Zoning & Planning Committee - December 8, 2025

Governing Body: Newton City Council, Zoning & Planning Committee Meeting Title: Zoning & Planning Committee Meeting Date: December 08, 2025 Type of Meeting: Regular Meeting Attendees:

• Councilors Present: Marc C. Laredo (Chair), John Oliver (Vice Chair), Rena Getz, Alison M. Leary, Victoria L. Danberg, Pamela Wright, David A. Kalis, Stephen Farrell, Joshua Krintzman, Susan Albright
• Staff Present: Ann Berwick (Director of Sustainability), Caroline Weiss (Climate Action Coordinator), Mr. Lee (Law Department), Zach (Planning Department), Nora (Planning Department), Darius Bailey (BERDO Administrator)
• Absent: Councilor Richard A. Lipof, Councilor Leonard J. Gentile, Councilor Bill Humphrey, Councilor David Micley, Councilor Andrea W. Kelley, Councilor Tarik J. Lucas, Councilor Maria Scibelli Greenberg, Councilor Andreae Downs, Councilor Julia Malakie, Councilor Rebecca Walker Grossman, Councilor R. Lisle Baker, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, Martha Bixby, Councilor Alan Lobovits

Presenters: Ann Berwick (Director of Sustainability) and Caroline Weiss (Climate Action Coordinator)

• Introduction to Climate Action Plan (CAP) Progress:

  • Newton was one of the first state-designated Green Communities in 2010, receiving millions in state grants.
  • CAP 1.0 was adopted in 2019.
  • Significant progress includes:
    • Adoption of the specialized building code (most progressive in the state).
    • Electrification ordinance requiring all new construction and major renovations to be all-electric.
    • Village Center Overlay District (VCOD) signed into law, with a BERDO administrator recently hired.
    • Hiring of Caroline Weiss as Climate Action Coordinator.
    • All new schools are all-electric.
    • Several municipal buildings are now all-electric, including ground source heat pumps at Franklin and Countryside Elementary Schools.
  • Heat Pump Installations: Approximately 1,500 heat pumps installed in the last 6 years.
    • Councilor Oliver sought clarification on whether this number represents head units or homes; Ms. Weiss clarified it refers to homes.
    • Ms. Weiss noted this is likely an underestimate, with about 1,200 installed via MassSave from 2019-2023, and an additional 250 from permit data (not including MassSave).
  • Solar Installations: Over 20 megawatts of solar on city facilities, including 5.5 megawatts on municipal facilities and more in the works.
    • Ms. Berwick highlighted that Newton's 20+ megawatts of solar is a significant achievement, noting that in 2007, 4 megawatts was considered an ambitious state goal.
    • Councilor Danberg inquired about the percentage of the city's electric bill covered by solar. Ms. Berwick estimated 35-40% of total city electricity consumption on buildings with solar.
    • Ms. Berwick stated that Newton likely has more megawatts of solar on city facilities than any other municipality in the Commonwealth.
    • Future municipal solar opportunities: 1.5 megawatts under construction, 8 additional projects in contract negotiation. Limited further rooftop opportunities due to roof conditions and higher costs for parking lot installations.
  • Fossil Fuel-Free Ordinance: Newton is one of only 10 communities in the Commonwealth that can require all new construction to be all-electric.

• Challenges and Barriers to Progress:

  • Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT): Slight increase in VMT, suspected to be a COVID-related artifact. Data from the state's mass vehicle census (2020-2025) provides aggregate VMT for Newton.
  • Residential Electrification: Challenging, but supported by the Energy Coach Program and Community First Partnership (with Green Newton).
  • Newton Power Choice: New contract has a lower price than the current contract and Eversource basic service, but does not include renewable energy credits (RECs) due to changes in federal policy.
  • External Factors: Federal and state government policies (e.g., changes in federal policy affecting Newton Power Choice, vehicle mileage standards).
  • Limited City Leverage: Inability to adopt own building or electrical codes (must choose from state options).
  • Budget and Resources: While Newton has a robust sustainability team, more funding is desired for subsidizing electrification (initial capital and operating costs).
  • Cultural Shift: Significant challenge in convincing residents to adopt climate-friendly behaviors (e.g., EVs, public transportation, heat pumps).
  • Misinformation: Prevalence of misinformation, particularly regarding heat pump performance in cold weather.

