Newton, MA
Recent Newton public meeting topics include planning & zoning, roads & infrastructure, housing, budget & taxes, permits & licensing, development projects.
Topics found in recent meetings
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NewtonMA averageUS Census ACS
Typical home value $1,540,226 +2.2% yr/yr · +28.3% 5-yr
Home-value trend 2000–2026 (Zillow ZHVI)
Municipal budget
Total revenue$610.6M (FY2023)
Total spending$615.8M (FY2023)
Taxes$440.3M (FY2023)
Debt outstanding$332.8M (FY2023)
Spending per resident$7,041 (FY2023)
Development activity
Housing units permitted — US Census Building Permits Survey
2025152 housing units ($110.1M)
🗳️ How this town voted (57 contests)
Official town-by-town returns — MA Secretary of the Commonwealth (PD43+). ✓ marks this town's plurality choice.
U.S. Senate 2024-11-05
Elizabeth Ann Warren ✓ 33,716 · John Deaton 11,853
U.S. House — 4th Congressional 2024-11-05
Jake Auchincloss ✓ 36,924 · Sana A. Fadel 318
State Senate — Norfolk & Middlesex 2024-11-05
Cynthia Stone Creem ✓ 34,816
State Representative — 10th Middlesex 2024-11-05
John J. Lawn, Jr. ✓ 3,218
State Representative — 11th Middlesex 2024-11-05
Amy Mah Sangiolo ✓ 16,719 · Vladislav S. Yanovsky 3,853
State Representative — 12th Middlesex 2024-11-05
Greg Schwartz ✓ 15,033
Register of Deeds — Middlesex Southern 2024-11-05
Maria C. Curtatone ✓ 30,624 · William Tauro 7,690
President 2024-11-05
Harris/ Walz ✓ 36,445 · Trump/ Vance 8,699 · Stein/ Caballero-Roca 461 · Oliver/ Ter Maat 251 · Ayyadurai/ Ellis 176 · De La Cruz/ Garcia 128
Governor's Council — 3rd 2024-11-05
Mara Dolan ✓ 33,644
Clerk of Courts — Middlesex County 2024-11-05
Michael A. Sullivan ✓ 33,035
U.S. Senate 2024-09-03
Elizabeth Ann Warren ✓ 12,704
U.S. Senate 2024-09-03
John Deaton ✓ 843 · Robert J. Antonellis 427 · Ian Cain 154
Upcoming
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Tue Aug 25, 2026 · 19:00
General
Land Use Committee to review four special permit requests, including 4-story building at 74 Needham St
The Land Use Committee will hold a hybrid public meeting to discuss four special permit/site plan approval petitions. Items include a proposed four-story commercial building at 74 Needham Street, a residential addition at 99 Oakdale Road, a four-unit residential conversion at 395 Lexington Street, and retaining walls at 83 Commonwealth Park West. The committee will consider requests for dimensional and parking waivers, and other zoning relief.
- 74 Needham Street: four-story commercial building, 48 ft height, waive 47 parking stalls (petition 225-26)
- 99 Oakdale Road: three-story addition exceeding FAR and extending nonconforming façade (petition 257-26)
- 395 Lexington Street: raze dwelling, construct four residential units, parking in setback (petition 258-26)
- 83 Commonwealth Park West: retaining walls exceeding 4 ft height (petition 259-26)
zoningspecial-permitland-usehousingcommercial-development
📄 From the agenda
Extracted text of the official agenda document (automated extraction — may contain OCR/formatting errors).
Land Use Committee Agenda
City of Newton
In City Council
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
7:00 PM
Room 207 / City
Council Chambers
The Land Use Committee will hold this meeting as a hybrid meeting on August 25, 2026 at
7:00 pm that the public may access in-person or virtually via Zoom. To attend this meeting
via Zoom use this link: https://newtonma-gov.zoom.us/j/89533338642 or call 1-646-558-
8656 and use the following Meeting ID: 895 3333 8642
You may also:
1. Watch a live broadcast of the meeting on NewTV’s government channel (Comcast 9, RCN
13, 614 (HD), Verizon 33).
