Washington Street Vision Plan - Draft Two

This vision plan is fundamentally flawed:
1. It is not being developed in the context of an overall plan for the city as a whole.
2. It does not have, at its foundation, a consensus regarding future housing, commercial, professional, and industrial development needs, and the appropriate distribution of that development throughout the city.
3. The scale and density of proposed developments are excessive.
4. Projections for increased city service demands (particularly for schools) are not credible.
5. The transportation proposals radically exceed sensible accommodations for walking, cycling, and transit, and are rife with anti-car rhetoric. Statistics presented to support these changes are outdated. Projections of traffic increases from the new developments are unrealistic.
6. The model of Transit Oriented Development is itself flawed, in that assumptions are made, without evidence, that a) Most residents who work outside of Newton commute to Boston, and b) That new residents of Transit Oriented Developments will remain Boston-based workers (and not change jobs or job sites to the suburbs, thus requiring a car).
7. Planners and advocates dismiss concerns about maximal development scenarios while proposing a vision and zoning code that allows those exact scenarios.

The vision and associated code (and the citywide code revisions) should be put on hold until a) We see the effects of the new Newtonville developments, and b) a more comprehensive, holistic planning process is identified and established.

Absolutely need self-powered diesel rail both East (including Cambridge over the Charles at BU) and West, with radical increase in frequency. It's a regional solution that will require lots of money, but what, really is the alternative?

Kudos on Draft 2 of the vision. A very fine blend of maximizing heights for development in the village centers, while keeping the 'tween village heights reasonable. Some exciting new spaces over the turnpike in Newtonville and West Newton, as well. The emphasis on non-auto transportation across the corridor will make this street a desirable one, as opposed to the unsafe, ugly, and wasteful stretch of an unplanned suburban thoroughfare it has become. While it is easy to blow up than to plan and build, I hope that my neighbors will support many of the fine ideas contained within the Plan.

I STRONGLY object to the proposed rezoning of Warwick Road from R1 to R3. This is a safety hazard due to the increased traffic that such a change could create on an already busy cut-through, and an unaccepably radical change to the zoning of a purely residential street. Aside from the fact that Warwick Road has some 2-family homes, it is otherwise not different than its neighboring streets and should thus be zoned consistently.

Ten stories is too high. Even if the grade of the base of the building is lower than those on Washington St in West Newton, the building shouldn't be more than 5 stories.

With the Lime Bikes appearing last summer, it occurs to me that it would be a terrific idea to have dedicated space to these types of short term bike rentals

I'm having difficulty with reading all the comments in this document. Is there a view option where we could view just the comments in one pane, as opposed to clicking on them to open them one at a time?

I would like to see pedestrian, bike-centric, and handicapped accessible planning, with green spaces to improve Washington St. in many areas. Decking over the Mass Pike could create many positive opportunities for creating community centers of green space, retail, and housing. I am okay with a couple of 10-story buildings if they will help fund other improvements/amenities.
Hoping we can keep residential areas neighborly as they are now, but increase the community feel in our public/commercial spaces. Affordable housing, especially for seniors, is at the top of my list of priorities. The more walkable and less car-centric, the better! I also think we need more housing built near the commuter rail and bus routes.

This chart is frightening.

Newton will never get significantly improved commuter rail service without new stations that support trains in both directions with two platforms (and high level boarding).

Bizarrely, this was the former MBTA plan:

link

Lets not make a generational mistake. Let's get it right, this time, now.

The Principle Group is to be commended for a thoughtful and inclusive approach to considering community feedback, good land use principles and financial realities in crafting a Washington Street Vision. Though not perfect, the current document represents a rare focus on moving our city forward in the face of often vocal NIMBY forces.

The Council should stand firm in the face of neighborhood lobbying to weaken a solid model that brings new housing, walkable streets and hopefully more commercial activity to our streets.


Best wishes,

Hager Berlin and Jon Spack
West Newton

I strongly agree with all of this.

Please make the streets safe for everyone.

We don't need a 2nd highway in Newton, next to the actual highway.

I strongly agree. We have an obligation to make the streets *as safe as possible* for everyone. That means protected bike lanes, crosswalk bump-outs with walking lights regularly spaced for pedestrians, etc.

Despite good intentions, I was extremely disappointed when the West Newton Square Enhancement project removed *protected* bike lanes.

When I toured Washington Street with the design group, we noticed a series of Newton North students using Washington Street on bikes.