• Development of Climate Action Plan 2.0 (CAP 2.0):

  • Process:
    • Ongoing conversations with department heads.
    • Early input from environmental community (April).
    • Assessment of CAP 1.0 progress and identification of new initiatives.
    • Drafting of CAP 2.0 (summer).
    • Community engagement and public comment period (October/November), including online forms, email, and a listening session.
    • Iterative review of feedback and ongoing revisions.
    • Draft currently with a designer for improved accessibility and development of a public dashboard.
    • Plan to docket with the City Council in the new term (January/February).
  • Goals of CAP 2.0:
    • Reaffirms commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050.
    • Mitigating climate change (reducing emissions).
    • Increasing the city's resilience to climate change effects (e.g., hotter days, extreme flooding).
  • Milestones (based on 1.2% of Massachusetts households):
    • Heat Pumps: Aim for 6,000 installed by 2030 (currently ~1,500).
    • EVs: Aim for 10,800 registered by 2030.
    • Solar: Aim for 100 megawatts in Newton by 2030.
  • Public Dashboard: A new independent website will track progress on various metrics across the four chapters of the CAP.
  • Key Chapters and Strategies:
    • Buildings and Energy: Decarbonizing city buildings, supporting residential electrification, implementing building codes (BERDO), becoming a Climate Leader Community (next step up from Green Communities, offering more funding).
    • Transportation and Mobility: Incentivizing EVs (charging stations), prioritizing sustainable transportation infrastructure (biking/walking), adopting a zero-emissions first vehicle purchasing policy for the city.
    • Consumption and Disposal: Educating on reuse/waste reduction, improving recycling/composting in city facilities, implementing an environmentally preferred purchasing policy.
    • Resilience: While CAP 2.0 touches on resilience, other city plans are more focused:
      • Open Space and Recreation Plan (Planning, Parks & Rec)
      • Hazard Mitigation Plan and Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (Fire Chief)
      • Stormwater Infrastructure Improvement Plan (DPW)
      • Phosphorus Control Plan (DPW)
      • Tree Planting Plan (Parks & Rec, Mark Welch)
      • Recommendation to establish a Biodiversity Working Group to assess and set targets for preservation/restoration of forested lands and open spaces.
  • "What You Can Do" Chapter: New chapter in CAP 2.0 addressing individual actions in buildings, transportation, consumption, and adaptation.
    • Emphasizes minimizing food waste (1/3 of food produced is wasted).
    • Recommends MassSave audits before electrification to ensure proper insulation and system sizing.
    • Cost of Electrification: Ms. Berwick clarified that while federal subsidies have decreased, state subsidies still exist. Electrifying from electric resistance heat or fuel oil will save money, but converting from natural gas to a heat pump system will not necessarily save money on operational costs, though it is the "right thing to do" for climate action.

• Feedback Received on CAP 2.0:

  • Desire for goals, metrics, and specified actors for every strategy.
  • Recommendations for policy goals:
    • BERDO for small buildings (committee prefers to gain experience with current BERDO first).
    • Electric school buses (chief obstacle is land for parking; city and school department are collaborating).
    • Establish a Biodiversity Commission (committee opted for a Biodiversity Working Group).
    • City Council action items: reducing light pollution from commercial buildings, city-provided composting, pay-as-you-throw curbside trash program.
  • Councilor Kalis inquired about next steps for policy goals. Ms. Berwick stated that some require City Council action, while others are being explored internally.
  • Councilor Albright requested that the updated draft be ready before the budget process to allow time for docketing.
  • Councilor Getz highlighted the importance of funding sources for resilience and flooding, noting the city's application for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness 2.0 process.
  • Councilor Albright suggested the city itself could be a pathfinder for reducing light pollution.

• Motion: Councilor Oliver moved to take No Action Necessary on Items 63-24 and the discussion of Climate Resiliency Updates and Plans.