2. View a live stream on NewTV’s YouTube channel
*Submitted documents for each petition can be viewed via the digital hyperlink following
the item below*
Items Scheduled for Discussion
225-26
Request to allow a four-story building with 48 feet in height and associated dimensional and
parking waivers at 74 Needham Street
NEWTON DESIGN CENTER LLC petition for SPECIAL PERMIT/SITE PLAN APPROVAL, to raze the
existing building and construct a four-story commercial building with underground parking with
relief for Site Plan Review, to allow four stories and up to 48 feet in height, restricted end stalls, a
reduced maneuvering aisle, to waive 47 parking stalls, and to extend the nonconforming front
setback at 74 Needham Street, Ward 5, Newton, on land known as Section 83 Block 11 Lot 21
containing approximately 10,000 sq. ft. of land in a district zoned MU2. Ref: Sec. 7.3.3, 4.2.2.B.2,
4. …
Excerpt truncated on this listing page. Full text →
Wed Sep 9, 2026 · 19:00
Programs & Services Committee
Room 211
Wed Sep 23, 2026 · 19:00
Programs & Services Committee
Room 211
Wed Oct 7, 2026 · 19:00
Programs & Services Committee
Room 211
Wed Oct 21, 2026 · 18:00
General
Council to consider amending deed restriction for veterinary hospital at 60 Wells Avenue
The City Council is meeting to consider a petition from WELLS 60 Realty LLC to amend a 1963 deed restriction on property at 60 Wells Avenue, which would allow a veterinary hospital in a Limited Manufacturing district. The item has been referred to multiple committees for review. The rest of the agenda consists of procedural items.
- Petition to amend deed restriction for 60 Wells Avenue to allow veterinary hospital
- Property is approximately 32,463 sq. ft. in Ward 8, zoned Limited Manufacturing
- Deed restriction originally adopted by Board Order #276-68(3) on November 18, 1963
zoningland-usedeed-restrictionveterinary-hospitalpetition
📄 From the agenda
Extracted text of the official agenda document (automated extraction — may contain OCR/formatting errors).
City Council Docket
Upcoming Meeting
Dates
6:00 PM, Hybrid
To be reported on
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
City of Newton
City Council Docket
The location of this meeting is accessible, and reasonable accommodation will be provided to persons with
disabilities who require assistance. If you need a reasonable accommodation, please email the City of Newton’s
ADA Coordinator at least two business days in advance of the meeting or call at (617) 796-1253. The city’s TTY/TDD
direct line is: 617-796-1089. For the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS), please dial 711.
The City Council will hold this meeting as a hybrid meeting in the City Hall Chambers Monday,
March 16, 2026, at 7:45PM. View this meeting on Zoom:
at the above date and time:
One tap mobile
US: +13092053325, 876 774 30424
Land line
+1 309 205 3325 US
Webinar ID: 876 774 30424
You may also:
1. Watch a live broadcast of the meeting on NewTV’s government channel (Comcast 9, RCN 13,
614(HD), Verizon 33).
