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Zoning

Join Our Consensus Study Committees

January 10, 2023

League of Women Voters of Kalamazoo Area PoliciesAt 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.

City of Gastonia - Applications and PermitsThe study will be focusing on five key areas:

  • review of Newton’s Comprehensive Plan
  • examination of current zoning techniques
  • examination of zoning ordinances that affect housing
  • reevaluation of our support for historic districts
  • examination of transportation goals

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.

Read more →

Categories: Consensus Studies - Newton, Housing, Land Use, News, Transportation, Zoning, Zoning

Give Your Feedback on Proposed Changes to Village Center Zoning

October 13, 2022

TAGGING doc cover

Please Provide Your Input on
Proposed Changes to Village Center Zoning

The City is considering updates to its zoning rules for our village centers and wants our feedback using this online Feedback Tool.  The end of the Feedback Tool has a free response section where you can write additional thoughts, and we encourage you to express your thoughts about the proposed zoning changes.  FEEDBACK IS DUE BY OCTOBER 16.

For more background, the last comprehensive update to Newton’s village center zoning was in 1987, almost 40 years ago. Zoning laws regulate how land in Newton can be developed and what kinds of new buildings are allowed. Zoning can influence store and business activity through parking and density requirements, whether green space or public spaces are required in new developments, the amount of housing supply near public transportation, and decisions people make about how to move through our spaces.

Helpful resources:

  • Watch this episode of the League Presents, with City Councilor Deb Crossley, speaking about  the Village Center Zoning Redesign efforts.
  • View 2022: Shape the Future of Your Village Centers Interview with City Councilor Deb Crossley
  • Visit the Newton Free Library’s interactive exhibit. You can view that exhibit in person, 2nd Floor Room C, or virtually here.
  • Read here for more information on the City’s Zoning Redesign Process and Village Centers Zoning Updates.
  • Read a Boston Globe Article  on Newton’s efforts to gather public feedback on proposed changes to Village Centers Zoning.

Categories: News, no-front-page, Zoning, Zoning

Village Centers Zoning Updates – Phase II

August 15, 2022

Beginning in 2021, the City’s Zoning Redesign project began it’s focus on village centers. The first phase of community engagement, which took place from the end of May through the beginning of October, 2021, asked community members: What do you envision for your village center(s)? What goal(s) do you want to guide updates to the village centers’ zoning?

Based on what was heard and discovered during that first phase, City staff presented to the Zoning and Planning Committee (ZAP) an overarching ‘framework’ of twelve proposed changes in this memo released on May 27. ZAP workshopped these proposals and reached consensus on further developing and getting community feedback on them. Read here in more detail a summary of the city memo, merged together with ZAP’s opinions and straw votes for each proposal.

The second phase of community engagement is ready to kickoff.  From September 1 through October 16th, the City of Newton will collect opinions on the proposed updates to the village center zoning regulations.

The city is still finalizing the material that community members will be able to access beginning September 1st.  In the meantime, you can:

  • Sign up for the Zoning Redesign newsletter to get notifications
  • Review the takeaways from the first phase of engagement and analysis for the village centers’ zoning
  • Get connected with a Network member if you have a connection to their community space or develop your own engagement plan to engage your own neighborhood block!

Read here for more information on the City’s rezoning process.

Categories: News, no-front-page, Zoning, Zoning

Membership Approves Consensus Study Committee on Zoning

June 17, 2022

Newton zoning map

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.

Read more →

Categories: Consensus Studies - Newton, Housing, Land Use, News, Transportation, Zoning, Zoning

The League Presents: Zoning Redesign, part 1

May 18, 2022

Deb Crossley
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:

  • A brief refresher on zoning principles
  • Actions taken to-date, since August 2020
  • Village Redesign, Phase I; citizen engagement/outcomes
  • Village Redesign Phase II; zoning to achieve public policy objectives

Please watch for an upcoming program on the MBTA Communities legislation and what it might mean for Newton.

Watch the video now

Read more →

Categories: Housing, Land Use, The League Presents..., Zoning, Zoning

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League of Women Voters of Newton, MA

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League of Women Voters of Newton, MA

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League of Women Voters of Newton, MA
Newton voters now have the option to vote early by mail in all elections, with no excuse required! All registered voters in Newton should have received their official 2023 Vote by Mail Application this week, in plenty of time to Vote by Mail in the Newton Special Election on the override proposal. Full details of how to vote by mail are here: www.newtonma.gov/government/elections/absentee-voting ... See MoreSee Less

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Join us for a conversation with Congressman Jake Auchincloss of the MA 4th District on Wednesday, Feb 15 at 7:30pm!Learn more at lwvnewton.org/event/congressmanauchincloss-feb2023/Register at bit.ly/talk-with-jake ... See MoreSee Less

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League of Women Voters of Newton, MA

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LWVN is again offering two scholarships to high school seniors in Newton! We are pleased to have increased our scholarship award for the class of 2023 to $2,000 each!Learn more at lwvnewton.org/lwvn-scholarship-program/Candidates should apply online at bit.ly/LWVNAPPLY23 Deadline extended to March 31, 2023! ... See MoreSee Less

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League of Women Voters of Newton, MA

5 months ago

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Election Day is one week away! Not sure what's on the ballot or how to vote in the midterm elections? Get your election questions answered at www.vote411.org and watch forums on the 4 Massachusetts ballot questions at lwvma.org/ballot-question-forums/ ... See MoreSee Less

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