MassVoter.com← Newton City CouncilNewton City Council · 2022–2023 Council · Special meeting
November 15, 2023
12 recorded votes, 11 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF)
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Note on these minutes: Special meeting.
Present: Alison M. Leary, John Oliver, Maria Scibelli Greenberg, Susan Albright, Tarik J. Lucas, Emily Norton, Andrea W. Kelley, Pamela Wright, Julia Malakie, Joshua Krintzman, Leonard J. Gentile, Christopher J. Markiewicz, Andreae Downs, Deborah J. Crossley, Bill Humphrey, Victoria L. Danberg, Alicia Bowman, Brenda Noel, Rebecca Walker Grossman, Marc C. Laredo, Lisle Baker, Richard A. Lipof, David A. Kalis, Holly Ryan
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
#38-22 Postpone to November 20: Request for discussion and amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map regarding village center districts
City Council Voted to Postpone to a Date Certain of November 20; 24-0
From the minutes
“City Council Voted to Postpone to a Date Certain of November 20; 24-0.”
#38-22 Amend to add MRT minimum lot size of 6,000 sf: Request for discussion and amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map regarding...
1) Motion to amend to add MRT minimum lot size of 6,000 sf. Motion failed 10 yeas, 14 nays (Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lipof, Noel, Ryan, and Albright)
Yes: Baker, Gentile, Kalis, Laredo, Lucas, Malakie, Markiewicz, Norton, Oliver, WrightNo: Albright, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lipof, Noel, Ryan
From the minutes
“Motion failed 10 yeas, 14 nays (Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lipof, Noel, Ryan, and Albright).”
#38-22 Amend to change the MRT lot frontage to 65’: Request for discussion and amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map regarding village...
2) Motion to amend to change the MRT lot frontage to 65’ Motion failed 10 yeas, 14 nays (Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lipof, Noel, Ryan, and Albright)
Yes: Baker, Gentile, Kalis, Laredo, Lucas, Malakie, Markiewicz, Norton, Oliver, WrightNo: Albright, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lipof, Noel, Ryan
From the minutes
“Motion failed 10 yeas, 14 nays (Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lipof, Noel, Ryan, and Albright).”
#38-22 Amend to increase MRT usable open space to 50%: Request for discussion and amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map regarding...
3) Motion to amend to increase MRT usable open space to 50% Motion failed 10 yeas, 14 nays (Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lipof, Noel, Ryan, and Albright)
Yes: Baker, Gentile, Kalis, Laredo, Lucas, Malakie, Markiewicz, Norton, Oliver, WrightNo: Albright, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lipof, Noel, Ryan
From the minutes
“Motion failed 10 yeas, 14 nays (Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lipof, Noel, Ryan, and Albright).”
#38-22 Amend the site plan review for VC2 and VC3 lots at 10,000 sf or larger: Request for discussion and amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and...
4) Motion to amend the site plan review for VC2 and VC3 lots at 10,000 sf or larger Motion failed 5 yeas, 18 nays (Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Gentile, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Markiewicz, Noel, Ryan, and Albright) 1 absent (Norton)
Yes: Baker, Lucas, Malakie, Oliver, WrightNo: Albright, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Gentile, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Markiewicz, Noel, RyanThe Actions name Emily Norton as absent for this vote, though listed present at the top of the Actions; left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“Motion failed 5 yeas, 18 nays (Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Gentile, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Markiewicz, Noel, Ryan, and Albright) 1 absent (Norton).”
#38-22 Amend to remove minimum first floor height: Request for discussion and amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map regarding village...
5) Motion to amend to remove minimum first floor height Motion failed 5 yeas, 17 nays (Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Gentile, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Markiewicz, Noel, and Albright) 2 absent (Norton and Ryan)
Yes: Baker, Lucas, Malakie, Oliver, WrightNo: Albright, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Gentile, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Markiewicz, NoelThe Actions name Emily Norton and Holly Ryan as absent for this vote, though listed present at the top of the Actions; left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“Motion failed 5 yeas, 17 nays (Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Gentile, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Markiewicz, Noel, and Albright) 2 absent (Norton and Ryan).”
#38-22 Amend to require one parking spaces per two units for adaptive reuse in the MRT district. This parking requirement would be waivable as the...
1) Motion to amend to require one parking spaces per two units for adaptive reuse in the MRT district. This parking requirement would be waivable as the VCOD process provides. Motion carries 15 yeas, 9 nays (Bowman, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, Krintzman, Noel, and Ryan)
Yes: Albright, Baker, Crossley, Gentile, Grossman, Kalis, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Lucas, Malakie, Markiewicz, Norton, Oliver, WrightNo: Bowman, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, Krintzman, Noel, Ryan
From the minutes
“Motion carries 15 yeas, 9 nays (Bowman, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, Krintzman, Noel, and Ryan).”
