Zoning Board of Appeals will meet in person (Council Chamber) and virtually (Zoom link) on Thursday, June 22 at 7PM. The agenda includes a continued public hearing on the Northland 160 Charlemont, LLC, request for a Comprehensive Permit, pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 40B, to construct a nine-story mixed-use development with…
Posts published in “Environment”
Around 8:20AM on Sunday, residents noticed a young black bear wandering the streets and yards of the neighborhood behind Zervas Elementary School, adjacent to Cold Spring Park. Newton Police came to monitor the bear’s location. A resident’s doorbell camera recorded the bear and two NPD cruisers tailing it.
Newton’s plans for an new artificial turf field at Albemarle and to replace artificial turf fields at the high schools are incompatible with its “green” reputation. Surprisingly, in spite of expert testimony and scientific evidence that artificial turf causes health and environmental harm, Newton is proposing to spend $6,872,000 (*)…
The City’s Sustainability Team recently issued an update on the status of Newton’s Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO) in preparation for an upcoming Zoning and Planning Committee meeting. Newton’s Climate Action Plan shows that 66% of the city’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) come from buildings. The Newton Citizens…
A Committee, headed by former Ward 3 Councilor Jim Cote and Newton Highlands Area Council President Jeremy Freudberg, filed papers with Newton City Hall to put an initiative on this November’s ballot to repeal Newton’s seasonal parking ban. The overnight winter parking ban goes into effect on December 1 and…
The City Council’s Zoning and Planning Committee will hold a public hearing on June 14 regarding a proposed ordinance requiring electrification of all new construction and substantial renovation. Last August, Governor Baker signed into law legislation (H.5060) granting Newton and nine other ten communities (Acton, Aquinnah, Arlington, Brookline, Cambridge, Concord,…
Despite the rainy weather, Newton residents descended on Garland Road on Sunday to learn more from their neighbors about sustainability actions they can take to help reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change. The road was lined end to end with with tents staffed with residents and volunteer energy coaches…
Newton Conservators honored four at its Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony, held May 24 under a tent at the Mt. Ida Campus of UMass Amherst in Newton — the first in-person meeting since COVID. Bill Hagar summarized the accomplishments of the Newton Conservators over the past year, and Mayor Ruthanne…
3Jun Update — “Sustainable Streets Tour @ Garland Rd is still ON for tomorrow, Sunday June 4 from 12-4 p.m. in spite of the anticipated light rain. “ Garland Road’s Sustainable Street Tour is just a week away. From noon until 4:00 PM on June 4th, friends and neighbors will have an opportunity…
Ward 2 City Councilor, Emily Norton recently led a presentation hosted by the Climate Crisis Subcommittee of the Newton Democratic City Committee and Green Newton: “Preparing for Climate Change: Is Newton Doing Enough?” Norton, who is also the Executive Director of the Charles River Watershed Association, shared the urgency for…
“What things have you done to help climate change?” Andrew Breithaupt thought for a moment before he answered: “I’ve driven across the country three times.” Breithaupt, resident of Newton for just over a year, might be recognized as the creator of Green Newton’s climate kiosk. That’s the big Tic-Tac-Toe exhibit…
The City of Newton’s Five-Year Climate Action Plan, adopted in 2019, set forth ambitious goals to enable the City, its businesses, and residents, to reach the goal of Net Zero Green House Gas (GHG) Emissions by 2050. The Newton Citizens Commission on Energy (NCCE) has now set forth its recommendations…