We are writing in response to Carol Todreas’ July 25 op-ed article about retail and the proposed Village Center Overlay Districts (VCOD). We agree that we are blessed to have village centers that have weathered the challenges of COVID. We recognize Ms. Todreas’ experience in retail, but it is misleading…
Posts published in “Zoning”
I was both surprised and disappointed to read Carol Todreas’ Fig City op-ed in which she suggested that Newton’s proposed village center rezoning will somehow harm our small retail, restaurants and other shops. To the contrary, we see the plan to allow for the gradual addition of more housing and…
Most people want an inviting neighborhood feel to our village centers. We want them to have a sense of place, to be attractive, convenient and to have small local stores and eateries. However, real estate investors see great profit potential in Newton’s current Zoning Redesign proposal for redeveloping our village…
The City of Newton is holding a long public hearing on version 2.0 of its Village Center Overlay District (VCOD) zoning proposal, in various forms throughout the summer.
The meeting of the Zoning and Planning Committee on Monday was so packed that the Zoom system was overloaded (it was quickly fixed) and Councilor Deb Crossley, chair of the committee, asked people attending in person to hunt for seats in the balcony. The turnout was a tribute to the…
The City Council seemed unprepared for 600 people to attend the 6/26/23 zoning meeting. It was frustrating to see no plan to allow everyone to speak. Sending written comments is just not the same. Councilors must make this process more transparent. I sympathize with those who want to move into…
Monday night’s “Public Hearing” for the proposed Upzoning of the Village Centers and surrounding neighborhoods was shameful. Over 6000 postcards were mailed and the Mayor promoted it as Resident’s opportunity to weigh in. It was advertised as a hybrid meeting in both the City Hall Chamber and Zoom. However, when…
More than 600 people (online and in-person) attended the first of a series of public hearings on the proposed Village Center Overlay Districts. The meeting began with a moment of silence for the victims, families, and friends of the tragic murder of three Nonantum Village elders, Gilda D’Amore, Bruno D’Amore,…
In his testimony at the Zoning and Planning (ZAP) Committee’s public hearing on the Village Center Overlay District zoning proposal, Jeremy Freudberg, President of the Newton Highlands Neighborhood Area Council, underscored the “significant amount of time” the nine-member Council devotes in its monthly meetings to discussing and analyzing Planning Department…
The City Council’s Zoning and Planning Committee will hold a public hearing on the proposed Village Center Overlay District zoning (maps and text) on Monday, June 26 at 7PM. It will be held both in-person (City Council Chamber, City Hall) and virtual (Zoom link). See the presentation that the City’s Planning Department…