UPDATE: City of Newton says: Due to the winter storm over the weekend, trash and recycling services ARE delayed one day this week for all residents.
Highlights this week:
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day …celebrated with Harmony Foundation on Monday, also with Setti D. Warren Food Drive & MLK Community Giving Initiative. City offices and schools are closed.
Recycling/trash collection is not delayed this week. - City Council …considering reorganization of Economic Development, new Arts and Culture Department, and funding for two new positions in Mayor’s Office
- Programs and Services …discussing tree permits and measures for tree preservation
- Public Safety and Transportation …reviewing appeals to Traffic Council decisions, including trial of Newton Centre Plaza
City Council
City Council will meet on Tuesday and is expected to vote on the following (see Reports Docket):
- Amendment to special permits for Sunoco filling station canopy and signage at 14 Elliot Street
- Ordinance amendments to move ordinance and staffing responsibility for the Economic Development Commission from the Planning Department and to the Mayor’s Office
- Reorganization plan to create a new Arts and Culture Department, including ordinance amendments to establish the department and rename the Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture to the Department of Parks and Recreation
- Appointment of Meryl Kessler as Director of Newton’s Arts and Culture Department
- Renewal of public auto license for Don’s Car Service
- Class 2 Auto Dealer Licenses for New England Motor Mart Inc., Motorcars of Boston Inc., Grand Auto Sales, and Apex Motors Group
- Class 1 Auto Dealer License for Village Motors Group Inc. d/b/a Honda Village
- Transfer of $300,000 to fund two new management positions in the Mayor’s Office: Chief of Community Services and Chief of Staff, and temporary funding for overlap period for a new Chief Financial Officer
The New Docket includes the following:
- Special permit to waive 38 parking stalls at Parish of St. Paul, 1135 Walnut Street
- Discussion on the role of public parking in commercial village centers, including perceived parking needs, review of past parking studies, and best practices in parking provision
- Request for updates twice per year on potential projects brought to the Planning Department under the new Village Center Overlay District (VCOD)
- Discussion and ordinance updates to increase MRT proposals within the VCOD, including allowing more flexibility on units per building, modifying parking setbacks and minimum distance between buildings, reducing parking requirements, and increasing maximum MRT footprint
- Discussion and zoning amendments to exempt raised beds 4 feet or less from the definition of a structure and allow them within setbacks
- Update on Short-term Rental ordinance compliance and enforcement, including data on registrations, complaints, investigations, fines, and types of violations
- Discussion with the Planning Department to consider ordinance amendments revising metrics in multi-residence zones (MR1, MR2, MR3) to enable a wider range of housing options and better incentivize preservation and renovation of existing housing stock
- Presentation and discussion regarding a report by the Newton Housing Priorities Task Force analyzing the city’s affordable housing landscape
- Discussion to determine alignment of dimensional controls (setbacks, height, FAR) for residential developments within BU lots, with focus on lots in and adjacent to residential neighborhoods
- Request for periodic updates on the Washington Street Pilot redesign, including baseline data, changes made during the pilot, and reports on snow clearing
- Class 2 Auto Dealer Licenses for Stan’s Automotive Inc. d/b/a Newton Automotive and Sales, Auction Direct Preowned Inc., and Old Time Garage.
