Highlights this week…
- Snow storm … schools and municipal offices closed on Monday and Tuesday
- Trash Collection …delayed two days all week due to the storm (Friday delayed one week)
- State Rep. Greg Schwartz …office hours cancelled on Monday, due to the storm
- Zoning Board of Appeals …continuing discussion of 234-unit Alta Newton residential development proposed for 38 Crafts Street
- Mayor Marc Laredo …community listening session on Thursday at Day Middle School
City Council
City Council is not scheduled to meet this week.
Zoning & Planning Committee will meet on Monday regarding:
- Possible amendments to the definition of two-family detached in Chapter 30, Zoning
- Possible amendment to change the effective date of 60% facade build out from March 1 to June 1
- Possible amendments to enhance preservation of existing homes
- Reappointing Councilor Susan Albright to Newton Affordable Housing Trust Fund
Finance will meet on Monday regarding requests to:
- Appoint Ruthanne Fuller to the Horace Cousens Industrial Fund
- Transfer $1,500,000 from FY2026 Budget Reserve – Snow Removal, with $350,000 to Regular Overtime Account and $1,150,000 to Contractors Account to cover costs of snow removal hauling
- Transfer $150,000 from the Cooper Center Owners’ Project Contingency Account to be used for project closeout costs
Land Use will meet on Tuesday regarding requests for Special Permit/Site Plan approvals to:
- Raise the roofline of the existing attic by 5.25 feet, allowing for habitable space and vertically extending nonconforming front setbacks at 55 Auburndale Avenue.
- Construct additions to the front and rear of the dwelling that further increase the nonconforming FAR at 1445 Commonwealth Avenue.
- Raze the existing single-family dwelling and construct a new two-story, single-family dwelling with relief for floor area ratio at 11 Richfield Road.
Traffic Council will meet on Thursday regarding requests to:
- Restrict parking along portion of Holly Road near Beacon Street
- Add stop signs at intersections of:
- Paulson Road at Beacon Street, southbound
- Winona Street at Ware Road
- Regina Road at Ware Road
- Ruthven Road at Park Street
- Ruthven Road at Waverley Avenue
- Harrison Street at Lincoln Street, southbound
- Remove accessible parking space on Homer Street in front of Newton Free Library
- Reduce the number of public parking spaces in Waltham Street Lot to accommodate changes in access to police parking lot
School Committee
School Committee will meet on Wednesday regarding:
- Superintendent’s Update
- Nurse’s Update
- Fiscal & Operational Update Q2 – includes Newton Community Education (NCE) Update
- State of the Schools – Winter Analysis
- Strategic Plan – District Goals Mid-Year Update including Data Dashboards
- Request K-Aide FY26 Funding – Vote
- Update on Underwood and Ward Statement of Interest (SOI)
Brown Bag Learning Lunch will be held on Tuesday for Superintendent, NPS senior staff, and School Committee members to discuss state of student academics and academic data, Grades K-9.
Negotiations Subcommittee will meet on Thursday in Executive Session to discuss negotiation strategy re: Newton Teachers Association, all units.
School Councils meeting this week:
- Cabot Elementary School on Wednesday
- Newton South High School on Thursday
Boards and Commissions
Newton Free Library Board of Trustees Development Committee will meet on Monday regarding:
- Screening candidates for Trustees Development Officer, in Executive Session
- Spring Fling 2026 progress
Newton Cultural Council will meet on Monday regarding:
- Debrief on 2025 Funding Cycle
- Approval of modification request for Newton Art and Fiber Walk
- Next steps for Council engagement with grantees
- Presentation on NCC roles ahead of Annual Executive Committee vote in March
- Migration to new Arts and Culture Department
- Recommendations for new Arts Commission
Parks & Recreation Commission will meet on Monday regarding:
- Plaza – Newton Centre Green discussion
- Outdoor special events: Nonantum Village Day, St. Mary of Carmen Society Festival
- Committee reports: Community Preservation Committee, Urban Tree Commission, Farm Commission, Commonwealth Golf Foundation, PRC Signage and Naming Committee
Board of License Commissioners will meet on Tuesday regarding:
- One-day temporary entertainment license requests:
- Grand opening at Wonder on March 5 from 1PM – 6PM at 170 Needham Street
- Choral concert at City Hall War Memorial Auditorium on March 14 from 7PM – 8:15PM at Newton City Hall War Memorial
- One-day temporary wine and malt licenses requests:
- Massachusetts Institute graduation on May 30 from 5:30PM – 9PM at The Windsor Club, 1601 Beacon Street
- Meeting with speaker on April 14 from 6PM-8PM at Church of the Redeemer, 379 Hammond Street
- One-day temporary wine and malt and entertainment licenses:
- Angier School fundraiser on March 28 at The Windsor Club, 1601 Beacon Street
