Highlights this week…
- School Committee …discussing priorities for new year and installing air conditioning in 10 school buildings
- Public Safety & Transportation …receiving final report of the Overnight Parking Ban Working Group
- Zoning & Planning …taking up appointment of new Director of Planning and also the possible consolidation of Auburndale, Newtonville, and Upper Falls historic districts under a single commission
- Newton Affordable Housing Trust …hearing two proposals for housing development
- Newton Historical Commission …Local Landmark Review of larger cupolas proposed for Waban building
- State Rep. Amy Sangiolo …hosting a Coffee Chat at the Cooper Center
City Council
City Council is not scheduled to meet this week.
Zoning & Planning will meet Monday regarding:
- Zoning amendment to allow transformers to project into the setback (likely to be held until a later meeting; an Eversource representative will attend)
- Appointment of Catherine M. Feerick as Director of Planning
- Discussion of Historic District Commissions’ workload, appointments, vacancies, and support
- Possible ordinance amendment to govern the Auburndale, Newtonville, and Upper Falls historic districts under a single Local Historic Districts Commission
- Reappointments of Michael Alperin and Judy Weber to the Newton Affordable Housing Trust
Land Use will meet Tuesday regarding requests for Special Permits to:
- Raze and construct a four-unit multi-family dwelling with ground-story residential use, three stories, and parking waivers at 1100-1102 Beacon Street
- Demolish and construct a two-family dwelling exceeding FAR and façade ratio at 22-24 Mechanic Street
- Construct multi-story rear and side additions exceeding FAR at 33 Aspen Avenue
Public Facilities will meet Wednesday regarding:
- CPC recommendation to appropriate $232,000 in Community Preservation Act funds for the cupolas and windows at City Hall
- Relocation of a City drain easement at 129 Rowe Street
- Eversource grant of location for underground conduit and a new manhole at 75 Prescott Street
- Discussion of the “two-foot rule” allowing utility street openings without a grant of location
Public Safety & Transportation will meet Thursday to discuss an ordinance change to the Overnight Parking Ban, with the Overnight Parking Ban Working Group presenting its final report. (Public comment will not be accepted on this item.)
School Committee
Negotiation Subcommittee will meet in Executive Session on Monday to discuss collective bargaining with the Newton Teachers Association.
School Committee will meet in Executive Session on Monday to discuss collective bargaining and litigation strategy.
School Committee will hold a retreat on Monday to:
- Review and renew School Committee norms
- Discuss how to assess whether NPS is thriving
- Set priorities for the 26-27 school year
- Vote to authorize air conditioning installation in 10 buildings
Negotiation Subcommittee will meet in Executive Session on Tuesday to conduct and discuss collective bargaining with the Newton Teachers Association.
Boards and Commissions
Newton Free Library Board of Trustees Development Committee will meet Monday to review final Spring Fling amounts, FY26 receipts, and FY2027 goals.
Newton Free Library Board of Trustees Nomination and Governance Committee will meet Tuesday to discuss the officer nomination process, committee responsibilities, and FY2027 goals.
Newton Free Library Board of Trustees Finance Committee will meet Tuesday to review FY26 financials and investment performance.
Newton Affordable Housing Trust will meet Tuesday regarding:
- Declaration of Trust documents for future mortgages
- Community Preservation Committee application and process
- ARX Urban presentation on 1186 Walnut Street
- Beacon Communities presentation on 1314 Washington Street
Board of License Commissioners will meet Tuesday regarding six one-day license requests and a new common victualler and entertainment license for Tropical Smoothie Cafe, 88 Needham Street.
Human Rights Commission will meet Wednesday regarding Newton Police Department reports, an HRC onboarding document, and future programs.
Newton Historical Commission will meet Thursday regarding:
- Preservation Restriction Review at 876 Beacon Street
- Local Landmark Review at 2-12 Windsor Road for proposed installation of larger cupolas over the Stone L’Oven Pizza / Frame-It Waban Gallery / Waban Hardware building to accommodate Verizon Wireless equipment
- Total demolitions:
- 30 Troy Lane (house and garage)
- 283 Woodland Road
- 98 Cherry Street
- 38 Barbara Road
- 334 River Street
- 51 Levbert Road
- 299-301 California Street
- 65 Osborne Path
- Partial demolition of house at 83 Herrick Road
- Partial demolition of house and garage waiver at 56 Hartford Street
- Waivers of demolition delay at 11 Frances Street, 54 Garland Road, and 12 Wiswall Street
- Violation of demolition delay ordinance at 17 Emerson Street
Sustainable Materials Management Commission will meet Thursday regarding the SMMD consultant, a Resource Roxbury tour update, and the SMMD report.
Other
State Rep. Amy Sangiolo will host a Coffee Chat at the Cooper Center on Friday, July 24 at 10AM.
Development Review Team will meet this week regarding the following potential project/proposals:
- 3 Wauwinet Road: Raze and rebuild home with regrading that may require retaining walls over 4 feet.
- 1535 Beacon Street: Subdivide the lot into two, each with one three-unit building.
- 1623-1625 Centre Street: Six-unit residential building.
This week’s road construction schedule has not yet been posted.