2. View a live stream on NewTV’s YouTube channel.
Referred to Zoning & Planning Committee
Referred to Programs & Services Committee
Referred to Land Use Committee
1-26
Petition to Amend the Wells Avenue Deed Restriction for 60 Wells Avenue
WELLS 60 Realty LLC petition to amend the deed restriction adopted by Board Order
#276-68(3), dated November 18, 1963, as amended, to allow a veterinary hospital at
60 Wells Avenue, Ward 8, Newton, on land known as Section 84 Block 34 …
Excerpt truncated on this listing page. Full text →
Wed Oct 21, 2026 · 19:00
Programs & Services Committee
Room 211
Wed Nov 4, 2026 · 19:00
Programs & Services Committee
Room 211
Wed Nov 18, 2026 · 19:00
Programs & Services Committee
Room 211
Wed Dec 9, 2026 · 19:00
Programs & Services Committee
Room 211
Recent meetings
Wed Aug 19, 2026 · 19:00
General
Committee to weigh $1.9M affordable housing grant, reappointments
The Public Facilities Committee will discuss several appointments to the Design Review Committee, a request to withdraw a drain easement relocation petition, a National Grid utility installation, a $1.9 million Community Preservation Act appropriation for affordable housing, and a transfer of excess bond proceeds. The committee will also hold public hearings on the withdrawal request and the National Grid petition.
- Reappointments of David Gillespie, Peter J. Barrer, and Carol S. Schein to the Design Review Committee
- Appointment of Stacy Roman to the Design Review Committee
- Public hearing: request to withdraw petition to relocate drain easement at 129 Rowe St, Auburndale
- Public hearing: National Grid grant of location for regulator station at Commonwealth Ave @ Washington St
- Appropriation of $1,900,000 in CPA funds to Newton Affordable Housing Trust
appointmentsaffordable-housingpublic-hearingutilitiesbudgetzoning
📄 From the agenda
Extracted text of the official agenda document (automated extraction — may contain OCR/formatting errors).
Public Facilities Committee Agenda
City of Newton
In City Council
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
7:00 PM
Room 204
The Public Facilities Committee will hold this meeting as a hybrid meeting on Wednesday,
August 19, 2026, at 7:00 PM that the public may access in-person or virtually via Zoom. To
view this meeting using Zoom use this link: https://newtonma-gov.zoom.us/j/87406067854
or call 1-646-558-8656 and use the following Meeting ID: 874 0606 7854.
Items Scheduled for Discussion
253-26
Reappointment of David Gillespie to the Design Review Committee
PRESIDENT OLIVER reappointing David Gillespie, 41 Woodlawn Drive, Chestnut Hill, to the Design
Review Committee for a term to expire on December 31, 2027 (60 Days: 10/09/2026)
254-26
Reappointment of Peter J. Barrer to the Design Review Committee
PRESIDENT OLIVER reappointing Peter J. Barrer, 60 Endicott Street, Newton, to the Design Review
Committee for a term to expire on December 31, 2027 (60 Days: 10/09/2026)
255-26
Reappointment of Carol S. Schein to the Design Review Committee
PRESIDENT OLIVER reappointing Carol S. Schein, 82 Garland Road, Newton, to the Design Review
Committee for a term to expire on December 31, 2027 (60 Days: 10/09/2026)
256-26
Appointment of Stacy Roman to the Design Review Committee
PRESIDENT OLIVER appointing Stacy Roman, 32 Arapahoe Road, Newton, to the Design Review
Committee for a term to expire on December 31, 2027 (60 Days: 10/09/2026)
123-26
Chair’s Note: The peti …
Excerpt truncated on this listing page. Full text →
Mon Aug 17, 2026 · 19:00
Zoning & Planning Committee
Room 204
Wed Aug 12, 2026 · 19:00
Public Facilities Committee
Committee to weigh $232K for City Hall cupolas, Eversource conduit, gas pipe rule
The Public Facilities Committee will discuss three items: a $232,000 Community Preservation Act appropriation for cupolas and windows at City Hall, a public hearing on Eversource's petition to install underground conduit on Prescott Street, and a councilor's request to review the 'two-foot rule' that lets National Grid open streets without a new grant of location. The meeting is hybrid, open to the public.
- Appropriation of $232,000 from Community Preservation Act reserves for City Hall cupolas and windows
- Public hearing on Eversource petition to install 60 ft and 450 ft of underground conduit and a manhole on Prescott Street
- Discussion of the 'two-foot rule' allowing street openings for utility work without a grant of location
- Request to explore legal pathways for Newton to control gas pipe installations
public-facilitiesbudgetutilitieshistoric-preservationstreets
📄 From the agenda
Extracted text of the official agenda document (automated extraction — may contain OCR/formatting errors).
