Land Use Committee
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Chair: Councilor Andrea Kelley — Ward 3
Vice-Chair: Councilor Alison Leary — Ward 1
Members:Councilor Tarik Lucas — Ward 2
Councilor Randy Block — Ward 4
Councilor Julie Irish — Ward 5
Councilor Sean Roche — Ward 6
Councilor Brian Golden — Ward 7
Councilor Stephen Farrell — Ward 8
Committee Clerk: Cassidy Flynn, cflynn@newtonma.gov
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The Land Use Committee reviews matters relating to Special Permit and Site Plan Approval petitions; utility petitions relating to Special Permit and Site Plan Approval projects; zone change petitions relating to individual, specific parcels; sign permits; lodging house and dormitory licenses; licensing of automobile dealers; permits for storage of towed vehicles; and matters relating to Community Preservation housing proposals.
Meetings
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Action report — to come
Video — to come
Reports docket — Land Use items begin on p. 60
#118-26 — 99 Otis Street — Request to further extend nonconforming FAR and lot coverage at 199 Otis Street
Land Use approved 8-0 on 3/24
City Council approved 23-0#119-26 — 25-27 Lewis Street — Request for a special permit to allow an oversized dormer, extending a nonconforming 3.5 story structure, and to further extend nonconforming FAR
Land Use approved 7-1 on 3/24 (Councilor Kelley opposed)
City Council approved 23-0
City Council docket — Items referred to Land Use begin on p. 65
#131-26 — 93, 103 and 0 Thurston Rd. (W5)
Public Hearing on 4/14/26#130-26 — 1100-1102 Beacon St. (W6)
Public Hearing on 4/14/26
Councilor Micley absent
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Items
118-26 — 199 Otis St (W2) — request to construct a one-story 333 square foot detached accessory building to be used as a home office further extending the existing nonconforming FAR and lot coverage
Approved 8-0119-26 — 25-27 Lewis St. (W1) — request to create habitable space in the attic level with relief for an oversized dormer, to alter and extend a nonconforming 3.5 story structure, and to further extend nonconforming FAR
Approved 7-1 (Kelley voting no)
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Reports docket — Land Use items begin on p. 52
City Council docket — Land Use items begin on p. 56
Video — to come
Items
96-26 — 60 Wells Ave — petition to amend the Wells Avenue Deed Restriction — approved in committee 7-0, approved by full council 22-0
104-26 — 60 Brookside Ave. — request to allow four attached single-family dwellings and associated relief — held in committee 7-0
103-26 — 11 Parsons St. — request for a special permit to allow three attached single-family dwellings and reduced front and side setbacks — approved in committee 7-0, approved by full council 22-0
102-26 — 199 Boylston St. (Mall at Chestnut Hill) — request to amend Special Permit #474-14 to allow an oversized secondary sign — approved in committee 7-0, approved by full council 22-0
Absent — Grossman, Leary
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Public hearings
96-26 — 60 Wells Ave — petition to amend the Wells Avenue Deed Restriction — approved 7-0
104-26 — 60 Brookside Ave. — request to allow four attached single-family dwellings and associated relief — held 7-0
103-26 — 11 Parsons St. — request for a special permit to allow three attached single-family dwellings and reduced front and side setbacks — approved 7-0
102-26 — 199 Boylston St. (Mall at Chestnut Hill) — request to amend Special Permit #474-14 to allow an oversized secondary sign — approved 7-0
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All councilors present
Report — to come
Items
Referred to Land Use (new items)
104-26 — 60 Brookside Ave. — request to allow four attached single-family dwellings and associated relief — public hearing 3/10/26
103-26 — 11 Parsons St. — request for a special permit to allow three attached single-family dwellings and reduced front and side setbacks — public hearing 3/10/26
102-26 — 199 Boylston St. (Mall at Chestnut Hill) — request to amend Special Permit #474-14 to allow an oversized secondary sign — public hearing 3/10/26