  • Vote: All in favor (Aye). Opposed: 0. Abstentions: 0.
  • Outcome: Motion passed.

Presenters: Mr. LaValle (Planning Department) and Ms. Kyra (Deputy Director of Planning and Development)

• Discussion:

  • The memo analyzes residential development occurring in commercially zoned areas, particularly in older parts of the city like Nonantum (Adams Street, Watertown Street, California Street).
  • Two options were presented for exploration:
    1. Maintain commercial zoning if commercial development is viable.
    2. Modify rules (setbacks, heights) for residential development if it is to occur in these areas.
  • Councilor Danberg raised the example of a vacant former dry cleaner site on Beacon Street, which was denied residential development in favor of commercial, but remains vacant. She questioned what could be done to make such sites more commercial-friendly.
  • Mr. LaValle noted that economic conditions and financing feasibility heavily influence what gets built. He cited examples like the Chesa Hill and Riverside developments where commercial components were scaled back due to market conditions.
  • Councilor Albright emphasized the Land Use Committee's strong desire to preserve commercial spaces but acknowledged the need for clear criteria for residential proposals in commercially zoned areas to avoid wasting time.
  • Councilor Oliver recalled the genesis of this discussion stemming from residential areas with business-zoned lots, citing the "20 Clinton" example where large residential structures were built due to commercial FAR allowances.
  • Councilor Getz noted that the Beacon Street site was proposed to be BC2 under VCOD, suggesting a mixed-use approach might be viable given existing housing in the area.
  • Councilor Krintzman suggested a framework of "productivity in the neighborhood," where adding homes might yield greater benefits than vacant commercial space.
  • Councilor Albright requested that the Planning Department draft docket language for potential modifications, such as allowing fully commercial use (by deleting one line in the zoning) and modifying minimum distance between buildings to allow for preservation on smaller lots.

• Motion: Councilor Oliver moved to take No Action Necessary on Memo 302-24.

  • Vote: All in favor (Aye). Opposed: 0. Abstentions: 0.
  • Outcome: Motion passed.

The following items were moved to No Action Necessary to allow for potential refiling in the new term:

• Item 26-25: Relating to the Multi-Resident Zone

• Item 80-25: Commercial Office Space

• Item 295-24: Parking in Village Centers

• Item 27-25: Two-Family Detached

• Item 258-24: Manufacturing Districts in Nonantum

• Item 85-24: Preservation of Existing Homes

• Item 41-24: Amend Setbacks to Preserve Existing Buildings

• Item 43-24: Quarterly Updates on the VC Overlay District

• Motion: Councilor Oliver moved to take No Action Necessary on all listed items.

  • Vote: All in favor (Aye). Opposed: 0. Abstentions: 0.
  • Outcome: Motion passed.

• Chair Laredo and Vice Chair Oliver presented a City Council Accommodation to Jen Kyra, Deputy Director of Planning and Development, for her outstanding accomplishments.
• Key Contributions (2024-25 term):
  • Principal advisor to the Zoning and Planning Committee.
  • Oversaw updates to zoning ordinances, including:
    • Special permit, zone change, and site plan review fee updates.
    • Requiring special permit review for retaining walls over four feet.
    • Measuring building height from original grade.
    • Incorporation of fast-food establishment use into restaurant use.
    • Allowing for maker spaces and co-working.
    • Defining place of amusement use.
    • Blood-blading ordinance updates.
    • Revisions to Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) requirements, including state law changes.
    • Preventing large homes from building side-to-side through maximum residential facade build-out ratio.
    • Removing parking minimums for commercial uses in commercial centers.
    • Allowing small changes to existing homes by right.
    • Creation of a new adult aid care use.
    • Updating the inclusionary zoning ordinance.
• The committee expressed heartfelt appreciation and gratitude for Ms. Kyra's dedication and wished her success in future endeavors.

• Motion: Councilor Krintzman moved to adjourn the meeting.
  • Vote: All in favor (Aye). Opposed: 0. Abstentions: 0.
  • Outcome: Motion passed.
• The meeting was adjourned.