Newton council approves two land‑use special permits, adds neighborhood liaison for Thurston Road project

The Newton City Council on Tuesday approved special‑permit requests for two land‑use projects — one on Newtonville Avenue and a larger proposal on Thurston Road — and adopted a neighborhood liaison committee condition for the Thurston project after an amendment by Councillor Julie Irish.

Councillor Kelly told colleagues the Newtonville Avenue petition sought waivers to exceed floor‑area ratio and facade ratios, allow three stories because of the site’s steep 22‑foot grade change, extend a nonconforming front setback, permit retaining walls greater than four feet, and allow two parking stalls in the front setback. The land‑use committee had recommended the petition subject to second‑call review after the developer supplied landscape and retaining‑wall materials details; the council approved the measure by roll call with the ayes at 23 and one absence.

Why it matters: Both actions reshape housing capacity and site details in residential neighborhoods and include waivers that limit what can be built on compact, sloping lots. The Thurston Road project in particular drew attention because it sits adjacent to Emerson School and an active playground, prompting conditions to manage construction impacts.

The Thurston Road petition (093 & 103 Thurston Road) had been modified during review from 16 to 14 attached single‑family units, reduced from eight to seven buildings, cut curb cuts from six to three, and reduced parking from 32 to 29 stalls. Planning noted clarifications were required on trash and snow storage and on the transformer location; the developer agreed to provide those details. The project preserves a decades‑old informal pedestrian route (referred to in the record as the Loopian Path) by providing a one‑foot additional easement for continued access.

During debate Councillor Irish moved to amend the draft order to require a neighborhood liaison committee. The legal language read into the record requires establishment at least two months before site work starts, and sets committee composition as one petitioner designee, the ward councillor, and two to three neighborhood residents appointed by the council president. Meetings must be open to the public, the committee must meet monthly for the first six months and then quarterly unless the committee agrees otherwise, and it must provide written notices to the city clerk and relevant departments. Irish described the condition as a way to ensure sustained neighbor engagement during construction.

Councillor Block questioned committee practice in general and urged colleagues to view the land‑use committee’s record for background on how petitions were considered, noting in the chamber that the special‑permit review must focus on whether “the use as developed and operated shall not adversely affect the neighborhood,” language he cited from the Newton zoning ordinance (chapter 30, article 7, section 7.3.0.3). Block also said the committee had not been provided comparative "by‑right" visuals for the Brookside discussion, arguing that the absence of some hypothetical comparisons had driven the committee to place an item on 2nd call.

A voice vote approved the liaison‑committee amendment. The council then voted by roll call on the Thurston Road special permit; the ayes were 23, nays 0, with one absence, and the motion carried.

A related Brookside Avenue petition (60 Brookside Ave) was placed on 2nd call and chartered to the August meeting so staff and colleagues can review additional materials including transformer screening/location and any technical edits requested by law and planning.

The council adjourned after the evening’s business. The developer and planning department must complete the outstanding clarifications identified by planning and by law before final implementation steps proceed.