Public Facilities Committee
7:00 PM, Hybrid
To be reported on
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
City of Newton
Public Facilities Committee
The location of this meeting is accessible, and reasonable accommodation will be provided to persons with
disabilities who require assistance. If you need a reasonable accommodation, please email the City of Newton’s
ADA Coordinator at least two business days in advance of the meeting or call at (617) 796-1253. The city’s TTY/TDD
direct line is: 617-796-1089. For the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS), please dial 711.
The Public Facilities Committee will hold this meeting as a hybrid meeting on Wednesday,
July 22, 2026, at 7:00 PM that the public may access in-person or virtually via Zoom. To view
this meeting using Zoom use this link: https://newtonma-gov.zoom.us/j/82832380441 or call
1-646-558-8656 and use the following Meeting ID: 828 3238 0441.
Items Scheduled for Discussion
Referred to Public Facilities & Finance Committees
#221-26 CPC recommendation to appropriate $232,000 for the cupolas and
windows at City Hall
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE recommending the appropriation of two
hundred thirty-two thousand dollars ($232,000) in Community Preservation Act
funding from Unrestricted prior Year Reserves (Acct# 5800-3599) to the Planning &
Development Department for a grant to the Public Buildings Departments for the
cupolas and windows at City Hall.
222-26
Public Hearing 07-22-2026
Ever …
Excerpt truncated on this listing page. Full text →
Wed Aug 12, 2026 · 19:00
General
Newton Land Use Committee to discuss 16-home Thurston Road project and Langley retaining wall
The Land Use Committee is holding a hybrid public hearing on two items: a special permit request to build 16 attached single-family homes at 93, 103, and 0 Thurston Road, and a request for a retaining wall over four feet tall at 335 Langley Road. Both items were previously continued from earlier hearings.
- Special permit for 16 attached single-family dwellings at 93, 103, and 0 Thurston Road, with parking and setback relief
- Retaining wall exceeding 4 feet at 335 Langley Road, on a 20,092 sq ft lot zoned MR1
- Public hearings continued from June 2, 2026 (Langley) and April 14 and May 12, 2026 (Thurston)
zoningspecial-permithousingconstructionland-use
📄 From the agenda
Extracted text of the official agenda document (automated extraction — may contain OCR/formatting errors).
Land Use Committee
7:00 PM, Hybrid
To be reported on
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
City of Newton
Land Use Committee
The location of this meeting is accessible, and reasonable accommodation will be provided to persons with
disabilities who require assistance. If you need a reasonable accommodation, please email the City of Newton’s
ADA Coordinator at least two business days in advance of the meeting or call at (617) 796-1253. The city’s TTY/TDD
direct line is: 617-796-1089. For the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS), please dial 711.
The Land Use Committee will hold this meeting as a hybrid meeting on August 12, 2026 at
7:00 pm that the public may access in-person or virtually via Zoom. To attend this meeting via
Zoom use this link: https://newtonma-gov.zoom.us/j/84090065908 call 1-646-558-8656 and
use the following Meeting ID: 840 9006 5908
Items Scheduled For Discussion
190-26
Request to allow a retaining wall with 4 feet or more in height at 335 Langley Road
JAY DERENZO petition for SPECIAL PERMIT/SITE PLAN APPROVAL, to construct a
retaining wall exceeding four feet in height on Lots 4 and 5 at 335 Langley Road,
Ward 6, Newton, on land known as Section 65 Block 19 Lot 52 containing
approximately 20,092 sq. ft. of land in a district zoned MR1. Ref: Sec. 7.3.3, 5.4.2.B of
Chapter 30 of the City of Newton Rev Zoning Ord, 2017.
