Open House This Weekend on Newton Rezoning

NEWTON, MA – In October, the City of Newton began an overhaul of its zoning layout to amend an outdated ordinance.

Newton's zoning ordinance has not been updated since 1987, and in 2011, the mayor established a task force to reform it. Three years later, phase one of the plan was completed, but the content of the ordinance remained untouched.

The city will implement context-based zoning, which can help identify areas for preservation, transformation and improvement in Newton. As the commences the rezoning process, planning officials have been receiving feedback from residents and landowners on a few zoning points:

• Tear Downs. Concern from residents when property owners demolish homes that are usually smaller and older and replace them with much larger homes that may be out of context with the surrounding neighborhood, but are allowable under the current zoning.
• Special Permits. Many changes to homes require special permits, which can be an arduous process for the applicant and for the neighborhood.
• Enforcement. Currently, the zoning ordinance is difficult to understand and makes compliance and enforcement less clear for residents.
• Unpredictability. Residents are surprised by what’s allowed and have commented to staff that there is little predictability.

This Saturday and Sunday, Newton will hold an open house for residents to learn more about how context-based zoning will shape the city going forward. To attend, RSVP with a date and time slot here.

>>>Check out the city's interactive map, where residents have been providing feedback on what they like and what needs work.

The open house will be held at 124 Vernon St. in Newton.

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