Newton, Massachusetts Development News

City Council Approves Special Permits and Discusses Zoning Amendments, Adds Neighborhood Liaison for Construction

The City Council considered several land use items, including requests for special permits and ordinance amendments. Notably, two items concerning 91-93 Newtonville Ave and 60 Brookside Ave were brought up for second call. The project at 91-93 Newtonville Ave, a special permit request to exceed FAR and facade ratio, allow three stories, extend a non-conforming front setback, allow a retaining wall over four feet, and alter non-conforming parking, was approved unanimously by the Land Use Committee and subsequently by the council. The project at 60 Brookside Ave, a request for attached single-family dwellings with associated relief, involved significant design changes and neighborhood input, and was also discussed at length regarding its compliance with zoning criteria. The council also discussed item 131-26 at 093 and 103 Thurston Road, a special permit request for 14 single-family attached dwellings with reduced setbacks and waivers, which included the addition of a neighborhood liaison committee condition for the construction phase to ensure communication and address construction-specific issues. This amendment was approved, and the main item passed with a majority vote.