Some Newton City Councilors are signaling that they’d be willing to sacrifice millions of dollars in state aid for roads, bike lanes, sidewalks, traffic mitigation, affordable housing and other improvements, rather than abide by a new state law.
What law could be so odious that some Newton electeds would be ready to give up millions in state grants in perpetuity?
A housing law, of course. The third rail of Newton politics.
At issue is that new zoning reform law -- the MBTA Communities Law – that’s designed to chip away at two urgent problems: Our housing crisis and our climate crisis.
As I wrote yesterday, the new law doesn’t mandate new housing. It changes zoning codes to allow property owners to build small multi-unit homes if they choose -- a process that could take years, or decades, if ever.
We’re not talking about massive apartment towers. The law is designed to encourage more townhouses, triple-deckers and carriage houses near T-stops -- instead of McMansions.
Failure to rezone would make a community ineligible for certain state grants, according to draft regulations.
Still, at recent meetings City Councilor Marc Laredo and some of his colleagues have been suggesting it might be preferable to sacrifice the “very small amount of funding at stake” than to follow the law.
Except, it’s not a "small amount." It’s millions of our taxpayer dollars.
It's not a one-time penalty either: It's in perpetuity.
Here’s examples of recent state-funded projects Newton would conceivably have forfeited if this law was in place at the time: $7 million in Massworks funding for Route 9 improvements (2012-2014)
$1.6 million in Massworks funding for Oak Street/Needham Street Intersection (2019)
$400,000 in Masswork funding for design of Pettee Square (2021)
$220,000 in Housing Choice funding to undertake affordable housing feasibility study for West Newton Armory
$75,000 in Housing Choice
Some -- but not every city councilor -- agree with Laredo.
“What we don’t want to do is embarrass ourselves by essentially saying we’re wealthy enough to walk away from this and not comply,” said Councilor Vicky Danberg. “It’s kind of like parking in a handicap parking place because you can afford the fine.”
“For ten years, we've been talking about affordability and about climate and about making some dramatic changes,” added Councilor David Kalis. “And this just might be the kick in the tuchus that we need.”
This law applies to 175 communities -- stretching from the Cape Cod Canal to the New Hampshire border to Worcester. It's audacious that any of Newton's leaders are suggesting their municipality should be exempt.
Please city council, give this law a fair evaluation before rejecting it out of hand.
Why new restaurants are opening in Wellesley Yes, when municipalities make it easier for businesses to do business, good things can happen.
Case in point: Just months after Wellesley made changes to the town’s alcohol bylaw, brokers are seeing increased interest in many of the town’s smaller empty store front.
Laughing Monk Café, a sushi restaurant opening at 90 Central Street, was the first to take advantage of a bylaw change allowing smaller establishments access to liquor licenses. Last week, the Select Board approved the alcohol license for the 20-seat restaurant, something that wasn’t previously allowed for a business under 50 seats.
Other restaurants opening in the coming months in Wellesley include:
Lockheart Kitchen & Bar – 102 Central Street (former B. Good location)
La Toscana Pizzieria – 99 Central Street (former Upper Crust Pizza location)
Tatte Bakery – Linden Square (former California Pizza Kitchen location)
The bylaw changes, and amendments to zoning laws through a home rule petition, were designed to make Wellesley a more attractive location for smaller-sized establishments and to remove the barriers to success for many existing establishments. It's working.
“Allowing all residents of a jurisdiction to obtain a license to drive is a matter of public safety, not immigration policy or partisan politics,” Garcia writes. “Undocumented workers are here in abundance and often driving to their jobs. Let’s make our roads safer for everyone in the Commonwealth.”
Other need to knows
Could Newton’s own Kimberly Budd be among those being considered by President Joe Biden for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court? GBH’s "Boston Public Radio" co-host Jim Braude thinks so. Braude said Thursday that he got two texts from "pretty well-connected people" saying the Supreme Judicial Court Chief "was on the list" of possible picks. Biden has pledged to nominate the first-ever Black woman to serve on the court. (State House News)
The Watertown City Council postponed approving a proposed short-term rental ordinance this week after hearing concerns from residents. Currently, short-term rentals are not allowed under Watertown zoning, however dozens of homes and rooms — if not more than 100 — can be found on websites such as Airbnb and Vrbo. (Watertown News)
Shop local guru Lauren Berman is launching an event though her All Over Newton website called “LoveFEST,” a retail shopping event designed to drive revenue to Newton’s small businesses for Valentine’s Day shopping, to dovetail with Newton Community Pride’s upcoming WinterFEST. Learn more.
Hats off to 'Mr. Driscoll' Michael Driscoll's remarkable run as Watertown’s Town and now City Manager comes to an end next week.
Driscoll summed up his nearly 45 years as a Watertown employee – including 29 years at the helm -- in a speech before the City Council this week, finding time to acknowledge the employees, elected leaders and members of the community he worked with along the way.
"It has been and is a privilege and an honor to serve as Town/City Manager for all the citizens of Watertown," he said. "Thank you and God Bless."
There will be an event honoring Driscoll on May 21 at the Commander’s Mansion.
