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Still to come in newsletters ahead: Zoning reform, dog ordinance reform, leaf blower ordinance reform. But those are all still a ways down the pipeline for us (for example, zoning reform will not come up for a vote until nearly the end of 2021); so this newsletter I’m focusing on more immediate issues of the week or of the past few months. I also plan to do a brief update about the Senior Center soon, but I am still waiting to hear back from someone about a specific point before I write it.
On the (virtual) calendar this week of particular interest to Ward 5:
All City meetings with Virtual session IDs are listed here for this week: http://www.newtonma.gov/civicax/filebank/documents/105998
TONIGHT - Public Facilities Committee 7 PM Wednesday 9/9: Proposed Allen / Beethoven safety upgrades funded with Zervas project funds
Allen Ave @ Pine Ridge Rd
Reconstruct accessible curb ramps
Allows safe pedestrian crossing of Allen, with new crosswalk
Enhances pedestrian visibility for crossing Allen
Slows vehicular traffic in narrowing roadway width through area of proposed crossing across Allen Ave
Allen Ave @ Plainfield St
Reconstruct accessible curb ramps
Allows safe pedestrian crossing of Allen w/ new crosswalk
Enhances pedestrian visibility for crossing Allen
Slows vehicular traffic in narrowing roadway width through area of proposed crossing across Allen
Beethoven Ave @ Puritan Rd
Reconstruct intersection as a "raised table" intersection
Allows safe pedestrian crossing of Beethoven
Slows vehicular traffic entering the intersection by way of vertical deflection
- There are other agenda items during the same meeting so it will probably not be immediately at the beginning. If you can’t attend, comments may be submitted to committee clerk Cassidy Flynn by email.
TONIGHT- Public Safety & Transportation also 7 PM Wednesday 9/9: Quinobequin, Vision Zero
Following up on recent community meetings between the state Department of Conservation & Recreation and residents along Quinobequin about the Quinobequin recreation trail, as well as on Waban-Lower Falls joint meetings (with more meetings to come) -- Docket #329‐20 Resolution to the DCR about establishing a shared street pilot for Quinobequin Road: COUNCILORS DOWNS, AUCHINCLOSS, BOWMAN, HUMPHREY, NOEL, LAREDO AND LEARY requesting a resolution to the Department of Conservation and Recreation about establishing a shared street pilot for Quinobequin Road. (The objective would be to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety along this state-owned river “parkway,” by emphasizing sharing the right-of-way between all modes, rather than prioritizing vehicles over everyone else.)
Docket #187‐20 Requesting a discussion with the Administration about Vision Zero: “PUBLIC SAFETY & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE requesting a discussion with the Administration about Vision Zero and whether it should be implemented in Newton as a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries on Newton’s streets and sidewalks moving towards safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all.” (There was also another item recently filed on this topic that many of us including me had co-docketed, but it is being withdrawn for duplication reasons.) Vision Zero is a concept where a policy objective is formally adopted to guide street design toward eliminating all traffic fatalities, i.e. zero deaths.
There are other agenda items during the same meeting so it will probably not be immediately at the beginning. To submit a comment on either Vision Zero or the Quinobequin Road Shared Street pilot concept, email committee clerk Danielle Delaney by email.
Waban Area Council Meeting (virtually at 7:30 PM - agenda here)
Bike Lanes in Waban, Newton Highlands, and Newton Centre:
Since the first week in March, your six City Councilors for Wards 5 & 6 have been in discussions with the Planning Department about painting additional bike lane access along Beacon Street from the edge of Waban at Washington St to Newton Centre (with some short gaps where we have not figured out how to make bike lanes work yet). We held a community listening session with a great turnout on June 24.
Next Thursday (9/17) at 7 PM, the Traffic Council will be holding an official public hearing virtually about the proposed bike lane changes. Comments may also be submitted by email to the Traffic Council.
ADA Accessibility Update:
On July 25, at the invitation of Newton's Commission on Disability, I stopped by the street art projects on the Comm Ave Carriage Lane near Chestnut Street, marking the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It’s hard to believe it has been that long, particularly because – while it has been transformative in many ways for many residents especially compared to peer countries in Europe and while it has made all our daily lives in the built environment easier – there is still a long way to go on implementation of many of its provisions.
On that note, the City CFO confirmed, per my question during the budget process in June, that the city is actually accelerating (not cutting back on, despite budget constraints) ADA accessibility projects for city playgrounds this year because other playground plans had to be canceled due to the pandemic, but the access projects could move forward. That’s great news.
Landmarking Reform Update:
The process for local landmark designation in Newton has been undergoing a reform process this year in City Council, as the existing ordinance had become difficult to implement properly due to changes beyond the local level, such as the external body previously handling appeals no longer being available to us. There was also some concern that sometimes landmarking was being abused for things that were not historically significant but did slow down development. The new ordinance should provide a much clearer and more straightforward process for people to nominate local landmarks of historical significance and get those nominations approved (or rejected), as well as a similarly reasonable process for a property owner to appeal the designation.
On June 22, the full City Council took up the new landmarking ordinance. There was also a floor amendment to it that proposed to change one of the proposed methods of nominating a landmark so that nominations cannot come exclusively from (as opposed to in conjunction with) the Historical Commission. The floor amendment was approved 18-6. (I voted for it, since the Commission is quite a small group and the other methods of nomination seemed sufficient to protect historical designation while still requiring the backing of the Commission.) The new landmark ordinance section (with that change made) was then approved 24-0. This had been a very long legislative effort by many people with differing views on how best to protect our local landmarks in a fair manner.
General alerts:
Library: All Newton Free Library items you could previously put on hold for pickup inside can now be reserved for curbside pickup or indoor pickup in spaced-lines with plastic shielding. Get your reservations in now!
Office hours: On Saturday June 13, there was nice weather outside so I sat on my porch and residents could come by and social-distantly talk to me for a couple hours, which people did. If there is nice weather in upcoming weekends and it’s not too hot, I’d be happy to have people come by my front porch again and talk to me about what’s on their mind. I have also been making socially-distanced house calls to check on constituent problems, especially outdoor ones. Either way, just email me and we’ll make it happen.
Utility assistance: The Cousens Fund has received a CDBG-CV grant to assist low-to-moderate income Newton residents who have been impacted by COVID-19 with utility bills including oil, propane, gas, electric and water/sewer. Applications at: http://www.newtonma.gov/residents/cousens_fund.asp (Or you can call 617-796-1324 to have an application mailed to you.)
Rental assistance: Newton’s Community Preservation Commission also notes: “Newton's COVID-19 Emergency Housing Relief Program is still accepting applications to assist households negatively impacted by COVID-19 with up to three months of assistance. Eligible households must be below 80% AMI and have reduced incomes due to the COVID-19 situation. The program will cover 70% of a household's monthly rent, with a maximum monthly assistance amount of $2,500 per household (or $7,500 per household over the three month period).” The Program is administered by Metro West Collaborative Development. To begin the process, contact Robyn Rufo with the contact information on this web page: http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/planning/hcd/affhousing/default.asp
Final stray note on Oak Hill Middle School: If current/future Oak Hill parents were wondering and didn't get emails back from me (because there were hundreds of emails coming in about the budget at the same time), I voted in favor of the Oak Hill Middle School addition as planned. It was approved by the City Council.