Opinion: Treat Special Permits Fairly In Newton

NEWTON, MA — The following opinion piece was submitted by Newton resident Jay Walter.

Newton, like many suburban communities across the country, is currently struggling with housing demand and how to cope with growth and change. However, unlike most cities and towns in the Commonwealth where a Special Permit is granted by a local Planning Board or Zoning Board of Appeals, the process in Newton is controlled by its 24 member City Council. This has made permitting for new housing in the City a political football.

Because the zoning ordinance requires any project larger than a two family to go through the Special Permit process, the City Council has a virtual choke hold on development. While some applaud this system as democratic it is apparent it also allows a vocal minority to prevent thoughtful, well-planned projects from moving forward.

Case in point, 145 Warren Street. A proposal for a four unit condominium project on a 22,000 sf lot in Newton Centre, a few minutes walk from the Green line ’T’ stop. It is on an exceptionally large lot in a multi-family district of two family homes, many on 10,000 sf lots. The developer will restore the historic house on the lot and proposes building three additional units behind the house. The rear units will be considerably smaller than those typically being built around the City offering a different price point for buyers in Newton.

The project is a thoughtfully designed, environmentally friendly, transit oriented infill project with minimal impact on the neighborhood. The three city councilors from the Ward support the project. The local environmental and housing advocacy groups support the project. A majority of abutters have penned their support and yet it may not get the City Council’s 2/3 super-majority (16 councilors) support to approve the Special Permit.

The system is broken when a minority of councilors can prevent development without justification. The opponents have argued “there are too many bedrooms for a TOD (transit oriented development) and “the rear units will hear the noise of the train” and, my favorite,“why can’t they just build a two family by-right? They have not offered a credible objection much less a solid rational to deny the application.

When a proposal meets the City’s Comprehensive Plan, its Climate Action Plan, its Strategic Housing Plan and aligns with the zoning redesign goals without any substantive argument against it, it should be approved. A NO vote is indefensible and must be called out as such. Councilors who chose to ignore the overwhelming support for this project are nothing short of obstructionists shirking the responsibilities of their elected office.

Jay Walter
Pembroke St.