remove greenhouse; infill where greenhouse was including three windows; and alter window programming on rear and front facades at 30 Kingsbury Road

Upper Falls Area Council will meet on Thursday regarding:

Development Review Team is scheduled to meet this week regarding:

224 Melrose Street: Raze and rebuild garage to have 1st-floor Chiropractic office and 2nd floor ADU
1 Linwood Avenue/(321 Linwood Avenue): Construct a 16’x10’ unheated, 3-season porch within the setback
11-15 Suban Place: Modify existing dwelling to expand to 4 single-family, attached units plus one ADU, with additional relief for stories, lot coverage, and setbacks.

Ed. Note: We updated this post to include the Upper Falls Area Council meeting.