Source: http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/planning/lrplan/washington_street_vision.asp
Timestamp: 2018-12-14 00:53:32
Document Index: 185572183

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'arts 1', 'art 1', 'art 2']

Newton, MA - Washington Street Vision
January 14 & January 28, 2019
Room 205, City Hall
washingtonstreet@newtonma.gov
facebook.com/hellowashingtonstreet
"Hello Washington Street!" is the City of Newton's initiative to plan proactively the future of Washington Street in a community-based process with residents, local businesses, and City Councilors, with the help of the Principle Group, the planning firm under contract with the City of Newton. The thirteen-month process, started in April 2018 and anticipated to go until May 2019, will result in a vision plan and draft zoning recommendations for the areas that link West Newton to Newtonville to Newton Corner.
City Council Committee of the Whole - December 6, 2018
At a City Council Committee of the Whole meeting on December 6, 2018, the Council was asked to provide feedback on a draft height map. The presentation and draft height map are now available. Video and notes of the meeting will be available soon.
See a video of the presentation from NewTV.
Comment Period for First Draft of Washington Street Vision Plan - now closed
All first draft comments are in one table here.
The documents with comments are still viewable by clicking on the links below.
Part 1 Start here! This section includes:
Critical introductions to the project and process
Instructions for the community on how to use this document
Scenarios to help visualize zoning tools
Part 2 Continue reading here. This section includes:
Scenarios that help visualize zoning tools
Part 3 Continue reading here. This section includes:
Scenarios that help visualize street sections
Draft Zoning Toolkit Read the toolkit here.
This document is the first draft of the “rule-book” for those seeking to develop or change a property along Washington Street. The zoning tools and regulations found within will clearly define how development in the area is allowed to happen based on the community’s vision for Washington Street (as outlined in parts 1-3 of the Vision Plan above).
Video now live of presentation October 24, 2018
Click here to read the memo from September 13 to find out how we are writing the first draft of the vision plan and zoning recommendations. Full survey results from May - July are appended to the memo.
See FAQ's (bottom of this page)
Get involved - we need your input!
West Newton focus area - November 26, 2018
June 5-9, 2018 Public Design Week
Here is the postcard for the Public Design Week, June 5-12.
Read the Public Design Week Snapshot.
Presentation to Zoning and Planning Committee of City Council June 30, 2018.
Closing night June 12, 2018 presentation slides and video.
Opening night June 5, 2018 presentation slides and video.
Topic session: Housing Diversity + Affordability video
Topic session: Parking + Traffic video
Topic session: Public Life + Public Spaces video
Topic session: Business Roundtable video
Topic session: Walk, Bike, Ride, Drive video
Topic session: Creative Arts + Culture on Washington video
Topic session: Understanding Form-Based Codes + Zoning video
May 1, 2018 Launch
Here is a video of the May 1, 2018 presentation (part 1, part 2).
Here are the May 1, 2018 presentation slides.
November 27, 2018 November 20, 2018 November 6, 2018 October 30, 2018 October 25, 2018
September 22, 2018 September 14, 2018
August 14, 2018 July 25, 2018 July 2, 2018 June 14, 2018 June 4, 2018
May 16, 2018 May 11, 2018 May 2, 2018 May 1, 2018 April 25, 2018
From the Office of Mayor Fuller
Washington Street FAQs
1.	What is “Hello Washington Street”?
“Hello Washington Street” is the City of Newton’s initiative to plan proactively the future of Washington Street in a community-based process with residents, local businesses and City Councilors, with the help of the Principle Group, the planning firm under contract with the City of Newton. The thirteen-month process will result in a vision plan and draft zoning for the areas that link West Newton to Newtonville to Newton Corner.
2.	Where can I find information online?
We’re trying to make it easy to participate and find information. The project Facebook page is www.facebook.com/hellowashingtonstreet. The City webpage is www.newtonma.gov/washingtonstreetvision, where you can sign up to receive email updates.
This is a community-based planning process. Come to the Public Design Week, June 5 - June 12. There are lots of events happening, but the most important ones are the Food Social + Hands-On Workshop on Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at 5:30 p.m. at Newton North High School, 457 Walnut Street; Community Block Party + Check-In on Sunday, June 10 at 1:00 p.m.; and the Chili Cookoff + Wrap-Up on June 12, 2018 at 5:30 at the Former Aquinas Junior College at 150 Jackson Road. Drop in to the workspace at 1239 Washington Street any time June 7 – June 12 between 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. See a full list of events online.
4.	Who is “Hello Washington Street” for?
“Hello Washington Street” is intended for everyone who lives, works, or spends time in the Washington Street area in Newton. That includes people of all ages!
5.	What happened to the City’s plans for the West Newton Square Enhancements project to change the roadway? Will this still happen?
Plans to improve the roads, sidewalks, lighting and traffic lights etc. in West Newton Square have been underway. Construction will begin on the City’s West Newton Square Enhancements (www.newtonma.gov/westnewtonsq) in 2019. The project includes the construction of roadway, sidewalk, and streetscape improvements in the heart of historic West Newton Square. These plans have been approved by City Council and will mean improved safety and traffic flow for people driving, people walking, and people cycling. There will be new traffic signals, new benches and trees, new lighting, and new buffered bike lanes (westbound bike lane will be on the north side of Washington St. and eastbound bike lane will be on the south side of Washington St.) This is a City investment of $4 million.
6.	I saw a video showing a different road configuration – is this now the plan? When will this happen?
A private company, Mark Development, prepared a video about roadway changes on Washington Street. The video does not represent the City’s plans for the roadway. There are no plans at present to make any changes to Washington Street as contemplated in the video. Rather, this community-based planning process, “Hello Washington Street!”, will determine the future plans.
7.	Who is the Principle Group? Are they working for Mark Development?
The City of Newton hired the Principle Group to help with this community-based planning process. The Principle Group does not work for private land owners in the Washington Street area.
8.	I recently heard that the West Newton Sq. whole block (including West Newton Cinema) was sold and may become large apartment buildings. Is this true?
There continues to be purchases and sales along Washington Street. Private property in West Newton Square and elsewhere near Washington Street in Newton are subject to Newton’s zoning ordinances. In some cases, changes to these properties require a City Council process and special permits. This process will continue as usual when property owners request to make changes – even as the Washington Street process continues.
9. Where does the study area begin and end? Is Newton Corner included in the project?
We recognize that Newton Corner is an important Village Center along Washington Street and serves as the eastern gateway to Washington Street. It is located just outside the planned focus area of our study but needs to be included in the conversation especially relating to transportation and public improvement discussions. The community-led process may well result in some big-picture ideas for how to improve Newton Corner and we want to make sure those are captured within the Vision Plan for Washington Street. These ideas might range from pedestrian, bike and bus improvements to thoughts on how to address the highway ramps.
10. Is this process a waste of time? Isn't a developer going to 'get what they want' anyways?
The Hello Washington Street project is a way for the community to discuss options for the future of Washington Street – it is really important that people consider what they want and weigh in. The goal is to produce a guiding vision plan and draft zoning to realize the vision. City Council is the decision-making body when it comes to adopting zoning and for special permit applications. This process will continue as usual when property owners request to make changes to their property – even as the Hello Washington Street process continues.