Planning & Development Department's "Friday Report" |
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Meetings at a Glance
Monday, February 22:
Tuesday, February 23:
Wednesday, February 24:
Thursday, February 25:
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Meetings Next Week
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Zoning & Planning Committee:On Monday, February 22, at 7:00 p.m. the Committee will meet via Zoom. To join the meeting, click https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84469839407 or dial +16465588656,,84469839407#. The following matters will be discussed. Chair’s Note: The Committee will hear a report of the working subcommittee on recommendation to revised (2) Demolition Delay, discuss those recommendations and set a date for a public hearing. #29-20, Review and possible amendment of Demolition Delay and Landmark Ordinances. Chair’s Note: The Zoning & Planning Committee will continue its discussion with Planning Department staff on strategy for proceeding with a Zoning Work Plan for 2021. Following this discussion, the Committee will begin a review of the annotated Article 3 submitted in last week’s Friday packet, for the purpose of setting down an accurate record of decisions made, questions remaining and analyses outstanding. It will be most helpful if Committee members can be prepared to submit comments in writing (for clarity and recording accuracy) as well as offering them at the meeting. It is expected that this process may need to continue into the March 8 ZAP meeting. #88-20, Discussion and review relative to the draft Zoning Ordinance. Contact Jennifer Caira at jcaira@newtonma.gov
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Land Use Committee:On Tuesday, February 23, the Committee will hold a virtual meeting via Zoom at 7:00 p.m. To join this meeting, click https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88272651289 or dial +16465588656,,88272651289#. The following items will be discussed: an update on the transportation aspects of a day care center allowed by Council Order #127-16 at 288 Walnut Street; the Committee will then hear the following petitions: #54-21, Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to amend Council Order #212-18 to allow a veterinary hospital at 180 Needham Street; and #33-21, Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to allow a laboratory and research facility at 275 Grove Street. Contact Neil Cronin at ncronin@newtonma.gov or 617.796.1141
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Zoning Board of Appeals:On Wednesday, February 24, at 7:00 p.m. the Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing remotely via Zoom. To join this meeting, click https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87889612927 or dial +16465588656,,87889612927#. The following petitions will be heard : 1. #09-19 Dunstan East LLC requesting to change the details of the Comprehensive Permit previously granted to the applicant on July 8, 2020, for a project located at 1149, 1151, 1169, 1171-1173, 1179 and 1185 Washington Street, 12, 18, 24 and 25 Kempton Place, and 32 and 34 Dunstan Street. The applicant proposes to increase the unit count by four units, increase the parking count by two stalls, reduce the building square footage by 991 feet, reduce the retail square footage by 2,596 square feet, adjust the building entrances, and reconfigure the design of the Kempton Place. This item will be heard for the purpose of determining whether the proposed changes to the Comprehensive Permit are substantial or insubstantial. 2. #07-20 Bruce Leslie of 141 Aspen Avenue, Kathryn and Norman Thibeault of 66 Forest Avenue, Mandeep Sawhney and Suruchi Kaul of 52 Forest Avenue, and Thomas Fulchino of 150 Aspen Avenue, Newton, Massachusetts, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 40A, § 8, and 15, appealing the November 16, 2020 issuance of a building permit by the Commissioner of Inspectional Services for the installation of four 70 foot tall sports lighting poles at 70 Studio Road.. The subject property is located at 70 Studio Road, Newton, Massachusetts and is located in a Single-Residence 1 (SR-1) District. 3. Review and approval of minutes for October 29, 2020 meeting. Contact Adrianna Henriquez at ahenriquez@newtonma.gov
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Newton Historical Commission:On Thursday, February 25 at 7:00 p.m. the Commission will meet remotely via Zoom. To join this meeting, click https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83106401440 or dial +16465588656,,83106401440#. Full demolitions to be reviewed: 46-48 Athelstane Road, 239 Jackson Street, 282 Watertown Street, 274-276 Adams Street, 296 Watertown Street, 148 Waverley Avenue, 453-455 Albemarle Road, 1917-1919 Commonwealth Avenue, and 120 Country Club Road. Waiver requests will be heard for 94-96 Webster Street, 40 Canterbury Road The detailed agenda for the February 25th hearing can be found here: https://www.newtonma.gov/home/showpublisheddocument?id=65628. Contact Katy Hax Holmes at 617.796.1143 (leave a message) or kholmes@newtonma.gov
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Project & Program Updates
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New Affordable Housing Opportunities: Stay up-to-date on new affordable housing opportunities in Newton as they become available for rent or purchase. Click HERE to input your name and email address to receive the Planning Department’s Email Updates regarding available affordable housing units throughout the City. Contact Malcolm Lucas at 617.796.1149 or mlucas@newtonma.gov.
