The April 11, 2024, meeting of the NCNA began at 7:30 PM with all 4 city councilors and our school committee representative in attendance.  The items discussed included:

1— Trash problem at the Sunrise Senior Center and Burton’s Liquors / Dunkin’ Donuts.

Councilor Maria Scibelli-Greenberg spoke with the businesses’ representatives and reported that while the city does not require them to maintain the property outside their commercial spaces, they will try to do a better job.

Agi Sardi suggested that the city should regulate the provision of trash cans near benches so people can responsibly dispose of their trash. Without a trash can, food waste can be on the ground for days. Trash cans should also be monitored and emptied regularly. Andy Guck noted that when three bins are provided with different purposes, people use them. He asked what the NCNA’s role should be if there is a need for a trash can that isn’t being met.

Councilor Alison Leary took a longer-term perspective and suggested the need to reduce single-use plastics.

We will review this issue at our next meeting.

2 — Spears Community Garden

Councilor Maria Scibelli-Greenberg reported that on April 9, the Newton Community Preservation Committee (CPC) voted unanimously to approve the final amount of funding required for the first community garden on the north side of the city.  The garden will have an enclosed area with 30 raised beds surrounded by a public seating area.  The final design will be made this summer with the goal of breaking ground this fall.  More information about the garden can be found here: https://www.newtonma.gov/government/planning/community-preservation-program/proposals-projects/spears-community-garden/-fsiteid-1

3 — Traffic calming at the intersection of Vernon and Eldredge Streets

Department of Transportation  (DOT) Short and Medium-Term Rotary Improvement Report

Traffic in Newton Corner is an ongoing concern for many reasons. While the DOT is responsible for the Mass Pike ramps and rotary, it is not responsible for the intersections or streets adjacent to the rotary. However, the DOT has been working with city officials and a design consultant to develop “short and medium-term improvement alternatives” to the roadways off Exit 127 and will present the results at a very important DOT meeting this Thursday evening, June 6, at 6:30 PM.  According to a MassDOT spokesperson, possible immediate changes to improve safety and mobility include improved signal coordination, striping and sign changes, and bus stop relocations or consolidations.

This is a Webinar, and attendants must register in advance.  Here is a link to the registration:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6PZmsyEhSlymL9Di1mxWIw#/registration

And another site:

https://www.mass.gov/event/newton-traffic-signal-and-safety-improvements-at-interchange-127-newton-corner-2024-06-06t183000-0400-2024-06-06t203000-0400

4 — 41 Washington Street, Zoning Board of Appeals  (ZBA) review

The ZBA again expressed concern with elements of  this project, including:

• The demolition of the existing 1890 Shingle Style Victorian home with a fieldstone first story, corner tower, porte cochere, and other details of this style unique to Newton Corner.

*  Construction of a 16-unit condominium requires waivers for building type, number of stories, parking, and FAR  (floor area ratio). 

• Issues of building mass in general, the height of proposed retaining walls, and the impact of groundwater on abutters.

5 — Moving Newton off Natural gas and strengthening the electrical grid.

Councilor John Oliver mentioned two items coming through ZAP (Electrification and BERDO or “Building Emission Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance) that are both aimed at moving Newton onto electricity and off natural gas.

Councilor Alison Leary expanded on the city’s transition away from natural gas. She reported that the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is working with communities and National Grid to do more electrical buildings, harden the grid, and increase electrical capacity during peak times and seasons. This will require an upgrade in services, with some work being done underground.  There is also a long-term plan to rely more on wind power (from wind farms) as well. This transition in energy sources is not without concern. “Stranded assets” is the term that refers to the following scenario.  As more people end their reliance on gas, the price will increase as fewer customers carry the cost.  How such stranded assets will be dealt with is still under discussion.  She also noted that while we have some control at the local level to ensure electrical capacity in new construction and require necessary infrastructure, overall, we are dependent upon changes in policy at the state and federal levels.

Councilor Marc Laredo addressed the issue of double polling, i.e., putting one utility pole next to another. He noted that coordinating with utilities to move wiring to new poles is very hard. While he advocates undergrounding utilities, both for aesthetic reasons (especially in village centers) and because this would provide resistance to storm damage, undergrounding is very expensive, and utilities are reluctant to do that. 

6 — Rajeev Parlikar, Ward 1 School Committee Member,

presented his views on the issue of school choice. We discussed how PTOs work with the superintendent to arrange dates for School Committee members to visit schools and the use of technology in the classroom. We agreed to review the issue of cell phone bans in middle schools at the next meeting.

7— Keith Jones, President of Friends of Farlow Park, 

updated us on the current status of the Farlow Park Pond project—two aerators in the pond clog, and the pond leaks.  The state gave the city $50K for the park, and the Mayor provided $55K to replace funds that were cut by the state from the original grant.  The Mayor has written that the contractor will do the work between now and June 30. 

8— Councilor John Oliver 

reported that, together with several other city councilors, he attended a meeting of Watertown’s planning departments to learn how they intend to meet the MBTA’s housing demands.  How does their plan for a minimum of 1700 new housing units in and around the  Watertown Square  (with a possible total of 3300 units) affect the reconfiguring of the Square? It is obvious that this, together with the projected impact of the new Life Sciences Center, will impact traffic along Galen Street. Can the cities work together to make this transition as smooth as possible for those driving between the Turnpike and the Square?

The NCNA meeting ended at 8:30.  Thanks to all who participated.  We look forward to seeing you again at the next meeting.—

Warm regards,

Robin Boger, President

Newton Corner Neighborhood Association