Highlights this week:
- Land Use …reviewing proposed conditions for live/work building at 1100-1102 Beacon Street
- Programs & Services …considering resolution in support of Newton’s Transgender, Gender Diverse, and LGBTQIA+ community
- Public Facilities …reviewing $4.3 million loan for stormwater projects at Cold Spring Park and Cabot Dog Park
- High school graduations …at Newton North HS on Tuesday and Newton South HS on Thursday
- Mayor Laredo …holding office hours by appointment on Wednesday
City Council
City Council will meet Monday to act on items in the Reports Docket and New Docket.
The Reports Docket includes requests for:
- Special permits:
- Raze detached garage and construct attached three-car garage with internal ADU above, exceeding FAR, at 222 Winslow Road
- Rear and second-story addition within existing footprint, further extending nonconforming FAR, at 38 Morseland Avenue
- New two-family dwelling with FAR relief, to exceed residential façade ratio, with three stories, retaining wall over four feet, and nonconforming parking and front setback at 91-93 Newtonville Avenue
- 2.5-story rear addition further exceeding maximum FAR at 54 Bonad Road
- Second-story addition within existing footprint, exceeding maximum FAR and façade ratio, at 5 Rose Drive
- Appointments:
- Marc Welch as Commissioner of Parks and Recreation
- Synthia Wayne to the Human Rights Commission
- Appropriations from Certified Free Cash
- $550,000 for Storage Area Network replacement
- $150,000 for protective netting at Halloran Sports Complex
- Review of City Council Rules clarifying the 180-day committee reporting requirement, adjusting composition of the Financial Audit Advisory Committee, and rotating the order of roll-call votes (see Programs & Services report, May 20)
The New Docket contains requests for the following:
- Special permits to:
- Exceed FAR and for dimensional relief for a dormer at 464 Dudley Road (Public Hearing 6/2)
- Allow a retaining wall with 4 feet or more in height at 335 Langley Road (Public Hearing 6/2)
- Amend Special Permit to construct a dormer at 392 Cherry Street, Unit 4 (Public Hearing 6/2)
- Exceed FAR and allow a detached ADU with reduced setbacks and oversized dormers at 2 Rowe Street (Public Hearing 6/16)
- Allow five attached single-family dwellings in two buildings with associated dimensional and parking relief at 83 Lexington Street (Public Hearing 6/16)
- Appointments:
- Barbara Gruenthal, Liz Mirabile, Bruce McVittie, and Paul Giragos to the Riverside Neighborhood Liaison Committee
- Michael Alperin and Judy Weber to the Newton Affordable Housing Trust
- Synthia Wayne to the Human Rights Commission
- Reappointments:
- Theresa Fitzpatrick, Marjorie Summers, Chris Letourneau, Alex Koppenheffer, Jay Flynn, and George Swetz to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital Neighborhood Area Council
- Appropriations from Certified Free Cash:
- $3,000,000 for Transportation and Paving Improvement Program
- $135,000 for fuel station upgrades at Crafts Street and Elliot Street Yards
- $225,000 for Police firearm equipment replacement
- $105,000 to support the Police Department
- Other appropriations:
- $4,329,664 low-interest loan from the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust State Revolving Fund for stormwater projects at Cold Spring Park, Cabot Dog Park, and potentially Braceland Park
- Up to $2,792,700 from Water Budget Reserves for water main improvements
- Transfers:
- $900,000 for improvements to roadways, sidewalks, and ramps
- $277,499 from the Energy Stabilization Fund for heat pumps at Fire Station 2
- $100,000 for increased water and sewer usage
- $200 for year-end reconciliation
- Grants accepted:
- $150,000 from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Complete Streets Funding Program for traffic calming improvements in Newton Highlands
- $3,275.15 from the Department of Fire Services for smoke and CO detectors for Newton’s older adults
- Potential lease for solar-energy generation at Burr Elementary School
- Amendment to add Newton Highlands Playground Little League Field to the Dogs Off-Leash Program
- Resolution in support of Newton’s Transgender, Gender Diverse, and LGBTQIA+ Community
- New-resident welcome packet for information on city opportunities
- Endorsement of MA Legislature Bill to authorize traffic cameras
