There is some criticism that the Save Our Villages signs are “misleading.” While I have not bothered to count the actual number of floors depicted, I will safely assume that the graphic image on the sign was not meant to be a literal translation of Newton’s rezoning proposal, but more so…
Posts published in “Zoning”
I am endorsing the following City Council candidates – Rena Getz, Alan Lobovits, Lisa Gordon, Randy Block, Stephen Farrell, and David Micley. I am doing this because of the current City Council’s failure to examine, much less resist, Mayor Fuller’s plan to rezone Newton. If her plan goes through, there…
Although the ballot doesn’t mention it, this election is about the Administration’s Village Center Overlay District (VCOD) zoning proposal and the majority City Councilors who support it. The VCOD, a boon to wealthy real estate entities, will upzone most of Newton’s village centers and nearby residential streets for some 14,600…
Multiple concerns and issues regarding the VCOD must still be addressed. Ultimately, the City Council should separately vote on compliance with the MBTA Communities Act and provisions of the VCOD. Numerous Questions: What is the projected target population for Newton? What will be the impact on services, including schools, parking, police,…
As our website, states, RightSize Newton feels that we should implement the MBTA Communities Law and postpone the VCOD plan. “By law, we have until December 31, 2023, to comply with the MBTA law, which means that we need to zone for 8,330 units by that date. That’s what we should…
I fully support the proposed Village Center Overlay District. This is the pragmatic thing to do and this is the time to do it. Trying to hang on to a fantasy past that doesn’t meet today’s needs is not only foolish, it is harmful. This means that I also support…
We are writing this letter to alert the voters of Newton of an effort to impersonate us to spread misinformation leading up to the upcoming November 7 municipal election. Our group, Newton for Everyone, is a coalition of civic, housing and climate activists, clergy, and local businesses supporting the proposed Village Center Overlay District…
Opponents of the proposed zoning often say the changes are too radical, creating too much change to our village centers. However, from the historical perspective, this proposal actually brings our villages closer to what they once were. They were denser, taller and teeming with life compared to today. This is…
On October 16, Ward 1 City Councilors Alison Leary and Maria Scibeli Greenberg, and Zoning and Planning (ZAP) Committee Chair Councilor Deb Crossley, docketed an item for the October 26 ZAP meeting to allow the current Nonantum VCOD plan to be removed from consideration. Instead, the plan would be referred…
Among organizations engaged in this year’s Village Center Zoning reform efforts is the Newton for Everyone Coalition, which was formed earlier this year to educate and support the City’s Village Center Zoning efforts. It currently includes these Newton organizations: Newton Interfaith Clergy for Housing Equity (NICHE), Uniting Citizens for Housing…