Highlights this week…
- City Council …last meeting of the two-year term, featuring farewell speeches by retiring Councilors Vicki Danberg, Andreae Downs, Lenny Gentile, Bill Humphrey, and Rick Lipof
- City Council …reviewing withdrawal of proposed development at 85 Dudley Road
- City Council …referring Walker Center property reuse and two appeals of Traffic Council decisions to the next City Council
- School Committee …voting on Long-Range Planning Recommendations
- Rep. Jake Auchincloss …holding online Congressional Update and Q&A on Tuesday
City Council
City Council will meet on Monday and is expected to vote on the following requests (see Reports Docket):
- Special Permit/Site Plan Approvals:
- Rezone parcel from Limited Manufacturing to Multi-Residence 2 and special permit and site plan approval to construct a three-unit, multifamily dwelling with Lot 2 remaining in the LM zone as a parking lot with associated parking relief at 41 Farwell Street
- Extend a nonconforming four-unit residential use and add outdoor decks at 51–53 Eddy Street
- Withdrawals without prejudice for special permit/site plan approvals to:
- Rezone two parcels and approval for 71 single-family attached dwellings at 85 Dudley Road
- Raze existing dwelling to construct a new, larger dwelling exceeding the maximum allowed FAR at 11 Richfield Road
- Raze existing single-family dwelling and construct four single-family attached dwellings in two buildings and construct eight garage stalls in the basement level to accommodate all four units at 11 Parsons Street
- Raze existing building and construct a four-unit residential building, including height and parking waivers at 1100-1102 Beacon Street
- Class 1 Auto Dealer License:
- McGovern Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram (777 Washington Street)
- Class 2 Auto Dealer Licenses:
- Regan Inc. (2066 Commonwealth Avenue), Newton Centre Shell (1365 Centre Street), Velocity Motors (14 Hawthorn Street), Luxury Motors (10 Hawthorn Street), Yes Auto Center (454 Watertown Street), Master Used Cars (175 North Street), Newton Trade Center Associates Inc. (103 Adams Street)
- Public auto license renewals: Limo Class, American Truck & Equipment Sales, Boston Cool Ride Limo, Om Sai Enterprises, AB Inc.
- Appropriate $2,304,983.75 for Phase 2 of the Pump Station Rehabilitation
- Accept $5,000,000 FY2026 MassWorks grant to support the Crafts Street Culvert Replacement
- Transfer of $425,000 for settlement of FY2025-27 Teamsters Collective Bargaining Agreement
- Transfer $45,000 for payouts to retiring mayor and chief operating officer for unused vacation and special leave
- Denied:
- Request for a main drain extension associated with 132 Homer Street / Chapin Road
- No Action Necessary:
- Zoning and planning policy discussions:
- Climate resiliency updates and implementation of the Climate Action Plan
- Potential zoning changes related to the Manufacturing District in Nonantum
- Possible removal of minimum parking requirements in the MRT zone
- Amendment to the definition of two-family detached housing
- Parking policy in village centers
- Alignment of zoning with proposed uses in new development
- Amendments to setbacks in MR zones to encourage preservation of existing buildings
- Updates on projects using the Village Center Overlay District
- Discussion of commercial office space in Newton
- Possible zoning amendments to enhance preservation of existing homes
- Update on planning and construction of the Bullough’s Pond Dam
- Discussion of the Bullough’s Pond Dam rehabilitation project and the preferred safety design
- Request for information regarding the Mayor-elect’s plans for staffing the Executive Department
- Zoning and planning policy discussions:
The New Docket includes appeals (to be referred to the next City Council) of Traffic Council decisions to approve trials to:
- Eliminate the left-turn prohibition from Beacon Street eastbound into the Langley Road municipal parking lot in Newton Centre
- Extend the trial configuration of the Langley Road (Triangle) Municipal Parking Lot in Newton Centre
Real Property Reuse Committee will meet on Monday regarding the reuse of City-owned parcel (Walker Center) at 169 Grove Street and 136 Hancock Street. Chair intends to make a motion to refer the matter to the 2026–2027 term.
Public Safety & Transportation, Public Facilities, and Programs & Services regularly scheduled meetings have been cancelled (see cancellation notice).
School Committee
School Committee is scheduled to hold a regular meeting on Monday. The agenda includes:
- Health Services Update
- Long-Range Planning Recommendation
Memorial Spaulding School Council will meet on Tuesday regarding:
- Review current school goals and performance data
- Identify emerging needs of students and staff
- Preview of Budget Season
Zervas Elementary School Council will meet on Tuesday regarding:
- PTO/Principal
- Review Zervas data
- Feedback?
