Newton panel advances Newtonville Ave three-story plan
Newton's Land Use Committee advanced zoning relief for five home-addition projects, with the biggest fight over an 11-foot retaining wall.
Other Committee · Meeting of May 19, 2026
Newton's Land Use Committee advanced zoning relief for five home-addition projects, with the biggest fight over an 11-foot retaining wall. The panel voted 8-0 to send a three-story, two-family home at 91-93 Newtonville Avenue, where a condemned 1875 house was torn down by the city in 2022, to the full council for a second call vote around June 1, with conditions on landscaping and wall materials. Councillor Randy Block questioned the lack of visitor parking near the site.
Councillor Sean Roach voted no on two separate additions that exceeded floor-area-ratio limits, at 38 Morseland Avenue (6-1) and 54 Bonad Road (7-1), saying "we don't need more 4,500 square foot homes in the city." A 222 Winslow Road ADU garage permit passed 7-0, and a 5 Rose Drive second-story addition passed 8-0 after neighbors spoke in support.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 996 words
Source: the Other Committee meeting of May 19, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.
Members read the rest of this story and every Newton meeting we cover, in full.
Become a memberAlready a member? Sign inA 30-day free trial needs a payment method. After it, your membership renews at the price shown at checkout until you cancel, which you can do anytime from your account. Subscription terms
Share this story
Know someone in Newton who follows town government? Share Townbrief Newton: they can sign up free.