Highlights this week:
- City Council …discussing funding for Suzuki School elevator project and length of trial for Newton Centre Plaza
- Public Safety and Transportation …speaking with Timothy Cohoon, nominated to be Police Chief
- School Committee …reviewing update on Math Program and considering fees for next year
- Ward 2 City Councilors …holding combined office hour on Wednesday
- Councilor Martha Bixby …holding office hours on Friday
City Council
City Council will meet on Monday and is expected to vote on the following (see Reports Docket):
- Request to exceed FAR and to extend a nonconforming front setback to construct a mudroom and entry landing at 355 Walnut Street
- Withdrawn Without Prejudice:
- Request to waive 38 parking stalls at 1135 Walnut Street
- No Action Necessary:
- Request for a discussion on whether the VCOD districts in Auburndale and West Newton should be suspended or changed until work has begun on making the Auburndale and West Newton commuter rail stations accessible for people with disabilities
- Traffic Council Chair providing the Annual Report of the work of the Traffic Council for 2025.
- CPC recommendation to appropriate $600,000 in Community Preservation Act Historic Resource funding for a grant to the Suzuki School for their elevator project
- Appeals of Traffic Council Decisions to:
- Extend the trial of the Langley Road (Triangle) Municipal Parking Lot in Newton Centre, including the existing Newton Centre Plaza, to be reevaluated by May 31, 2026
- Eliminate the left-turn prohibition from Beacon Street eastbound into the Langley Road municipal parking lot
- Create a “no parking” zone any day, any time restriction on the west side of Bristol Road between the last driveway and Commonwealth Avenue
- Annual Report of the Traffic Council for 2025
- Class 2 Auto Dealer Licenses:
- Old Time Garage at 1960 Washington Street
- Auction Direct Preowned, Inc at 1545 Washington Street
- Stan’s Automotive Inc. d/b/a Newton Automotive and Sales at 249 Centre Street
- Eversource Energy petition for a grant of location to install one new jointly owned pole on the south side of Rumford Avenue, approximately 450 feet west of Lexington Street
- Appointment of Alejandro Valcarce as Commissioner of Public Buildings
The New Docket includes the following requests:
- Allow a home business in a detached accessory building and allow the business to exceed 30% of the ground floor area at 224 Melrose Street
- Requests regarding 148 California Street to:
- Approve a special permit/site plan approval to allow for shared parking and for a one-third reduction in parking of 260 stalls, resulting in an on-site requirement of 519 stalls, for more flexibility for future tenanting of the commercial spaces
- Rezone the parcel from Manufacturing to Business Use 2
- Release the restrictive covenant on the property
- Discussion and amendments to Two-Family, Detached Zoning
- Discussion and possible zoning amendments to allow for transformers to project into the setback
- 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
- Appointment of Timothy V. Cohoon as Chief of Newton Police Department
- Discussion and ordinance change to the City’s Overnight Parking Ban
- Discussion about the potential for using Actibump to supplement or replace speed tables for traffic calming and speed reduction
- Appropriation of $43,800 from Free Cash to Newton Public Schools for Helpsy textile collection and recycling
- Appropriation of $17,600 from Free Cash to Newton Public Schools for transportation of disadvantaged students
- Transfer of $82,000 ($66,000 from Parks and Recreation Full-Time Salaries Account and $16,000 from Parks and Recreation Health Insurance Account) for funding for Arts and Culture Director Meryl Kessler through Fiscal Year 2026
- CPC recommendation to appropriate $34,626 in Community Preservation Act funding for installation of bike parking at various park locations citywide and at both high schools (This item was filed late and requires a vote to accept it for referral to Committee.)
Public Safety & Transportation Committee will meet on Wednesday regarding the appointment of Timothy V. Cohoon as Chief of Newton Police Department.
Programs & Services Committee will meet on Wednesday regarding:
- Transfer of $82,000 to provide funding for Arts and Culture Director
Public Facilities Committee will meet on Wednesday regarding requests for:
- Periodic updates on data collected on the Washington Street Pilot
- Discussion and ordinance change to require a new sidewalk installation only if the existing sidewalk is damaged during construction
School Committee
School Committee will on Monday regarding:
- Superintendent’s Update
- Math Program Update – PreK – 12
- FY27 Fee Recommendations revisited
- Strategic Plan – District Goals Mid-Year Update including Data Dashboards
Newton North HS Council will meet on Monday regarding:
- School Council planning for remainder of year
- Vote: Approval of January 12, 2026 minutes
- PTSO Update
- Principal Update
- Presentation & Discussion with Deans: Attendance
- Update on alumni survey
Boards and Commissions
Planning & Development Board will meet on Monday regarding:
- Requests for Site Plan Reviews (Village Center Overlay District) to:
- Renovate existing residential building into three units and construct a new three-family residential building at 40 Hartford Street
- Remodel existing residential building and construct a new 3-unit residential building at 20 Willow Street
- Zoning & Planning Committee Updates
Farm Commission will meet on Wednesday regarding:
- Farm & Field Operation
- Financials 2025 and Business Plan 2026
- Five Year Review Discussion
- Farm Programming & Events
- Buildings, Grounds, and Infrastructure Issues
- Filling Farm Commission & Staff Vacancies
Newton Highlands Neighborhood Area Council will meet on Wednesday regarding::
- City Staff Invitations
- Brigham House
- Soup Social/community events
- Parking
- Safety
- Village Enhancement Project: Working Group meeting report
Other
Ward 2 City Councilors Susan Albright, Tarik Lucas, and David Micley will hold a combined office hour on Wednesday at the Cooper Center in the first-floor reception room.
Ward 6 Councilor Martha Bixby will hold office hours on Friday, 9AM-10:30AM at Cacao in Newton Highlands.
Development Review Team is scheduled to meet this week regarding Special Permits for these the potential projects:
- 26 Maple Ave: Extend nonconforming front setbacks to reconstruct a historic front porch on a corner lot
- 2 Rowe St: Allow a detached ADU with reduced setbacks
This week’s road construction schedule has not yet been posted.