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845 Washington Street (TRIO): TCC is accepting applications for 845 Washington Street, Newton, MA. Interested applicants should email lrubin@tccrealestate or call (617)313-7845 to obtain a Waitlist Application. As applicants reach the top of the Waiting Lists, they will be contacted by the Leasing Office to move forward in filling out a Lease Application. This units will be leased to income eligible applicants at an affordable price to households with incomes at 100 and 120% of the Area Median Income. For more information, please click here
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429 Cherry Street: Metro West CD is accepting applications for 429 Cherry Street. This property consists of 3 Deed-Restricted 2-Bedroom condominiums that are available at The Eliot, a new 14-unit condominium development in Newton, MA. 2 Affordable units are at 80% Area Median Income) priced at $301,000 and there is 1 Middle Income unit (120% Area Median Income) priced at $461,000. Lottery deadline is April 10, 2021 5:00 PM. CLICK HERE to download the application. Completed applications should be emailed to Stefanie , Metro West CD Staff, at stefanie@metrowestcd.org or mailed to Metro West CD, 79-B Chapel Street, Newton, MA 02458
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27 Commonwealth Avenue: Applications are being accepted for an affordable condominium in the Covenant Residences on Commonwealth Condos: 27 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill. Households with an annual income at or below 80% of the area median income (AMI) and assets less than $75,000 are eligible to apply for this unit. This is a one-bedroom, one-bathroom 750 square foot garden-level unit with a deeded parking spot. This unit is priced at $196,380, with a monthly condominium fee of $224. Pets are allowed with some restrictions. Features of the unit include: dishwasher, garbage disposal, microwave, open living and dining space, home office desk space, wall A/C, two large closets, ceiling fan, large bathroom, washer-dryer hook ups. All interested eligible households should apply. CLICK HERE to download the application. Completed applications should be returned to: LDS Consulting Group, LLC Attn: Lynne D. Sweet, 170 Worcester Street, Wellesley, MA 02481, Fax 781-943-3963, Email: ldsweet@ldsconsultinggroup.com
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Zoning Redesign: At the February 8, 2021 ZAP meeting, the Committee continued their discussion on the proposed 2021 workplan. The conversation will be taken up again at the upcoming February 22, 2021 meeting. In addition, the Planning Department will hear Committee feedback on the requested synthesis of work to date on Article 3 – Residence Districts. Staff shared a summary memo, annotated draft of Article 3, and a revised draft zoning map in the February 12, 2021 Friday Packet. Contact the Zoning Redesign team at zoningredesign@newtonma.gov
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Mental Health: Starting the Conversation Webinar: On Tuesday, March 2 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Newton Health and Human Services, Riverside Community Care, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) will host a free webinar. Join Mayor Fuller, NAMI Newton-Wellesley, and Riverside Emergency Services to learn more about mental health, mental illness and the work of community organizations improving education and awareness. Please register by going to www.newtonma.gov/mentalhealth . For more resources regarding mental health support, please visit https://www.newtonma.gov/government/health-human-services/social-services
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Community Preservation Committee: The CPC plans to hold a public hearing at its next meeting on Tuesday, March 9, on the new proposal for $21,270 in community housing funding to complete the Phase II Environmental Assessments for the West Newton Armory Affordable Housing Development. The CPC is also expecting new pre-proposals for recreation and historic preservation projects to be submitted in time for this meeting new agenda deadline on Friday, February 19. Information on these potential projects will be added to the CPC website as soon as it is available. . Contact Lara Kritzer at lkritzer@newtonma.gov
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Emergency Housing Relief Program: Funds are still available and applications are still being accepted for rental and mortgage assistance for income-eligible households who have experienced a reduced income due to COVID-19 and earn 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI) at the time of application. (For example, a family of four at the 80% AMI level has an annual income of $96,250.) The maximum timeframe that an eligible household can receive assistance from the program has been extended from six to eight months. The funding assistance covers 70% of an eligible household’s monthly rent or mortgage for up to three months, with a possible three-month extension for qualifying households. The assistance has a monthly cap of $2,500 per household. Households currently receiving housing assistance (e.g. Public Housing tenants, RAFT, Section 8, MRVP or other locally administered support) are eligible for this program. Only Newton homeowners who reside in deed-restricted affordable properties are eligible to apply for mortgage assistance. The $2,500,000 program uses Newton Community Preservation Act (CPA) and federal Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) funds. Metro West Collaborative Development is administering the program on behalf of the City. Contact Metro West at robyn@metrowestcd.org (preferred method) or 617-923-3505 x5 to begin the application process. The details of this program, including program guidelines, can also be found HERE.