Land Use Committee will meet Tuesday regarding:
- Working session on proposed conditions for special permit at 1100-1102 Beacon Street (three stories, height relief, parking waivers; no public comment)
- Appointments:
- Barbara Gruenthal, Liz Mirabile, Bruce McVittie, and Paul Giragos to the Riverside Neighborhood Liaison Committee
- Reappointments:
- Theresa Fitzpatrick, Marjorie Summers, Chris Letourneau, Alex Koppenheffer, Jay Flynn, and George Swetz to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital Neighborhood Area Council
- Special permits requests:
- Exceed FAR and for dimensional relief for a dormer at 464 Dudley Road
- Allow a retaining wall with 4 feet or more in height at 335 Langley Road
- Amend Special Permit #449-80 to construct a dormer at 392 Cherry Street, Unit 4
Programs & Services will meet Wednesday regarding:
- New-resident welcome packet with information on city opportunities
- Update on leaf-blower landscaper registration and enforcement ordinance
- Review of Newton City Charter
- Resolution in support of Newton’s Transgender, Gender Diverse, and LGBTQIA+ Community
Public Safety & Transportation will meet Wednesday regarding:
- Semi-annual public auto inspections
- Appropriations requests from June 30, 2025 Certified Free Cash:
- $225,000 for Police firearm equipment replacement
- $105,000 to support the Police Department
- Endorsement of MA Legislature Bill to authorize traffic cameras
Public Facilities will meet Wednesday regarding authorization to:
- Potential lease for solar energy generation at Burr Elementary School
- Transfers:
- $277,499 from the Energy Stabilization Fund for heat pumps at Fire Station 2
- $100,000 for increased water and sewer usage
- Appropriations requests:
- $4,329,664 low-interest loan from the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust State Revolving Fund for stormwater projects at Cold Spring Park, Cabot Dog Park, and potentially Braceland Park
- $3,000,000 from Certified Free Cash for Transportation and Paving Improvement Program
- Up to $2,792,700 from Water Budget Reserves for water main improvements
- $900,000 for improvements to roadways, sidewalks, and ramps
- $135,000 from Certified Free Cash for fuel station upgrades at Crafts Street and Elliot Street Yards
School Committee [UPDATED]
School Committee will meet on Monday regarding:
- Ward-Underwood Analysis – Update and Recommendation
- Review Long Range Plan – Order of Buildings
- Pre-School Curriculum Adoption Recommendation
- Policies: Homework; Elementary Electronic Devices; Time-out, seclusion, and physical restraint of students
- Superintendent’s Evaluation
Graduation ceremonies at Newton North HS on Wednesday and Newton South HS on Thursday
Burr School Council will meet on Thursday.
Franklin School Council will meet on Friday.
Boards and Commissions
Planning & Development Board will meet Monday virtually regarding:
- Proposed amendment to a subdivision plan at 132 Homer Street (Lots 2 & 3, 60 & 61 Chapin Road)
- Ordinance change to allow raised beds in front and rear setbacks under certain conditions
Parks & Recreation Signage and Naming Committee will meet Tuesday regarding:
- Zoning Ordinance sections regarding signs in Open Space/Recreation and Public Use Districts
- Preparation for a Law Department meeting
Newton Highlands Neighborhood Area Council will meet Thursday regarding:
- City-wide yard sale proposal and other joint Area Council events
- Village Day
- Village Enhancement Project
Newtonville Historic District Commission will meet Thursday virtually to consider Certificates of Appropriateness for:
- Solar panel installation at 58 Prescott Street
- Property renovation at 16 Prescott Street
Other
Mayor Marc Laredo will hold office hours, by appointment, on Wednesday, June 3, 8:30AM-10AM. Contact Jaclyn Norton at [email protected] or 617-796-1110 for an appointment.
Development Review Team will meet this week regarding the following potential projects/proposals:
- 17 Emerson Street: Special permit after the fact for additions exceeding FAR and a dormer installation less than three feet from the side of the roof
- 40 Burdean Road: Addition to existing garage
- 44 Henshaw Street: Raze and rebuild; façade ratio relief
This week’s road construction schedule.
Ed. Note: We updated this post to include the School Committee meeting and the Burr and Franklin School Council meetings.