- Back to school night revamp
Peirce Elementary School Council will meet on Wednesday regarding:
- Developing Norms for Collaborative Communication
- Reviewing Rules for School Council
Lincoln-Eliot School Council will meet on Thursday regarding:
- Title 1 Family Outreach Updates
- Referral List process
- Fall Workshop
- Targeted Support
- Updates, Questions, and Next Steps
Newton South High School Council will meet on Thursday regarding:
- Energizer
- PTSO Updates
- School Improvement Plan Presentation
Boards and Commissions
Chestnut Hill Historic District Commission will hold a site visit on Monday at 6 Reservoir Road to review a proposal for fence, siding, and bow window.
Newton Cultural Council will meet on Monday regarding adjudication of grants.
Board of License Commissioners will meet on Tuesday regarding:
- One-day temporary entertainment licenses:
- Newton Community Stage concert – Dec. 30, 2025
- Reception after classical music concert at Church of the Redeemer – Jan. 30, 2026
- One-day temporary wine and malt licenses:
- 10 one-day licenses for events at Boston Marriott Newton Hotel (various dates in Jan. 2026)
- New common victualler license — Corner Cafe Newton, 321 Washington Street
- Change of hours — Chipotle Mexican Grill #4181, 300 Needham Street
- Changes to on-site managers at Crowne Plaza Hotel (320 Washington Street) and Opus Newton (Winchester Street)
- Approval of the 2026 Annual License Renewals listed in Schedule A attached to the agenda
- Notice of license holders not renewing: Pink Carrot (27 Boylston St.), Grape Leaf, a Mediterranean Grille (4-6 Lincoln Street), Shogun Restaurant (1385 Washington Street)
- Late applications for renewal of alcohol licenses: Shiva’s Kitchen (1203 Walnut Street), Pineapple Thai Cuisine (17 Boylston Street), LaPosta (825 Washington Street), Farm Grill & Rotiseria (40 Needham Street), Tango Mango (34 Langley Road), Boston Marriott Newton Hotel, 2345 Commonwealth Avenue)
- Failed or missing applications for renewal of licenses (* indicates alcohol licenses):
- Limani (33 Boylston Street)*, Newton Lodge of Elks, 1327 (429 Centre Street)*, Ding’s Kitchen (10 Langley Road)*, Crowne Plaza Hotel (320 Washington Street)*, Lab 13 Handroll (210 Boylston St.)*, New Breadsong Corner Bakery (349 Auburn Street), UMass Amherst Mt Ida Campus: Carlson Campus Center* and Shaw Hall*, C & N Pizza (437 Centre Street), D & A House of Pizza (308 Watertown Street), Great Harvest Bread Co. (316 Walnut Street), The Bagel Table of Chestnut Hill (9 Boylston Street), Mia’s Bakery (49 Boylston St.), 57 Lincoln Kitchen (57 Lincoln Street), Boston Shawarma House of Kabab (870-880 Walnut Street), Lakon Paris Patisserie (1169 Walnut Street)
- Approval of the 2026 annual license renewals – see Schedule B attached to the agenda
Board of Assessors will meet on Wednesday to approve November 2025 exemption and abatement reports.
Dangerous/Nuisance Dog Hearing will be held on Wednesday.
Newton Fair and Affordable Housing Partnership will meet on Wednesday regarding:
- Mitigation fee presentation
- Lottery and lease up data discussion
- Next meeting: Priorities Task Force report, Sheila Mondshein Award nominations, Lottery and lease up data, Resident services
Zoning Board of Appeals will meet on Wednesday to determine if changes of details of the Comprehensive Permit for 78 Crafts Street are substantial or insubstantial.
Newton Affordable Housing Trust will meet on Thursday regarding a new funding application from Beacon Communities for the 793 Washington Street affordable housing development.
Chestnut Hill Historic District Commission will meet on Thursday regarding Certificates of Appropriateness for:
- 6 Reservoir Avenue to replace painted wood shingles/siding with hardie plank, replace front door, install cedar wood fence, replace garage door, replace existing bow window, and install a mailbox by front stairs
- 26 Beacon Street: Second-story addition onto one-story wing
- 30 Kingsbury Road: Replace windows
Newton Historical Commission will meet on Thursday regarding:
- Violations of Demolition Delay Ordinance: 406 Woodward Street, 20 Renee Terrace, 17 Emerson Street
- Designating a local landmark: 55 Pine Grove Avenue
- Total Demolitions: 38 E Quinobequin Road, 25 Clements Road, 40 Fairway Drive, 62 Miller Road, 24 Vernon Street (house and carriage house), 50 Crestwood Road, 21 Waterston Road (total demolition of detached garage and partial demolition of house)
- Waivers of Demolition Delay: 42 Smith Avenue, 38 Wetherell Street, 45 Kenilworth Street
Urban Tree Commission will meet on Friday regarding a Forestry Department update and tree-removal requests.
Other
Rep. Jake Auchincloss will hold an online Congressional Update and Q&A on Tuesday, sponsored by the League of Women Voters (register for Zoom).
Development Review Team is scheduled to meet this week regarding this item:
- 33 Aspen Ave: Multi-story addition on nonconforming lot exceeding FAR
This week’s road construction schedule.