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Report — Land Use items on p. 1 and p. 2
Items
71-26, 72-26 — 148 California St — postponed 18-1 (Micley voting no)
69-26 — 224 Melrose St — approved 19-0
16-26 — 89 Redwood Ave — approved 19-0
Absent — Baker, Farrell, Grossman, Hume Charm, Kelley
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Items
70-26, 71-26, 72-26 — 148 California St — held (6-0), approved (5-0-1, Councilor Block abstaining), approved (6-0)
69-26 — 224 Melrose St — approved (5-0, Councilor Golden absent)
16-26 — 89 Redwood Ave — approved (6-0)
Absent — Councilors Kelley and Irish
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Action report — Land Use items begin on p. 2
Land Use items
15-26 — 355 Walnut St — petition approved by full council on first call
58-26 — 1135 Walnut St — request to withdraw approved by full council on first call
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Items
#15-26 — 355 Walnut St. — approved 8-0
#58-26 — 1135 Walnut St. — approved withdrawal without prejudice 8-0
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This covers only the Land Use items for this full City Council meeting
Reports docket — items to be reported on for full Council action
#15-26 — 355 Walnut St. (p. 10 as numbered)
#13-26 — 14 Elliot St. (p.10)
#16-26 — 89 Redwood Rd. (p. 10)
City Council docket — items being referred to or back to committees
#58-26 — 1135 Walnut Street (p. 15 as numbered)
Request to waive parking requirements
Public hearing on 1/27/26
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All members were present and voted on all items
Meeting video (YouTube)
#15-26 — 355 Walnut St. — held at petitioner’s request
#13-26 — 14 Elliot St. — passed 8-0 with conditions
#16-26 — 89 Redwood Rd. — held
Committee meeting report — includes presentations
See item pages for details and time-stamped video links.
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70-26 — 148 California St — manufacturing/retail site in Nonantum — held in Land Use on 2/10/26
94-26 — 11 Richfield Rd. — held in Land Use on 2/24/26
104-26 — 60 Brookside Ave. — held in Land Use on 3/10/26
130-26 — 1100-1102 Beacon St. (W6) — Public Hearing in Land Use on 4/14/26
131-26 — 93, 103, 0 Thurston Rd. (W5) — Public Hearing in Land Use on 4/14/26
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118-26 — 199 Otis St (W2) — request to construct a one-story 333 square foot detached accessory building to be used as a home office further extending the existing nonconforming FAR and lot coverage — approved 8-0 in Land Use on 3/24/26, approved 23-0 by City Council on 4/6/26
119-26 — 25-27 Lewis St. (W1) — request to create habitable space in the attic level with relief for an oversized dormer, to alter and extend a nonconforming 3.5 story structure, and to further extend nonconforming FAR — approved 7-1 in Land Use on 3/24/26, approved 23-0 by City Council on 4/6/26
103-26 — 11 Parsons St. — approved in Land Use 7-0 on 3/10/26, approved by full council 22-0 on 3/16/26
102-26 — 199 Boylston St. (Mall at Chestnut Hill) — approved in Land Use 7-0, approved by full full council 22-0 on 3/16/26
96-26 — 60 Wells Ave — petition to amend the Wells Avenue Deed Restriction — approved 7-0 in Land Use on 3/10/26, approved 22-0 by full council on 3/16/26
93-26 — 1445 Commonwealth Ave. — approved 22-2 by full council on 3/2/26
92-26 — 55 Auburndale Ave. —approved 24-0 by full council on 3/2/26
71-26, 72-26 — 148 California St — manufacturing/retail site in Nonantum — held, approved, approved by Land Use on 2/10/26, postponed in full council on 2/17/26, approved by full council on 3/2/26
69-26 — 224 Melrose — ADU in Auburndale — approved 19-0 by full council on 2/17/26
#58-26 — 1135 Walnut St. — request to withdraw without prejudice approved by full council on 2/2/26
16-26 — 89 Redwood Rd. — teardown/new construction in Oak Hill — approved 19-0 by full council on 2/17/26
#15-26 — 355 Walnut St. — approved by full council on 2/2/26
#13-26 — 14 Elliot St. — passed the full council 24-0 with conditions on 1/20/26