Planning & Development Department's "Friday Report"

Visit our website at www.newtonma.gov/planning

Meetings at a Glance

Monday, April 15:

Patriot's Day - City Hall Closed

Tuesday, April 16:

Newton Housing Partnership, 6:00 p.m., Room B17 (basement level)

Wednesday, April 17:

No Department meetings

Thursday, April 18:

Chestnut Hill Historic District Commission, 7:00 p.m., Room 205
Conservation Commission, 7:00 p.m., Room 204

Meetings Next Week

Newton Housing Partnership: On Tuesday, April 16th, the Newton Housing Partnership will meet at 6:00 p.m. in Room B17. The following items are on the agenda: Inclusionary Zoning ordinance update and the Partnership’s Role and Responsiblities. Click here to go to our website for updates. Contact Amanda Berman at 617.796.1147 or aberman@newtonma.gov .
Chestnut Hill Historic District Commission: On Thursday, April 18th the Commission will meet at 7:00 p.m. in Room 205. The following requests will be considered: Utility Pole at 262 Beacon Street, to install wireless equipment on utility pole on sidewalk in front of property. Continuation; 400 Beacon Street, to install a temporary sign during construction; 365 Hammond Street, Church of the Redeemer, to replace two roof areas; 60 Beacon Street, to repair center chimney, install chimney cap, repair slate roofing and replace slate ridge caps with copper; 152 Suffolk Road, to install garage doors; 29 Reservoir Avenue, to amend previously approved front entry and window and door program; 521 Hammond Street, to construct a new entry porch and a covered porch, convert a door to a window, and add two new windows. Continuation from working session; 31 Chestnut Hill Terrace, working session for feedback okn proposed project to replace the one-car garage with a two-car garage and two-story addition; Administrative discussion to include approval of meeting minutes. Contact Barbara Kurze at 617.796.1129 or bkurze@newtonma.gov.
Conservation Commission: On Thursday, April 18th at 7:00 p.m. in Room 204, the Commission will meet. The following matters will be discussed. Wetland decisions regarding: a continued Notice of Intent filing for a teardown/rebuild at 11 David Road; a continued Notice of Intent filing for an addition on the rear of the temple building and improvements to the front and rear courtyards at Temple Beth Avodah, 45 Puddingstone Lane; a continued Notice of Intent filing for the construction of new condominiums (25 units), with associated demolition existing structures and proposed site features, at 1114 Beacon Street; a Request for Determination of Applicability for the removal of nine white pines at 303-309 Winchester Street; a Notice of Intent filing for vegetation management of non-native and nuisance species in the ponds of Newton Commonwealth Golf Course, 212 Kenrick Street; a Notice of Intent filing for the demolition of an existing single-family home and the construction of a new duplex with associated site features at 401 Albemarle Road; a Notice of Intent filing for the construction of three additional units onto an existing single-family home for residential use at 145 Warren Street; a request for a Minor Plan Change approval for the construction of a retaining wall in the rear yard at 33 Wayne Road; Administrative decisions: Approval of the 3/28/19 minutes; a discussion regarding a proposed land swap with 170 Suffolk Road to mitigate for a long-standing encroachment onto Conservation Land; Updates will be given on wetland matters, conservation areas, administrative matters, and issues around town. A detailed agenda can be found at 2019 Agendas and Minutes. Contact Jennifer Steel at 617.796.1134 or jsteel@newtonma.gov.

