What’s Up in Newton this Week? – COVID-19 confirmed cases rise slightly and an additional Newton death, City Clerk looks to relocate polling locations – Ward 2 Precinct 2; Ward 2 Precinct 3; Ward 6 Precinct 2; Ward 5 Precincts 3 & 4; City Council to vote on a 4,532 sq. ft. 2.5 story addition and a three-car garage greater than 700 sq. ft., Plastic Bag Ban Back into Effect, Councilors request discussion regarding impact of fuel-burning outdoor fireplaces, firepits; School Committee to meet in Executive Session this Tuesday to discuss strategy relating to Collective Bargaining and Fall Planning; Council on Aging and Advisory Board to discuss and vote on one of two site locations for the NewCAL (Newtonville – existing site or Newton Centre parking lot); Riverside Special Permit – closing in – review of Draft Council Order and Conditions this Tuesday; Local building community will continue to provide input on Zoning Redesign, and more……
What’s Up in Newton this Week?
by Amy Sangiolo | Jul 13, 2020 | Newton | 14 comments
Wait, so now NewCal is going to potentially stay in Newtonville but tear down the historic building? That’s the sense I got from the minutes. Um…that’s a hard no. So basically we lose one of the most charming buildings in Newtonville, the NewCal building is shrunk and minimized, and we spend a lot of money as a community for what exactly? Didn’t they spend hundreds of thousands of CPA dollars to redo the outside of the senior center just a few years ago?
Man, just when you thought they couldn’t figure out a way to mess up this process more, they are going to do this now? Pretty sure most folks in Newtonville do not know about this. I certainly didn’t.
Thanks for the informative updates Amy!
@all: It’s summer we’re in the middle of being cooped up with the same people all day, but can now finally enjoy the outdoors!!!! Space, freedom, a few hot dogs, sit by the fire pit at night!!!!!
How can some of our City Councilors wreak havoc on your personal space, tranquility, ah lets Ban outside cooking, fire pits, etc!!!!
Does anyone really believe that the aggravation to residents is worth the virtually no impact results of banning these back yard traditions?
James
I thought firepits and recreational burning was already banned.
Are they suggesting banning coal, wood BBQ/ovens which are used for cooking? Or just reviewing set backs?
American BBQ is a tradition, i can’t imagine they considering banning or forcing to gas,electric
Fig, The mayor promised voters a senior center so they’re going to get one, for better or worse. The City Council sits back passively. So much of the process has been flawed, but none of our elected leaders are willing to push back.
No! Please don’t think about banning backyard fire pits
@Fig “Wait, so now NewCal is going to potentially stay in Newtonville but tear down the historic building? That’s the sense I got from the minutes. Um…that’s a hard no”
That is exactly what is being pushed
Amy, another item for next week’s newsletter: I saw on Facebook that the YMCA has free meals for children. Food insecurity is a problem now more than ever with the pandemic so if kids are in need of a lunch or snack they can go to the Y. Thanks as always for your newsletter.
Hold your horses, slow down everyone! Who said anything about banning outdoor wood, BBQ ovens? This cart definitely got before the horse. There is no plan to ban, prohibit, exclude backyard fire pits. The docket item is to have a discussion, hearing from the various departments that outdoor chimneys and fireplaces, have a connection to. This began as a constituent response to a neighbor worried about the size, height, construction method, proximity to the lot line, and openings facing her property that may be a fire hazard. Light up your grill, throw on a nice summer dinner, don’t read into things. Call any of the docketers (COUNCILORS KELLEY, CROSSLEY, LEARY, NORTON, WRIGHT, MALAKIE, DOWNS, AND BOWMAN ) if you have a question or concern. That’s how it began, listening to residents…
Um…that’s sort of how the leaf blower ban began many, many years ago. It’s good to know that a ban is not the intent of this docket item – at least for those of us who like fire pits or outdoor fireplaces. Still, there are communities in the Commonwealth that do have bans and/or regulate the use of outdoor firepits, chimneas, etc. This is from the mass.gov website – https://www.mass.gov/service-details/open-burning-safety:
Fire pits have become popular in recent years. But unless they are being used for cooking, they are subject to the MassDEP open burning regulation. If you do use a fire pit for cooking, the fire must be:
Kept to a reasonable size
Located away from combustible materials
Contained in a non-flammable enclosure, and
Tended by someone who is 18 years of age or older.
Remember to burn only clean, dry firewood. This will minimize the amount of smoke leaving your property and affecting neighbors. You may not burn trash, refuse or similar materials.
Some cities and towns regulate, limit or prohibit the use of chimineas, fire pits and outdoor fireplaces. To find out if your community has specific requirements, contact your local fire department.
Andrea,
What is Newton’s official stance of fire-pits which are not used for cooking?
if people simply put a grill ontop if ‘any’ type of outdoor fire is that considered legal?
What if i place a firepit less than 10ft from a fence or structure? It would be good if you could use the docket item to clearly spell out what is/not allowed.
@Amy Sangiolo –
i.e. keep the marshmallows handy
@Jerry: YES!!!
@Amy is correct that most of the banned issues over the past 10 years started out as a “discussion” that went out of control, hence the nervousness with this item. See some notes out there: https://www.mic.com/articles/91303/scientists-say-you-should-stop-using-your-charcoal-grill-immediately
Andrea has great intent to solve some problematic backyard fire issues, lets hope the rest of the docketors share that focus.
@Bugek: Spelling out precise rules beyond what Amy noted above creates a nightmare scenario. The city has way too many “what about this,” questions due to house/apartment lot sizes, that would arise from detailed rules. The current standard of caution, not near combustible materials, in a non-flamable enclosure, etc coupled with common sense is all you can apply.