At a recent presentation about housing supply and political power, Newton for Everyone’s Luke Mann-O’Halloran mentioned a petition drive that the housing advocacy group has launched, aimed at lighting a fire under the City Council when it comes to getting more housing built in Newton.
“You may have heard that the Zoning and Planning Committee had several meetings earlier this year where they discussed where you can have a raised bed on your property, and I just think we have more pressing issues than where you should be allowed to grow tomatoes,” Mann-O’Halloran said.
Under Newton’s City Charter, a citizen petition that gets 50 or more registered voter signatures forces the City Council to hold a public hearing and vote on the petition within three months.
The NfE petition presents the Newton City Council with three proposed changes to the city’s zoning ordinance:
1, Allow, by-right (meaning no special permit is needed), multifamily housing and businesses in the city’s manufacturing districts.
Demand for manufacturing space has dropped in recent decades, leaving empty manufacturing space in Newton ripe for redevelopment.
“Empty and underutilized buildings provide less property tax revenue to support Newton,” the petition, which you can read in full on the NfE website, reads.
2. Allow residential buildings up to five stories in existing business districts.
“Including housing in business districts allows people to walk out to grab coffee or shop supporting our local businesses,” the petition continues. “Walkability addresses climate change and affordability by reducing car use.”
Allow up to four housing units on lots where current zoning allows only two.
This is similar to a statewide proposal and follows a similar line of thought as this year’s Ballot Question 7, which aims to reduce the lot size required for single-family homes.
3. The NfE petition calls for similar lot size requirement reduction for all types of housing.
“We need more homes for young families who are essential to the vitality of our schools and community,” the petition reads. “Existing homes can be preserved by adapting them to allow up to four units.”
If the petition is presented this fall and voted on after the new year, it could become a focal point of next year’s local elections.