- Discussion and study on the option of dam removal at Bullough’s Pond, including potential to improve public safety, restore ecosystems, and increase climate resilience
- Discussion on the City’s response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to ensure established procedures are properly followed and to reaffirm the City’s continued adherence to its Welcoming City Ordinance
- Update on leaf-blower landscaper registration and enforcement ordinance
- Discussion and possible ordinance requiring the Mayor’s office to create a “Welcome to Newton” information packet for new residents
- Discussion and ordinance change to require new sidewalk installation only if the existing sidewalk is damaged during construction, rather than requiring it when renovations exceed 50% of house costs
- Appropriation of $600,000 in Community Preservation Act Historic Resource funding for a grant to the Suzuki School elevator project
Programs & Services Committee will meet on Wednesday (not Tuesday, as originally posted here) regarding:
- Discussion and possible amendments on notification process for Tree Permit applications
- Discussion and possible ordinance to incorporate tree preservation into design process
Public Facilities Committee will meet on Wednesday regarding:
- Appointment of Alejandro Valcarce as Commissioner of Public Buildings
- Eversource petition for grant of location on Rumford Avenue
- Discussion regarding Day Street, Fuller Street, and Commonwealth Avenue intersection redesign
- Review and clarification of public way improvements requiring City Council approval
Public Safety & Transportation Committee will meet on Wednesday (NOT Tuesday, as originally posted here) regarding:
- Class 2 Auto Dealer License for Stan’s Automotive Inc, 249 Centre Street
- Appeal of Traffic Council Decisions regarding:
- Trial to eliminate left-turn prohibition from Beacon Street into Langley Road municipal parking lot
- No parking zone on Bristol Road
- Extension of Langley Road Municipal Parking Lot trial (Newton Centre Plaza)
- Annual Report of Traffic Council for 2025
- Class 2 Auto Dealer Licenses for Old Time Garage, 1960 Washington Street and Auction Direct Preowned Inc, 1545 Washington Street
School Committee
School Committee is not scheduled to meet this week
John Ward Elementary School Council will meet in person on Tuesday, January 20 at 3:15PM.
Boards and Commissions
Parks & Recreation Commission Signs & Naming Committee will meet on Tuesday (not Monday, as originally posted here) to continue discussion of park naming and begin discussion of signage.
Board of License Commissioners will meet on Tuesday (not Monday, as originally posted here) regarding:
- One-day temporary wine and malt licenses for
- Reception at Church of the Redeemer, 379 Hammond Street
- Figure drawing classes at New Art Center, 61 Washington Park
- Change of hours for Chipotle Mexican Grill, 300 Needham Street
- Change of DBA from Ninebark to Mexicana Grill & Cantina at 1391 Washington Street
- Change of officers/directors/LLC managers and change to on-site manager at Star Market, 1 Boylston Street
- New common victualler license for C and N Pizza, 437 Centre Street
- New common victualler and annual entertainment licenses for Amarin of Thailand, 313 Walnut Street and Ding’s Kitchen, 10 Langley Road
- New wine and malt restaurant and new common victualler licenses for Grape Leaf, 6 Lincoln Street
- New all alcohol club, new common victualler license and annual entertainment licenses for Newton/Brookline Elk Lodge #1327, 429 Centre Street
- Transfer of all alcohol package store license from Gordon’s Fine Wines & Liquors to Newtonville Wines & Spirits, 31 Austin Street
Board of Assessors will meet on Wednesday (not Tuesday, as originally posted here) for approval of December 2025 Exemption and Abatement Reports.
Newton Historical Commission will meet on Thursday regarding:
- Violation of Demolition Delay Ordinance: 17 Emerson Street
- Local Landmark Nomination: 55 Pine Grove Avenue
- Local Landmark Review Application: 39 Westfield Road
- Total Demolition of House: 51 Carl Street, 58 Country Club Road, 191 Spiers Road, 119 Oak Hill Street
- Total Demolition of Commercial Building: 15 Spencer Street
- Partial Demolition of House: 92 Fairway Drive, 14 Dana Road, 38 Morseland Avenue
- Waiver of Demolition Delay: 42 Smith Avenue, 60 Brookside Avenue, 34 Westminster Road, 14 Fuller Avenue, 40 Butts Street
- Nomination of NHC Member to the Community Preservation Commission
Other
Development Review Team is not scheduled to meet this week.
This week’s road construction schedule has not yet been posted.
Ed. Note: We corrected the weekdays of the several meetings in this post, as noted above, as several were noted one day early in the original of this post.