- PTO fundraiser on April 11 at The Windsor Club, 1601 Beacon Street
- Change of hours for Chipotle Mexican Grill from Mon-Sun: 11AM- 10PM to Mon-Sun: 10:45AM-11PM at 300 Needham Street
- Alteration of premises: Remove Lyons Hall from licensed premises and change of DBA from Trustees of Boston College (McElroy Hall and Lyons Hall) to Trustees of Boston College at 140 Commonwealth Avenue
- New common victualler and annual entertainment license request for Boston Shawarma House of Kabab at 870-880 Walnut Street
- New common victualler license request for Mauruuru Properties LLC at 1234 Chestnut Street, Suite 211
- New wine and malt restaurant and common victualler license request for Crunch & Boba at 1385 Washington Street
- New all alcohol restaurant, common victualler, and annual entertainment licenses for Farm Grill & Rotiseria at 40 Needham Street. 46 seats inside and 9 seats on private patio. Mon-Sun, 11AM-9PM
- New wine and malt restaurant license request for Ding’s Kitchen at 10 Langley Road
Council on Aging will meet on Tuesday regarding:
- Newton Housing Authority update from Executive Director Mike Lara and Deputy Director Amy Zarechian on projects and developments for older adults
- Department of Older Adult Service update
Newton Commonwealth Golf Foundation will meet on Tuesday regarding:
- Bids for RFP for Holes #6-7-10
- 2026 greens fees discussion
- Lead time for tee times (propose 10 days for Newton residents, 7 days for non-residents)
- BSC design work on hole #13 renovation for $41,000
Newton Fair and Affordable Housing Partnership will meet on Tuesday regarding:
- Project update chart
- Priorities Task Force report
- Sheila Mondshein Award update
- Planning for Fair Housing Month
- Resident services update
- FY27 Annual Action Plan
Newton Retirement Board will meet on Tuesday regarding:
- Kathleen Riley of Segal presentation
- Office security (Executive Session)
- Board vote on FY 2027 budget
- Discussion of personnel support
- Naming interim/acting director
- New application for superannuation and termination retirement
Zoning Board of Appeals will meet on Wednesday regarding:
- WP East Acquisitions comprehensive permit request to construct 234-unit residential development at 19-21 Court Street and 34-50 Crafts Street
Conservation Commission will meet on Thursday regarding:
- Wetlands decisions:
- Relocate native fish from Bullough’s Pond to City Hall Ponds
- Renovation of single-family home and driveway at 115 Albemarle Road
- Installation of sidewalk at Nahanton Street
- Teardown/rebuild of single-family home at 36 Bonnybrook Road
- Discussion of permitting for DPW road, water, sewer, and stormwater maintenance
Newton Energy Commission will meet on Thursday regarding:
- BERDO Regulations/City Council presentation
- Clark University updates: survey, GHG inventory update, dashboard
- GSEP/Electrification
- New administration/City Council – Green Newton meetings
- Smaller buildings update
Newton Historical Commission will meet on Thursday regarding:
- Local landmark review application at 145 Warren Street
- Total demolitions at 793-821 Washington Street (commercial block), 99-101 Central Street, 50 Crestwood Road, 17 Crescent Street, 129 Rowe Street, 92 Oakdale Road, 49 Hawthorn Street, 103 Thurston Road (house and garage), 393 Newtonville Avenue (house and garage), 54 Garland Road (house and garage), 191 Linwood Avenue (house and garage), 12 Wiswall Street
- Partial demolitions at 16 Fairlee Road (house) and total demolition of garage, 146-148 Pearl Street
- Waivers of demolition delays at 92 Fairway Drive (partial delay), 339 Lowell Avenue, 61 Broadway, 42 Palmer Road
Sustainable Materials Management Commission will meet on Thursday regarding:
- 2025 annual report review and approval
- 2026 SMMC focus areas – general discussion
- Environmental purchasing policy comments
- Possible upcoming tours: anaerobic digestion facility at Greater Lawrence Sanitary District, Resource Roxbury C&D waste
- SMMD report and update
Other
State Rep. Greg Schwartz will NOT hold office hours this week, due to inclement weather. They had been scheduled to be at City Hall, Room 211, on Friday, February 27, 9:30AM-11AM.
Mayor Marc Laredo will hold listening sessions at Day Middle School on Thursday, February 26 at 7PM.
Development Review Team will meet this week regarding the following potential project/proposals:
- 38 Morseland Avenue: Addition to single-family which will exceed FAR
- 191 Sumner Street: 4.5-story, 20-unit, multi-family residential with underground parking -VC3
- 43 Kenwood Avenue: Single-family home. Relocation and reconstruction of series of existing and new retaining walls over four feet in height
This week’s road construction schedule has not yet been posted.
Ed. Note: We updated this post to include the School Committee’s regular meeting on February 25 and updates on cancellations due to the storm.
