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Zoning Redesign
The City of Newton's project to redesign the zoning code
April Newsletter
This month's newsletter covers:

  • Zoning Redesign Community Engagement for Village Centers
  • Fair Housing Month Events
  • April ZAP Committee: Local Preference, Demolition Delay, and proposed Zoning Ordinance to regulate Firearm Businesses
  • Upcoming ZAP Meeting Agendas
Image Description: There are four different pictures showing the range of uses in Newton’s Village Centers. The first is of a shopping area across the street from a train stop, the second is of an indoor civic meeting, the third is of restaurants with the words ‘Dining’ and ‘Employment,' and the fourth is of an outdoor piano with the word ‘Entertainment.’
Upcoming Community Engagement for Village Centers!

In May, Zoning Redesign turns its focus to village centers and begins by asking Newton community members to share their experiences of and their future visions for their village centers. Participation will include: • a Vision Kit and a fun & interactive Polis survey that anyone can complete • focus groups with various community stakeholders for equitable engagement • outdoor on-the-spot surveying. See staff’s memo and presentation to ZAP.
 
Register here for the general information session on how you can participate in our upcoming engagement efforts on May 20, 6-7pm. (This will be recorded and available for later viewing.)
 
Fill out this interest form by May 10 to tell us the day and time that works best for you to join a Focus Group if you are a younger person (age 15-35), BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), renter, someone with a disability, LGBTQ+, in the creative community and/or an older adult (age 65 and older.)
Fair Housing

April is Fair Housing Month! Local affordable housing advocates hosted events, workshops, and conferences to raise awareness of fair housing and increase efforts to end housing discrimination. These events included a Fair Housing Workshop with the WestMetro Home Consortium (workshop materials available here), a Virtual Housing Day event hosted by CHAPA, and others listed on our website.  Additionally, a Resolution honoring the anti-discrimination work and history of the Fair Housing committee was passed by Council.
Outcomes of March ZAP Committee Meetings

Full ZAP Meeting Reports can be found at the Zoning & Planning Committee website here.
 
Local Preference:
 
On April 12 the Barrett Planning Group presented their ongoing analysis of the effectiveness and impact of Newton’s local preference policy in the Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance. This ordinance requires that projects over six units include permanently deed-restricted units affordable to low and moderate income households. Currently, Newton applies the State maximum of 70% local preference to folks who live, work and/or send their children to school in Newton. Councilors expressed support for continued analysis of the local preference threshold in the affordable housing process, in particular to assure more equitable access to these units, and asked to hear further recommendations from the Newton Housing Partnership and Fair Housing Committee.  
 
Demolition Delay:
 
On April 12th, the Zoning and Planning Committee held a public hearing for proposed changes to the Demolition Delay Ordinance (Planning and Law Department memos here and here). The Committee is tentatively scheduled to continue the discussion on May 24th.
 
Firearm Business Zoning Amendment:
 
On April 26th, the Zoning and Planning Committee held an initial discussion on a zoning ordinance proposed to regulate firearm businesses (firearm sales, firing ranges and gunsmiths) by allowing them only in certain zoning districts, establishing buffer distances from sensitive uses and requiring a Special Permit. A public hearing is scheduled for May 10th at 7 p.m. More information, including the draft ordinance, a memos from the Planning and Law Departments, and a regularly updated FAQ can be found here. 
Dates of Upcoming ZAP Meetings

The following agenda items are not finalized and subject to change. You can find the Zoom links for these meeting in the agendas, once posted, at the Zoning & Planning Committee Website.

Monday, May 10, 2021 at 6:30pm
 
  • Zoning amendments for firearm businesses (public hearing to begin at 7:00pm)
  • Flexibility of building story heights within maximum building heights (intro discussion)
 
Monday, May 24, 2021 at 7pm
 
  • Zoning Redesign & Village Centers (discussion)
  • Historic Demo Delay Ordinance (continuation of public hearing)
City of Newton, Massachusetts