The Planning and Development Board submitted this letter to the Council reporting its vote that the proposed Village Center Overlay District zoning amendment “meets all of the prescribed criteria for qualifications as a simple-majority vote threshold of the City Council.” This means that the City Council may pass the zoning…
Posts published in “Zoning”
Greg Reibman, President of the Charles River Regional Chamber, endorses the Newton’s proposed Village Center Zoning Redesign and its Village Center Overlay Districts (VCOD). He says the proposed changes in village center zoning allowing development “by right,” rather than by special permit, will gradually increase the supply of homes for…

Zoning and Planning Committee hears public comments on Village Zoning Overlay Districts, Version 3.0
On September 26, the Zoning and Planning Committee heard comments about the most recent proposed Village Zoning Overlay District proposal, Version 3.0. (See NewTV video.) At one point, there were 290 people on the Zoom call, and at least 50 people had signed up to speak in person in the…
The City Council’s Zoning and Planning Committee (ZAP) will hold a public hearing on the proposed Village Center Overlay District – Version 3.0 (maps and text) on Tuesday, September 26 at 7PM. Version 3.0 incorporates updates and refinements that ZAP approved over the last few months. The public hearing will be…
At Monday’s City Council meeting, concern was focused on the Zoning and Planning Committee’s vote to remove parking requirements associated with regard to the Craft Beverage Ordinance. Ward 4 Councilor, Lenny Gentile, said he has no issue opening up the opportunity to have craft beverage production in the City, thinks…
The City Council deferred its vote on the craft breweries ordinance and voted to adopt the plastic reduction ordinance amendments on Monday, September 18. Craft Breweries: The Council deferred its vote (until the next full Council meeting) on a proposed ordinance that would enable breweries, wineries, distilleries, and other similar…
The City Council’s Zoning and Planning Committee (ZAP) and the Planning and Development Board will hold a joint public hearing on the proposed Village Center Overlay District – Version 3.0 (maps and text) on Tuesday, September 26 at 7PM. To create Version 3.0, the Committee met all through the summer to incorporate…
I have studied Newton’s zoning since January 2020 and am concerned that the proposed Village Center Zoning is too dense, too intense, and too tall. Village Center Zoning has only recently been connected with the Massachusetts Housing Choice Law (MBTA Communities Law), which intervenes in municipal zoning to promote multi-family…
I support the Village Center Overlay District (VCOD) proposal. To make this decision, I did some homework. I poured over VCOD-related materials: plans, letters, testimonials, videos, and pondered one-on-one discussions. It took a while to sort through the details including the various models and the proposed modifications for different village types.…
On Thursday, September 14, members of the Nonantum community and others met at the Ciociaro Social Club with City representatives about the proposed Village Center Overlay Districts. The meeting was arranged by At-Large City Councilor Alison Leary and Ward Councilor Maria Scabeli Greenberg. The panel also included other City representatives…