City Council is not scheduled to meet this week.
Zoning & Planning Committee will meet in person (City Hall, Room 204) and virtually (Zoom link) on Monday, August 17 at 7PM. The agenda includes:
- Chair’s note: The Chair has provided additional backup information regarding recent changes to M.G.L. Chapter 40A §10 “Variances.”
- Appointment of Christopher Markiewicz, 382 Wolcott Street, Auburndale, to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a term expiring August 10, 2029
- Appointment of Sapir Ng, 1 Waban Street, Newton, to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a term expiring August 10, 2029
- Appointment of Dante Capasso, 421 Wolcott Street, Auburndale, as an Alternate member of the Zoning Board of Appeals for a term expiring August 10, 2028
Chair’s note: The Chair has provided additional background information on the workings of the Newton Historical Commission and the process of demolition delays. - Reappointment of Doug Cornelius, 15 Lockwood Road, West Newton, to the Newton Historical Commission for a term expiring July 31, 2029
- Request for discussion and ordinance amendment(s) to dimensional controls, aligning use and zoning — determining alignment of dimensional controls (setbacks, height, FAR, etc.) for residential developments within BU lots, with focused consideration for lots in and adjacent to residential neighborhoods (see Planning Memo)
Chair’s note: The Chair will use this as a scoping opportunity for item #84-26 and will ask for a motion to hold. - Discussion on the impact of recent ordinance changes on costs and new growth — a discussion with relevant department heads on the cumulative impact of recent ordinance changes (including zoning modifications such as 60% facade and grade change, electrification, tree, sidewalk, and water/sewer ordinances) on housing project costs, new growth, and the City’s ability to enforce these ordinances
Chair’s note: The Chair will use this as a scoping opportunity for item #85-26 and will ask for a motion to hold. - Discussion and possible amendment of the 60% facade build-out ordinance — a discussion with the Planning Department and ISD on the impact of the 60% maximum facade build-out ordinance on odd-shaped lots (cul-de-sacs, ovals, wavy frontage, and others), including examples and ISD interpretation
Public Facilities Committee will meet in person (City Hall, Room 204) and virtually (Zoom link) on Wednesday, August 19 at 7PM. The agenda includes:
- Reappointments to the Design Review Committee: David Gillespie; Peter J. Barrer; Carol S. Schein
- Appointment of Stacy Roman to the Design Review Committee
- Request to withdraw without prejudice a petition to relocate the existing City drain easement at 129 Rowe Street to allow a new dwelling to be constructed (petition documents)
Chair’s note: Petitioner has requested to withdraw the petition without prejudice. - National Grid petition for a grant of location to install a new prefabricated regulator station in a single concrete vault on Commonwealth Avenue at Washington Street, replacing an existing regulator station (petition documents)
- CPC recommendation to appropriate $1,900,000 in Community Preservation Act funding for a grant to the Newton Affordable Housing Trust for its FY27 funding
- Authorization to transfer $623,130.15 in excess debt exclusion bond proceeds from Capital Project – Cabot Construction to Capital Project – Franklin Construction, and to reduce the Franklin project’s bond authorization by the same amount