Judgment Day for the Newton Centre Plaza is going to have to wait, at least a little while longer.

There’s a public hearing later this week, and possibly a vote to follow soon after. Two things are certain: That plaza has seen enjoyment by countless local families over the past 17 months, and it’s produced more than its share of friction in the citywide tug-of-war over parking policy.

The Newton Traffic Council met on Thursday night to discuss the plaza—a public gathering area constructed over several parking spots, next to the Newton Centre Green, and piloted for the past 17 months—and potential next steps toward a permanent solution to an ongoing debate pitting parking against culture.

Mayor Ruthanne Fuller had the plaza built in 2024, taking several parking spots in the southwestern corner of the Langley Street Parking Lot, which frustrated nearby business owners. After some compromise and pairing down of the plaza, it was launched that spring with the intention to dismantle it that fall. But then, the Traffic Council voted to keep the plaza up longer, to gather information on public use and traffic issues potentially arising from it.

In early spring 2025, the Traffic Council voted again to prolong the plaza pilot, this time until the end of October 2026.

On Thursday, the Traffic Council opted to put the matter on hold a little while longer, as there is a public hearing scheduled for this Thursday, and Traffic Council Chair David Koses clarified their very limited role in this lengthy process.

“We did not design this plaza. We did not pay for this plaza,” Koses said. “It was our responsibility to vote to make a change to our existing traffic and parking regulations.”

The city’s parking regulations, which were shown in chart form at the meeting, serve a purpose almost like zoning. Spaces are designated as public, private, angled, perpendicular, designated for ZipCars, set with time restrictions, and so on.

Any deviations from that chart must be approved by the Traffic Council and the City Council. The plaza required such a deviation.

“If there was a decision to permanently put a plaza in the lot, we would need to vote to make permanent changes to this chart,” Koses continued. “We would go back to the distribution of spaces in this chart, so that’s why we voted to hold the item for the past year.”

The Traffic Council does not vote on a plaza replacement design or concept. There’s a working group that meets regularly to discuss ideas for that. Some ideas include moving the plaza on to the Newton Centre Green, which would require public hearings and input from Parks and Recreation.

That public meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 29, at 1294 Centre St. (and on Zoom).