#38-22 Amend the maximum height of the first floor in the proposed new Overlay Districts shall be 16 feet: Request for discussion and amendments...
1) Motion to amend the maximum height of the first floor in the proposed new Overlay Districts shall be 16 feet. Motion failed 4 yeas, 20 nays (Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Gentile, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Markiewicz, Noel, Oliver, Ryan, Wright and Albright)
Yes: Baker, Lucas, Malakie, NortonNo: Albright, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Gentile, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Markiewicz, Noel, Oliver, Ryan, Wright
From the minutes
“Motion failed 4 yeas, 20 nays (Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Gentile, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Markiewicz, Noel, Oliver, Ryan, Wright and Albright).”
#38-22 Amend the proposed MRT zones with a maximum sloped roof height of 38 feet: Request for discussion and amendments to the Zoning Ordinance...
2) Motion to amend the proposed MRT zones with a maximum sloped roof height of 38 feet. Motion failed 1 yea, 23 nays (Baker, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Lucas, Malakie, Markiewicz, Noel, Norton, Oliver, Ryan, Wright and Albright)
Yes: GentileNo: Albright, Baker, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Lucas, Malakie, Markiewicz, Noel, Norton, Oliver, Ryan, Wright
From the minutes
“Motion failed 1 yea, 23 nays (Baker, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Lucas, Malakie, Markiewicz, Noel, Norton, Oliver, Ryan, Wright and Albright).”
#38-22 Amend the proposed MRT zones with the allowed square footage for the first floor between 1,500- 2,000 sq ft with maximum total square...
3) Motion to amend the proposed MRT zones with the allowed square footage for the first floor between 1,500- 2,000 sq ft with maximum total square footage of 3,000 for two floors. Motion failed 1 yea, 23 nays (Baker, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Lucas, Malakie, Markiewicz, Noel, Norton, Oliver, Ryan, Wright and Albright)
Yes: GentileNo: Albright, Baker, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Lucas, Malakie, Markiewicz, Noel, Norton, Oliver, Ryan, Wright
From the minutes
“Motion failed 1 yea, 23 nays (Baker, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Lucas, Malakie, Markiewicz, Noel, Norton, Oliver, Ryan, Wright and Albright).”
#38-22 Amend Design guidelines; Restore the following language that was originally included in Version 1.0 Zoning Ordinance released November 22...
4) Motion to amend Design guidelines; Restore the following language that was originally included in Version 1.0 Zoning Ordinance released November 22, 2022: Building Design Guidelines Building Entrances: For buildings with residential uses on the ground floor fronting a public right of way, individual unit entrances are required. Motion failed 1 yea, 21 nays (Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Lucas, Malakie, Markiewicz, Noel, Norton, Ryan, Wright and Albright) 2 absent (Baker, Oliver)
Yes: GentileNo: Albright, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Lucas, Malakie, Markiewicz, Noel, Norton, Ryan, WrightThe Actions name Lisle Baker and John Oliver as absent for this vote, though listed present at the top of the Actions; left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“Motion failed 1 yea, 21 nays (Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Lucas, Malakie, Markiewicz, Noel, Norton, Ryan, Wright and Albright) 2 absent (Baker, Oliver).”
#38-22 Amend the zoning map (Councilor Kalis): change listed VC3 lots on Lincoln Street and Hartford Street in Newton Highlands to VC2
Motion carries 16 yeas, 8 nays (Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, Noel, and Ryan)
Yes: Albright, Baker, Downs, Gentile, Grossman, Kalis, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Lucas, Malakie, Markiewicz, Norton, Oliver, WrightNo: Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, Noel, Ryan
From the minutes
“Motion carries 16 yeas, 8 nays (Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, Noel, and Ryan).”
From the Newton City Council’s official record of each meeting, the “City Council Actions,” posted by the City Clerk on the city’s Council Meetings page (older years on its archives page). We check every vote against the councilors present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Councilor photos: City of Newton (newtonma.gov), from each councilor’s official page. John Oliver, Rena Getz and Brian Golden: Fig City News. Cyrus Dahmubed, Brittany Hume Charm, Sean Roche, Lisa Gordon and Jacob Silber: League of Women Voters of Newton 2025 candidate guide. Julie Irish: her campaign website. Former councilors show initials.
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