On April 11, 2025, LWVN sent a letter to the City Council expressing its support for proposed amendments to the Northland development project. The amended Northland project will
make more housing available in the city and will increase the diversity of housing options; mitigate the use of cars; create new recreational open space; encourage walking, biking, and the use of the Greenway; and attract new shops and restaurants.
You can read the entirety of LWVN’s letter below:
The LWVN board voted in October to join Newton for Everyone, a coalition of civic, housing, climate activists, clergy, and local businesses supporting the proposed Village Center Overlay District (VCOD) under consideration by the Newton City Council. This is a non-partisan coalition.
As Newton goes through the process of considering the VCOD, its citizens will need a reasoned and well informed coalition that can present factual information regarding the changes being proposed. LWVN will be lending its name, reputation, and experience as Newton for Everyone works to ensure that correct information is being given to citizens through leafleting, signs, and ensuring there is a balanced representation at community forums.
To learn more about the coalition, visit Newtonforeveryone.com.
At its Annual Meeting held on June 12, 2022, the LWVN membership approved the formation of a Consensus Study Committee to update it’s zoning positions. This will be an intensive study of local zoning, and will be conducted in four stages: research and study; consensus meetings; preparation of a study report; and determination if an existing position should be revised or deleted, or if a new position is warranted and development of that position.
We are inviting all members to join us in the conduct of this study. There are lots of opportunities to participate, on whatever level and devoting as much time as you are comfortable with.
The study will be focusing on five key areas:
Anyone interested in participating should fill out this Form, letting us know what you are interested in and how much time you have to participate. A LWVN Board member will get back to you with further details.
At its Annual Meeting held on June 12, 2022, the membership approved the formation of a Consensus Study Committee to Update Zoning Positions.
More information about this study and the reasons for it are described below. This will be an intensive study of local zoning, and membership interest in welcome and encouraged. Anyone interested in participating in this committee should Contact Us.
Newton City Councilor Deb Crossley, Chair of the Zoning & Planning Committee of the City Council (ZAP)In August 2020, I had the pleasure of having a conversation with Councilor Crossley, Chair of the Zoning & Planning Committee of the City Council (ZAP). As a follow-up, this evening, to that program, I spoke with Deb about the City’s progress on zoning redesign, with a focus on:
Please watch for an upcoming program on the MBTA Communities legislation and what it might mean for Newton.
September 13, 2021 (Monday, 7:00-8:00pm) – Reimaging our Village Centers. As part of the City’s community engagement efforts related to the redesign of the City’s Zoning Code, LWVN invited community members to get together to share their experiences of, and their future visions for, their village centers.