Project & Program Updates

Riverside Visioning: Reminder that comments on the draft principles for the vision plan are due no later than Friday, April 12th at 11:59p.m. The Riverside Station is an important site for the City. Therefore, the City of Newton, led by the Planning and Development Department, with the assistance of the planning consultant firm, Civic Moxie, is engaging the broader community in early 2019 in informing the development of a vision plan for the Riverside Station site. The area has been and is currently the subject of private development efforts. A vision plan for the area will assist the City in evaluating future development proposals for the site as well as addressing how to better integrate the site into the greater community. The Final Vision Plan Presentation will be held on Tuesday, April 30th at 7:00 p.m. at the William Elementary School (141 Grove Street, Auburndale). Click here to sign up to receive updates. Click here to view our website or www.newtonma.gov/riversidevision . Questions or comments can be sent to us at riverside@newtonma.gov.
Make Poetry Concrete: The City of Newton has created a program to stamp selected poems into the concrete of newly constructed sidewalks throughout the City’s villages. Submit a poem for consideration by April 15, 2019. Go to www.newtonma.gov/sidewalkpoetry for more information.
Community Preservation Committee April meeting canceled: Agenda requests and written materials for the next meeting on May 14, 2019 are due by Friday, April 26. For assistance, contact Alice Ingerson at 617.796.1144 or aingerson@newtonma.gov.
West Newton Square Enhancements: The project is now advancing from planning to implementation. Click here to view the proposed improvements and visit the website. For construction updates contact Terry Crowley at tacrowley@newtonma.gov.
National Community Development Week: National Community Development Week (CD Week) recognizes the importance of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and the projects they support. As recipients of these important federal funds, the Housing and Community Development Division of the Newton Department of Planning and Development is hosting a series of events to celebrate the occasion, promote the success of its partnerships and programs, and advocate for continued program support. The week-long series commemorating CD Week will take place between April 22, 2019 and April 26, 2019. CD Week includes the following activities:
CD Gallery at City Hall: (Open to the Public)The week-long gallery exhibit will showcase a series of photos highlighting local projects and activities, key partners, program beneficiaries, and the lasting impact of these federal funds throughout Newton. Date/Time: Monday, April 22 - Friday, April 26, 2019 during City Hall regular business hours. Location: Newton City Hall, 2nd Floor, 1000 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton
Celebration of Newton Highlands Playground: (Open to the Public) In partnership with the Parks & Recreation Department, the public is invited to the official opening of the Newton Highlands Playground. Undergoing almost $3 million in substantial improvements through a combination of public funds, this project exemplifies the impact of critical partnerships between city departments, boards, and officials to support the extensive renovation of a vital community resource. This family-friendly celebration will include a series of games and programming for all residents, including Zumba presented by the Newton Senior Center Fitness Program. Light refreshments will be provided. The more the merrier! Date/Time: Friday, April 26th, 2019, 4:00-7:00pm (Rain date: Tuesday, April 30th, 2019, 1:00-3:00pm) Location: Newton Highlands Playground (Joseph Lee Park), 16 Dedham Street. Contact Rachel Powers, Community Development and HOME Program Manager at 617-796-1125 or rpowers@newtonma.gov with any questions.

Northland Development: The proposed project on Needham and Oak Streets, 156 Oak Street, 275‐281 Needham Street & 55 Tower Road, includes 14 buildings varying in height from 3 to 8 stories with a total of 800 housing units (123 of which will be affordable), 180,000 square feet of office space and 115,000 square feet of commercial space on a 22.6 acre site. Information on the project can be found on our website at www.newtonma.gov/northland. To view information on the City Council's Land Use Committee page - click here. Contact Michael Gleba at 617.796.1123 or mgleba@newtonma.gov.
Walnut Street Enhancements Project: Check out the visuals showing recent progress and anticipated timeline of final design completion and construction, which is on track to begin in 2019. In June 2018 City Council voted to approve the proposed road layout for Walnut Street. Visit the website at www.newtonma.gov/walnutstreet.
Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance Update: The Planning Department is working on an update to the City’s Inclusionary Zoning ordinance, to increase the number of required affordable housing units per project, among other important changes. To review the most current proposal and to stay up-to-date on this project, go to www.newtonma.gov/Inclusionary_Zoning. Contact Amanda Berman at 617.796.1147 or aberman@newtonma.gov.
"Hello Washington Street!" is the City of Newton's initiative to plan proactively the future of Washington Street in a community-based process with residents, local businesses, and City Councilors, with the help of the Principle Group, the planning firm under contract with the City of Newton. Thank you to everyone who commented on the Draft Two of the Vision Plan and Zoning. The project team is preparing the Final Draft, which will be released Monday, April 22, 2019 at the Zoning and Planning Committee of City Council. Go to www.newtonma.gov/washingtonstreetvision Email us at washingtonstreet@newtonma.gov and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hellowashingtonstreet.
28 Austin Street: During construction there will be 50 – 3 hour spaces in the municipal lot and 20 -FREE 30 minute spaces across the street in the Star Market parking lot. If you need to park for a longer period of time there is space available at the Newtonville Satellite Parking Lot at 150 Jackson Road. If you park at the free Newtonville Satellite lot, call a taxi or ride sharing service to take you to Newtonville, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Just save and scan your receipt and email it to austinstreetnewton@gmail.com to be reimbursed. Limit 2 rides per person per day. For more information on the Austin Street project and to sign up for email updates, including announcements about the affordable housing lottery to take place in the spring/summer of 2019, visit www.newtonma.gov/austinstreet or email austinstreet@newtonma.gov.
Transportation Planning Updates: Click here to check-out the Department's transportation web pages to find news and updates to various transportation initiatives. Contact Nicole Freedman at 617.796.1481 or nfreedman@newtonma.gov.
Needham Street Corridor Project (MassDOT roadwork): This project proposes roadway reconstruction and transportation safety improvements including new pavement, sidewalks, traffic signals, crosswalks, bicycle lanes and stormwater management. Email tacrowley@newtonma.gov to sign up for occasional project updates.
Sign Up for Mayor Fuller’s Email Updates: Looking for the latest news about happenings at City Hall and around Newton? Click the icon to the right or input your email address HERE to receive Mayor Ruthanne Fuller’s Email Updates. To see archived editions of the Mayor’s Email Updates, visit the City of Newton website at www.newtonma.gov.

Planning & Development Department | City of Newton, MA | 617.796.1120