Issues

I will continue to advocate for zoning that values our human-scaled villages, existing neighborhood fabric, historic resources, and disincentivizes environmentally wasteful tear-downs.

Most importantly, during this time of change for Newton, I will always prioritize listening to you--the residents, and incorporating your feedback into the decision-making process.

I support citywide resident-led participation and involvement early in the planning process.

As the “Garden City” it is vital that we value and act to preserve our existing tree canopy through zoning. It is also as important to respect our existing topography and to better regulate and enforce allowable grade changes in new development.

The City Council Zoning & Planning Committee have been working on 2 concurrent rezoning plans for Newton’s Village Centers and surrounding parcels with the Planning Department and the hired consultant, Utile. The proposed Village Center Overlay Districts zoning Version 3.0 and the proposed citywide map (shown below) and the individual maps localize where the proposed zoning will be in effect.

Village Center Overlay Districts Map

Currently, a property owner has the option to “opt in” to the proposed Village Center Overlay District (VCOD) zoning or utilize the existing zoning. The proposed zoning is a type of form-based zoning code that uses dimensional standards, such as the building setbacks and building footprint and height (maximums) to define the upper limits of a building’s massing. It is important to understand that lot standards (minimum lot size, frontage, and lot coverage) are no longer utilized in this zoning. Other zoning tools such as FAR limits (floor area ratio - the ratio of building to the lot area) are also not utilized in the VCOD zoning.

The VCOD zoning will permit by-right significantly larger and taller buildings on individual lots.

At the same time, Newton is facing an end-of year deadline to comply with the State mandated MBTA Communities Act. The city is required to adopt zoning district(s) for the by-right build of 8,330 multi-family housing units within 0.5 mile of a commuter rail station, rapid transit stop, or bus station. The adoption of a “reasonably sized” zoning district(s) for a housing unit capacity of 25% of our existing housing stock, is regulated by the Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD), now the Executive Office of Housing & Livable Communities (EOHLC) through issued Guidelines.

How, where and at what housing density Newton chooses to enact the zoning is a choice. I believe that Newton is best served by complying with the MBTA Communities Act required zoning for the 8,330 housing units, but no more. I do not support the zoning proposed in the other Village Centers and commercial corridors (Newton Corner, Nonantum, Auburndale, Lower Falls, Upper Falls, Four Corners, and Thompsonville). I am concerned that we need to phase the proposed zoning (VCOD zoning) and concurrently assess the impact on infrastructure and city services. The MAPC issued the same recommendation in a proposal - “Let’s Be Reasonable” on November 17, 2021.