The City Council’s Public Safety and Transportation Committee voted Thursday, January 21 to shorten the trial of the Newton Centre Plaza pilot in the Langley Road parking lot, as officials weighed strong public support for the space against concerns about parking and accessibility.
Several Councilors, including Ward 2 City Councilor Tarik Lucas, who filed the appeal, said the plaza should ultimately be relocated to the adjacent Newton Centre Green, arguing that its location in a public parking lot limits access for residents and customers of nearby businesses.
The City’s Planning Department defended the original extension to October by pointing to data collected over the summer and fall, saying the Plaza drew consistent use and did not significantly reduce parking availability across Newton Centre. In a City survey, more than 220 respondents rated the plaza an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars, with most visitors reporting that they visited a nearby business while attending the Plaza.
Lucas told Fig City News his appeal was intended to address factors he believes were not fully considered by the Traffic Council, including winter usage patterns and future parking demand as new developments in Newton Centre come online such as the Chinese supermarket replacing the old Walgreens on Langley Road.
After discussion, the committee voted 6–2 to amend the Traffic Council’s decision, moving the plaza’s reevaluation date up to May 31. The committee’s vote does not take effect unless it is approved by the full City Council, which is expected to take up the amended decision at its February 2 meeting.
“I view it as a compromise,” Lucas said. “The plaza remains, if that vote goes through, all I’ve done is change the expiration date for when the plaza needs to be reevaluated from October 31st to May 31st.”
He said shortening the trial would still give the City time to collect additional data before deciding whether to relocate the plaza.
During the public comment section of the meeting, Andrew Popper, a psychiatrist whose office is located in Newton Centre, told the committee that reduced parking access has made it harder for some of his elderly patients to attend in-person appointments. Popper said many of his patients have mobility limitations, do not use rideshare services, and rely on nearby parking to reach his office.
Resident Marylee Belleville said she supports the idea of a community gathering space in Newton Centre but believes the plaza would be better located on the adjacent Green, calling it a “win-win” that preserves both parking and public space.
Zachery LeMel, the chief planner in the City’s Planning Department, acknowledged that the plaza’s rollout was complicated by early missteps in communication with Newton Centre businesses.
“We got off to a really bumpy start, no question about it,” LeMel said. “We didn’t get out and engage them in the right way.”
Despite the uneasy start, LeMel described businesses in the area coming around to support the plaza since it started in June 2025.
Ward 6 City Councilor Sean Roche said he supports the goal of creating a community space in Newton Centre and he opposed shortening the trial, arguing that the pilot should undergo a full season.
“I think this requires more time to get it right,” Roche said.
Chief Operating Officer Josh Morse said the City plans to work with the Parks and Recreation Commission and other stakeholders before making any decisions about a permanent location for the plaza.
