The Zoning & Planning Committee met on Monday, July 20. See the report and meeting video.
Approved
- Appointment of Catherine M. Feerick as Director of Planning — 8-0. Feerick, who has economic development experience in Attleboro and Foxboro, described her interest in Newton’s neighborhood culture and architecture, human-scale development, and building a residential base to support village-center businesses. She discussed teardowns, historic preservation, and the balance between traffic concerns and new housing.
- Reappointment of Michael Alperin to the Newton Affordable Housing Trust — 8-0, term to expire June 17, 2028.
- Reappointment of Judy Weber to the Newton Affordable Housing Trust — 8-0, term to expire June 17, 2028.
Held
- Zoning amendment to Section 1.5.3 to allow transformers to project into the setback — 8-0. Representatives from Eversource discussed transformer siting, OSHA guidelines, and their “Blue Book” standards. The Chair asked the Planning Department to consider how to formalize early coordination with Eversource and to look at setback standards so some setback space could be preserved for transformers rather than forcing them onto the sidewalk.
- Discussion on Historic District Commissions — 8-0, workload, appointments, vacancies, and administrative support. Discussed in parallel with the consolidation item below.
- Amending ordinances to create a single Local Historic Districts Commission governing the Auburndale, Newtonville, and Upper Falls districts — 8-0. Director of Community Engagement & Inclusion Hattie Kerwin Derrick discussed persistent difficulties recruiting commissioners and achieving quorum. Commissioners from several historic district commissions spoke against consolidation, citing the distinctiveness of each district and concern about increased workload. Residents spoke of their projects being delayed when the HDC could not meet for lack of a quorum, applications to serve on the HDC being rejected, and low member turnover on the HDC. The Planning Department stated a single HDC would reduce their workload. A straw vote showed 3 councilors in support and 5 against.
Present: Councilors Baker (Chair), Wright (Vice Chair), Oliver, Getz, Dahmubed, Kalis, Albright, and Gordon.
Also present: Councilors Leary, Roche, Block, Lucas, and Malakie.
City staff: Katie Whewell, Acting Director of Planning; Nora Collelo, Chief of Long-Range Planning; Cat Kemmet, Chief of Current Planning; Amanda Wolfe, Senior Planner for Long-Range Planning; Andrew Lee, Senior Assistant City Solicitor; Hattie Kerwin Derrick, Director of Community Engagement & Inclusion; Josh Morse, Chief Operating Officer; Dana Hanson, Mayor’s Chief of Staff; Miles Starkey, Committee Clerk.