335 Langley Road – https://newtonma.portal.opengov.com/records/921512
Land Use Held 7-0 on 06-02-26; Public …
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Mon May 18, 2026 · 11:00
General
💰 Federal awards (top 10 by amount)
Largest recent federal contract/grant awards to recipients in this city (2023–present), via USAspending.gov.
| $14.2M | ALEXANDRA CONSTRUCTION INC Department of Defense · BLDG 13 BASE COMMUNICATIONS RENOVATION, PORTSMOUTH NAVAL SHIPYARD PNSY |
| $2.5M | GINER, INC. Department of Health and Human Services · SBIR FAST-TRACK AWARD (PHASE I STUDY BASE REQUIREMENT WITH OPTION FOR |
| $2.0M | BIOSENSICS LLC Department of Health and Human Services · BIOSENSICS LLC:1186749 [24-003492] |
| $2.0M | BODKIN DESIGN & ENGINEERING LLC Department of Defense · SBIR/STTR PHASE II R&D PULSED LASER LETHALITY EFFECTS FOR MISSILE DEFE |
| $1.9M | GINER, INC. Department of Defense · IGF::OT::IGF SBIR PHASE II RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT |
| $1.9M | BIONET SONAR, INC. Department of Defense · HYDRONET: AN OPEN, MODULAR, AND PROGRAMMABLE UNDERWATER MODEM (PHASE I |
| $1.6M | WHITE RIVER TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Department of Defense · RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT |
| $1.2M | BODKIN DESIGN & ENGINEERING LLC Department of Defense · SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) - BRDF MEASUREMENTS FOR SPAC |
| $1.2M | BRIGHT HORIZONS FAMILY SOLUTIONS, LLC Securities and Exchange Commission · BRIGHT HORIZONS - ORDERING PERIOD 2 $871,000.00 POP: 9/1/24 - 8/31/25 |
| $1.2M | EDENRED BENEFITS LLC Department of Housing and Urban Developm · TRANSIT SUBSIDY, NY/NJ |
Source: USAspending.gov (U.S. Treasury) — federal awards only, not city budgets.
🌐 County-level context (Middlesex County)
County-level context — from BLS, IRS, FEMA, HUD, Census. These figures cover the whole county this city sits in, not just the city itself.
Net migration-11,065 people (-$1.57B net AGI · 2023)
Federal disasters (10 yr)4 ({"Severe Storm": 9, "Snowstorm": 8, "Hurricane": 7, "Flood": · last Fri Sep 15, 2023)
Traffic fatalities5 (4 pedestrian · 2024)
Business establishments44,624 (963,417 employees · 2023)
Fair Market Rent (2BR)$2,711/mo (1,272 assisted households · 2025)
Adults with low literacy12.8% (low numeracy 19% · 2017)
Sources: BLS LAUS, IRS SOI, FEMA, NHTSA FARS, Census CBP, HUD, NCES PIAAC
City profile
Everything below is drawn from this city’s own public record and primary-source government data. AI-written summaries are a finding aid, not a citable quote.
$610.6M
Annual budget
$332.8M
Debt outstanding
152
Permitted housing units
The money — in
source: Census gov-finance & state comptrollerBudget
Revenue$610.6M
Spending$615.8M
Operating spending ran ahead of revenue this year.
Debt load MODERATE
Outstanding debt$332.8M
Debt-to-revenue0.54×
Debt-load index61 / 100
A debt-load indicator (national percentile of debt, deficit & aid-reliance) — not a solvency verdict. Cross-checked against official state fiscal-stress scores where they exist.
Outcomes — economic mobility
source: Opportunity Atlas (Harvard) · research useFor kids who grew up here in low-income households, their adult household-income rank (0–1). The average hides a gap by race:
Research-only layer, shown here for context — not included in the CC BY 4.0 bulk download.
Where it’s happening
geocoded land-use decisions🗺 Interactive map
Every rezoning, development approval, and permit — explore the geocoded records in the research explorer.