Committee holds Rose Street ADU proposal after neighbors raise privacy, drainage and tree concerns

The Newton Land Use Committee voted to hold petition 207‑26, a request for a detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and associated relief at 2 Rose Street, after an extended public‑comment period and detailed questioning from councilors.

Sandra Berman, deputy planner, summarized the case: the irregular 7,570‑sq‑ft corner lot in Auburndale would host a 1.5‑story detached ADU of roughly 358 square feet above a two‑car garage, producing a proposed FAR of 0.58 where 0.47–0.57 (depending on the citation) was referenced as allowable. The petition seeks reduced side and rear setbacks (notably a 0.6‑ft side setback and a 2.5‑ft rear setback) and oversized dormer relief. Berman urged discussion of landscape screening and privacy mitigations for abutters. "The proposed 358 square foot ADU is well within the maximum 1,000 square feet allowed," she said, while noting the close proximity to abutters limits landscaping options.

Neighbors and abutters described concrete concerns: Severio Rata, who said he represents a rear abutter, said the garage would be built "basically in the backyard of my aunt," expressed worry that roof runoff could increase basement flooding and that the tree near the property line may be harmed or removed. Mia Silva and other nearby residents raised similar concerns about grade differences that make the structure appear taller from abutting yards. The applicants and architect responded that they increased the rear setback from 1 foot to 2.5 feet in updated plans, added stormwater management (downspouts and a drywell system) and proposed screening options; the architect also noted the ADU was sited to avoid putting a new curb or driveway on a busy school intersection.

Councilors pressed whether the ADU could be sited in a less intrusive corner of the lot, and several called the proposed 0.6‑ft setback "too tight" to allow meaningful screening. After deliberation the committee voted to keep the public hearing open and hold the item to give the applicants time to rework screening, site placement or other mitigations; the roll call on the hold recorded ayes from Block, Farrell, Irish, Lucas, Roach and Kelly (6–0). The committee asked planning to include grade and survey information in the next packet and encouraged the applicants to negotiate screening and tree protections with abutters before returning.