Actions You Can Take

Attend Land Use Committee meetings
Every project seeking a Special Permit has a public hearing before the City Council Land Use Committee. After review, Land Use votes on the project and sends it to the full Council for consideration. If the project gets a majority of votes on Land Use, it usually will be approved by the full council. If the project does not get a majority vote, it still goes to the full Council for consideration.

Attend Zoning and Planning Committee meetings
The main topic currently under consideration by the City Council Zoning and Planning Committee (ZAP) is zoning redesign of village centers. Another related topic is compliance with the new state MBTA Communities law. 

Speak at public hearings held by the Land Use Committee or by the Zoning and Planning Committee. This is our opportunity to weigh in. Having strong support is critical to persuading councilors to vote in favor of a housing project or new local laws. All special permits and changes to zoning ordinances have public hearings. When Engine 6 supports a project, we provide suggested talking points for the public hearing. 

Meet with City Councilors. We are in regular contact with councilors on housing and zoning issues. Developing relationships and having open dialogue with councilors is a critical part of our advocacy work.

Contact Information

Mayor Fuller: rfuller@newtonma.gov  When you email the City Council, copy the Mayor. 

City Councilors: citycouncil@newtonma.gov Your email will be sent to all councilors.

Land Use Committee members: Chair Rick Lipof. Email the committee clerk: dwarren@newtonma.gov

Zoning and Planning Committee members: Chair Deb Crossley. Email the committee clerk: jnorton@newtonma.gov

Direct contact information for all city councilors.

Newton Planning Department

Barney Heath, Director of Planning bheath@newtonma.gov

Jennifer Caira, Deputy Director jcaira@newtonma.gov

Zachery LeMel, Long-range Planner zlemel@newtonma.gov

City Meetings: Dates and Agendas

Click here to see “Friday Packet”. This includes City Council committee meeting agendas for the upcoming week, memos by councilors and the Planning Department, and reports from previous Council and Committee meetings. The two committees that we follow closely are Land Use and Zoning and Planning (ZAP). Posted every Friday by 5 p.m. on the city’s website.

Look at the Planning Department’s Weekly Friday Report. This includes descriptions of the items on the agenda at upcoming meetings of council committees and housing-related city boards and committees. Click here to sign up for the weekly report.

Check out Newton’s “Electronic Posting Board” for public hearing notices and upcoming dates and agendas for meetings of all the city boards and committees such as the Newton Zoning Board of Appeals, the Newton Housing Partnership, the Community Preservation Committee and Area Council meetings.