On Wednesday, July 9, the City Council’s Zoning and Planning Committee met to consider the “current state of Newton’s commercial office space,” as the Committee’s agenda described the discussion item. According to the agenda, the discussion was intended to focus on new commercial office leases, the current commercial office space…
Posts published in “Zoning”
I have been saddened by the conflict between the business community and the City Council over the format of the July 9 zoning meeting. Seeing all the back and forth about whether it was a discussion or a presentation, who would be allowed to speak vs. submit written comments, and…
The Zoning & Planning Committee voted to hold the following (see report and watch the meeting video): Present: Councilors Baker (Chair), Oliver, Albright, Wright, Krintzman, Kalis, and Getz Absent: Councilor Danberg Also Present: Councilors Lobovits, Block, Farrell, Malakie, and GreenbergCity Staff: Deputy Director of Planning Jen Caira, Senior Assistant City…
Amid residents’ concerns about Newton moving toward having no houses with character or even backyards, the pace of home demolitions has decreased significantly recently, and the City’s regulation of home construction is facing on-going changes. The Zoning and Planning Committee has spent months trying to address community distress about teardowns…
On April 22, the City Council approved two separate sets of amendments to Newton’s Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) ordinance. The first set, which passed unanimously, aligns Newton’s zoning with a new State Law allowing ADUs of up to 900 square feet by right. That state law had invalidated these old…
In its continuing exploration of ways to update Newton’s Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance and build more “affordable” units, the Zoning and Planning Committee met on April 14 to hear recommendations by the consultant, RKG Associates. The meeting was in response to requests from several City Council members to consider adding an…
Although the Land Use Committee had voted unanimously to accept the withdrawal of applications for a zoning change and a special permit to allow for a four-story, 13-unit project at 386-390 Watertown Street, the topic was discussed again in the March 17 City Council meeting. The docket included both items…
Tuesday night was difficult for me as a member of the Land Use Committee. I witnessed a very promising, small infill development proposed for a vacant lot in the heart of a Nonantum be withdrawn by the applicant after months of meetings and negotiations. The proposed building included thirteen very modest-sized…
After much discussion and debate in the March 11 Land Use Committee meeting, the owner of 386-390 Watertown Street withdrew his request for a zoning change and a special permit. At the March 4 City Council Land Use Committee meeting, members had learned that the ongoing zoning change and special…
On March 10, the Newton City Council’s Zoning and Planning Committee met in a working session to discuss amending the City’s ADU Ordinance. Newton’s long-standing debate over the construction of Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs, was recently reignited with the passage of the Healy Administration’s Affordable Housing Act in August…