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Baker-Polito Administration’s COVID-19 Eviction Diversion Initiative: In response to the expiration of the state’s eviction and foreclosure moratorium on October 17th, the Baker-Polito Administration announced the COVID-19 Eviction Diversion Initiative, a comprehensive set of expanded resources for renters, homeowners, and landlords facing eviction, foreclosure, loss of utilities and other housing emergencies due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of this $171 million initiative is to keep tenants safely in their homes and to support the ongoing expenses of landlords. Services provided by the initiative include rental and mortgage assistance, legal aid, housing counseling, and post-eviction rapid rehousing through new and expanded programs. If you are struggling to make rent or mortgage payments, call 2-1-1 to speak with trained staff or visit www.mass.gov/CovidHousingHelp for additional questions and more information.
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FY21-25 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice: The full draft report is available on the City’s website HERE. On Monday, December 7, 2020, the Planning & Development Board held a public hearing on this item to solicit feedback on the full draft report and to ensure that the City and Consortium are taking effective steps to affirmatively further fair housing. The City of Newton and the WestMetro HOME Consortium (13 contiguous communities, of which Newton is the lead) are required by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to prepare an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI). The AI is a five-year plan that analyzes barriers in access to housing opportunities throughout the Consortium and identifies priorities and goals to address these issues. To develop the FY21-25 AI, the City of Newton and the Consortium contracted with consultants, Barrett Planning Group and JM Goldson LLC. To download the full draft report, please visit: https://www.newtonma.gov/home/showpublisheddocument?id=47557
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West Newton Armory (1135 Washington Street): The City of Newton has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development’s Housing Choice Capital Grant Program to contract with a consultant team to conduct a pre-development feasibility analysis of the West Newton Armory’s suitability as a site for affordable housing. After releasing an RFP and creating an evaluation committee to review proposals, the City has selected Affirmative Investments to undertake this analysis. Affirmative Investments is a Boston-based, consulting firm with a successful track-record in helping developers, non-profits, and local governments expand housing opportunities and deliver critical services in low-income communities. The grant award and Affirmative Investments have been of substantial help to the City’s Joint Advisory Planning Group (JAPG) in identifying options for the Armory’s future use. On November 13, 2020, after 11 months of discussion, research, and analysis, the JAPG recommended that the City seek to purchase the Armory from the Commonwealth for $1 to redevelop the building into 100% affordable housing. The City Council’s Real Property Reuse Committee held a public hearing on January 27, 2021 and voted unanimously to recommend to the full City Council that the Mayor be authorized to purchase the Armory for one dollar from the Commonwealth for redevelopment into 100% permanently affordable housing. On Monday, February 1, the full City Council voted in favor of this recommendation, authorizing the Mayor to purchase the Armory and redevelop the site as affordable housing. The Armory, built between 1910 – 1912, housed the Massachusetts State National Guard for over 100 years. The National Guard decommissioned the West Newton Armory, which is now under the management control to the Commonwealth’s Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM). Click here to read the JAPG Final Recommendation and Report. In addition, please click HERE to read the Affirmative Investment's Final Draft Report. Contact Eamon Bencivengo at 617.796.1145 or ebencivengo@newtonma.gov or click here for more information on the Armory
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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.
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Planning & Development Department | City of Newton, MA | 617.796.1120 |
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