Good morning friends,

Newton  Mayor Ruthanne Fuller is scaling back a controversial proposal to replace 51 parking spaces in the Newton Centre triangle parking lot with a 16,000 SF public plaza.

Fuller’s new plan will create a substantially smaller 7,000 SF space, resulting in a net loss of eight public spaces. The city has also identified dozens of new spots it believes can be added to the area on adjacent streets for employees and customers.

Rather than operating the program as a one-year pilot, the new proposal would run as a test from June to October.

Public spaces of this nature have successfully helped generate foot traffic and new business in many communities.  Proper design, execution and programming matters, of course. This project will need careful thought, programming and execution.

However, we appreciate that the mayor listened to the concerns of many businesses who felt the loss of 51 spaces went too far.

This will be felt in our communities

Make no mistake about it.  Yesterday’s decision to put hundreds of thousands of Haitians on a path for deportation this summer will be felt across our chamber communities.

Massachusetts has the second largest Haitian population in the US, second only to Florida. These are folks who are cooking in our restaurants, stocking shelves in our shops, caring for our kids, providing long-term care for our seniors and driving us to the airport.  

They’re also starting companies, working in life science labs, our schools, health care, construction, the arts and other sectors.

Like all other legal residents, Haitian immigrants also contribute billions of dollars in taxes to the U.S. economy each year, including income, payroll, property, sales and other taxes.

Immigrants from Haiti have been eligible to obtain work permits (but not citizenship), under Temporary Protected Status, a program intended to help human beings fleeing their countries for humanitarian reasons and natural disasters. Some Haitian migrants have had those protections for 15 years.

Pending a legal appeal that ends  Aug. 3.   (Venezuelans are also on track to lose their protected status as soon as April.)

Join us for a webinar next Thurs. (Feb. 27) at 10 a.m., “How Immigration Policy Shifts May Impact Your Employees & Your Business.”  Details.

As always, I value your feedback

Milton hedges, Needham embraces smaller MBTA-C plan

While Milton keeps pushing back against the MBTA Communities Act, the Needham Planning Board approved a minimally compliant plan this week, reports Seth Bauer at the Needham Observer.  

The “base” zoning plan will meet state law. But it’s unlikely to yield more than perhaps 400 new homes over a decade or more.

Meanwhile, last month’s bitterly debated housing referendum in Needham appears to have inspired an unusually large number of first-time candidates to seek seats in the April 8 municipal election, including many for Town Meeting.

BTW, did you see the New York Times story about Needham, Winthrop and MBTA Communities? (Free link.)

Newton proposal would expand ADU criteria

A new state law allowing Accessory Dwelling Units under 900 SF to be built by-right by right statewide went into effect this month.

All four of our chamber communities are tweaking existing ADU ordinances to comply, including Newton, which has allowed ADUs for almost 40 years but has only created 121 small homes in that time.

That’s led Newton City Councilor Susan Albright to propose two revisions to the new Newton ordinance that go beyond state requirements.

• Increase by-right ADU size to 1,200 SF to better accommodate Newton’s historic homes and make downsizing a more viable option. (This makes sense to us since it can be challenging to design a 900-square-foot ADU inside a turn-of-the-century Victorians and Colonials.)
• Allowing full ADU conversions in historically significant accessory buildings, such as carriage houses and barns, without additional size restrictions. (This would not add to the footprint of buildings.)

The council’s Zoning and Planning Committee will hold a public hearing on the matter this Weds. (Feb.) 26 at 7 p.m.  and they need to hear your voice.

Please join our friends at Newton For Everyone by sending a short email to the council (use this easy form ) before next Wednesday’s meeting in support of Albright’s amendments

What our other communities are doing about ADUs

• Needham: Town Counsel is drafting ADU revisions for the October Town Meeting. Key changes will likely include eliminating owner-occupancy requirements, adjusting parking rules, and allowing detached ADUs.
• Watertown initially passed the minimum ADU changes required by state law but will revisit its ordinance to consider improvements. Housing for All Watertown is preparing a policy brief outlining recommendations.
• Wellesley’s ADU bylaw did not require changing, and its amendment should be brought to annual town meeting this spring. Like in Newton, advocates in Wellesley believe increasing the allowed size of an ADU would assist in their production.

Wellesley Square train station updated

Of 142 MBTA commuter rail stations, only 115 are accessible.

That number was 114 until upgrades at the Wellesley Square Station opened this week. The updates feature freestanding mini-high platforms on top of the existing inaccessible inbound and outbound platforms, as well as improvements to various paths of travel and new signs.

Friday grab bag

• WBUR’s Miriam Wasser consistently does a good job explaining complicated climate and environmental issues. This week Wasser explores why heating bills are so high this winter.
• Newton At Large City Councilor Andreae Downs is not seeking reelection this fall. That leaves two Ward 5 openings since Ward Councilor Bill Humphrey is also not running. They’re both among the city’s most progressive, housing welcoming, councilors.
• Drew Rollert who has been promising for years to launch a year-round 40-person Wada Hoppah electric water shuttle along the Charles River between Watertown Square and the Back Bay, is scaling back.  He tells the Watertown News for now he’s planning a seasonal 9-12 passenger shuttle instead.   
• Newton has a new city seal.
• Here’s the video of our debate between Wellesley’s three select board candidates, as well as the Swellesley Report profiles.
• Here’s a better way to walk on ice.
• Join Housing for All Watertown Sunday (Feb. 23), 2 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library for a discussion on what it takes to build 100% affordable housing. Details.
• Share input on MassDOT’s Newton Corner Long-Term Planning Study, Feb. 25, 6:30–7:30 p.m. RSVP.

TechTarget workers returning to Newton

For the second week in a row, the office complex at 275 Grove Street next to Riverside Station in Auburndale is making local real estate news

Media and marketing company Informa TechTarget recently notified staffers that they will soon be expected to be at its Grove Street HQ or in the field with customers at least three days a week, reports Greg Ryan at the BBJ..

As of a year ago, TechTarget had just under 500 employees in Massachusetts.

Starting next year, TechTarget employees will have more than 600 new neighbors, employees of Global Partners LP, the Waltham-based energy supplier announced its move there last week.

Both are welcome news for Kendall Kitchen, which serves breakfast and lunch on the Greatland Reality/Barrings-owned campus and finally received the city’s permission to put out a sign (it’s a long story).

Finally, think Spring (Seasonings)

Frigid temps and treacherous sidewalks have you down? Member tickets for our biggest – and most popular – event of the year “Spring Seasonings: A Taste of Our Towns,” go on sale next week.  

Thanks to our sponsors The Village Bank, NBC10,  Boston Showcase and The Street.

April 7 will be here before you know it.  Promise.

And that’s what you need to know for today, unless you need to know why you should be thankful your last name isn’t Null.

Back next week.

Greg Reibman (he, him)

President & CEO

Charles River Regional Chamber

617.244.1688

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