The Zoning & Planning Committee met on Monday, March 9. See the report and meeting video.
Held
- Presentation and discussion on the proposed Town of Brookline rezoning for the Route 9/Boylston Street corridor between Hammond Street and Hammond Pond Parkway. (8-0) Chestnut Hill Commercial Area Study materials are available on the Town of Brookline website. Councilors expressed concern over losing parking spots in the Shaw grocery store parking lot.
- Presentation and discussion on the Newton Housing Priorities Task Force Report. (8-0) The report analyzes the city’s affordable housing landscape to answer three questions:
1) What is the existing supply and what factors led to its development,
2 ) Whom does the existing affordable housing serve, and
3) How does this supply match the need.
The task force found that less than 1% of Newton’s housing stock is for low-income home buyers and 6% is for renters. Of the affordable rentals, 54% are age-restricted for seniors, and 14% are restricted for adults requiring supportive services. Only 4% of the affordable housing rental stock is 2 to 4 bedrooms. The Task Force recommended, “affordable rental housing for families should be prioritized in allocating scarce resources.”
Present: Councilors Baker (Chair), Wright (Vice Chair), President Oliver, Albright, Gordon, Kalis, Getz, and Dahmubed.
Also present: Councilors Block, Roche, Bixby, and Malakie.
City staff: Katie Whewell, Acting Director of Planning; Nora Colello, Chief of Long-Range Planning; Miles Starkey, Committee Clerk.
