Looks like the Planning and Development Board has voted to approve the rezoning requests made by Northland with a request that their proposals for Traffic Demand Management be adopted. Read here.
The Economic Development Commission also sent a Letter of Support (for certain aspects of the Northland Project) to the City Council. Read here.
@Amy
Who elects these commissions / boards? What role do they play, I thought it was the city council who votes on special permits? We’re they given an opportunity to listen to the public hearings? Are they limited in scope in what they can consider?
http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/featured/boards.asp describes all the city’s Boards, Commissions, and Committees. Both entities named in this story are described there.
“Newton residents participate in our local government as members of more than 80 Boards, Commissions, Committees and Advisory Councils. Such broad citizen involvement helps our government remain open and responsive to the people of Newton. Residents play a critical role in the work required to address a wide variety of needs in the City.
“Appointments to the City’s Boards, Commissions, and Committees are made by the Mayor, the City Council, the School Committee, and sometimes special entities such as local non-profit organizations or the State of Massachusetts.”
Simon, under the state Zoning Act, the City Council must refer all zoning amendments to the Planning Board for review. The Planning Board is required to hold a public hearing (usually in conjunction with the Zoning and Planning Committee of the City Council) and provide a report and recommendation to the City Council.
Reading the letters of recommendations to the city council (linked above), is the only way to discuss what the recommendations mean. They make these so the City Council can add them to all the elements that will lead them to make their own decisions when they do eventually vote one way or another.
The Planning and Development Board says at the end of its letter:
Following the joint public hearing with the Land Use Committee on September 11, 2019, the Board voted to recommend that Petitions #425‐18 and #426‐18 for rezoning be granted and that the Board’s proposals for traffic demand management be adopted, with 6 members in favor, none opposed, and Mr. Heath abstaining.
They listed their recommendations in the letter. It’s interesting that the Director Barney Heath recused himself. Anyone know why?
I believe he is ex-officio and can not vote.
Most of these Boards are appointed by the mayor and
reflect the administration’s agenda.
This Planning Board dropped members last year based on their
votes, especially ones not fully supportive of rezoning and new
village housing development.