This is not a surprise. The bike racks at the high school are in heavy use.

Please ensure everyone, including our kids, have a safe way to do what they are already doing. They are at risk, today.

There's a lot of assumptions built-in to this plan about what the MBTA and the State Highway Department will do/allow. That's just not realistic. The MBTA has a lot of projects on its plate, most in communities denser and with greater need than Newton. If Washington Street is developed with the assumption that more service is coming and it does not materialize, we will be living with either empty building or the increased traffic from people driving.

While there's a lot of room for improvement along Washington Street, this plan goes thoroughly overboard. I support replacing the non-descript one story commercial buildings with two or even three story mixed-use buildings, upgrading the streetscape, parking, and bike lanes, and absolutely improving public transportation. I support a 4-th story by special permit, with a setback, and in exchange for substantial concessions/improvements by the developer. I could even see a 5 story building as part of a multi-building mixed height development, but only in exchange for public benefits such as community center space incorporated as part of the project. I do not support any 6 story or higher development anywhere in West Newton or Newtonville. A structure of that height is out of character for these neighborhoods and would totally overwhelm the historic and public structures around them.

I also have concerns about the assumptions made in this proposal. The idea of adding vibrancy through retail space is appealing, but the truth of the matter is that small retail is dying and retail spaces are standing empty for years. In actuality, how many of these spaces will end up being banks, real estate offices, or just empty? Similarly, reducing traffic by not providing parking spaces is not realistic, and neither is promising improved MBTA service. The MBTA has many other projects in queue, most in areas far denser and in greater need than Newton. Finally, the Northside schools cannot support the additional students. While there is new capacity in the renovated elementary schools, Day Middle School already has nearly 1000 students, and Newton North is operating above capacity.

Entire plan would destroy the villages of West Newton and Newtonville. Under the pretext of “urban planning” this document is a blueprint for rampant over development in these villages. They are being sacrificed for “larger citywide economic goals”. The plan should be scrapped or put on hold until we see the real traffic and congestion impacts of Austin Street and Washington Place. Please leave our neighborhood alone

The rationale for allowing 10 stories is to provide for money to pay for upgraded commuter rail stations. This is a noble but misplaced goal. I have previously proposed to the MBTA to privately pay for the reconstruction of their West Newton and Newtonville stations with the use of solar powered outdoor advertising visible only to MassPike commuters. This would alleviate the need for a deal with the devil to permit 10 story buildings which are sure to be unwanted and needlessly controversial. Please remove the 10 story zoning and let's work to get the MBTA to reconsider my proposal.

I think 10 stories is inappropriate throughout this corridor.

As a landowner on Rowe Street, I believe the western edge of the study area should be expanded to include all land within a 10 minute walk of the commuter rail -- particularly Rowe Street where there are 12 acres of underutilized land that are prime for transit oriented development and that could also provide a direct street connection from Washington Street in West Newton through the MBTA land to Commonwealth Avenue in Auburndale. Why zone properties 1/2 mile east of the station for TOD and not those 1/2 mile west? Equity requires all equally situated land be treated similarly.

I think these zoning districts are too numerous and too granular and overly specified. All village locations should be treated identically in West Newton and Newtonville with 4 story heights allowed with appropriate setbacks and transitions at residential districts. Why treat adjacent properties' rights differently?

I think 10 stories is inappropriate at any location within this study area. I think 4 to 6 stories maximum is in keeping with neighborhood scale.

When you write "by right", do you really mean "by right" or would a special permit with City Council approval be required as is necessary for practically everything built larger than a single family house in Newton?

This is important to clarify since any rezoning that leaves discretion to the Council means a prolonged and tiresome political battle down the road. This will chill any sort of desired change and add unneeded cost. To some, this will be a great outcome. For me, if this rezoning effort is sincere, it would be better to hash out now what we want as a city and make clear and transparent rules that can be applied consistently rather than require political negotiation that results in suboptimal results. Witness 28 Austin Street and Washington Square.

I agree that the market should decide how much parking is required by a development; in other words, there should be no parking minimums. However, the city should charge for on street parking on Washington St and nearby areas 24 hours per day seven days per week. The rates should be high enough that no employee of a local business uses on street parking - probably $1/hr, rising to $2/hr after four hours. In spots where this is excess demand, there should also be time limits. Enforcement should take place with license plate readers and automatically printed tickets 24 hours per day. On-street parking should be for patrons of local businesses only, and only for limited amounts of time. Nearby the West Newton cinema, on-street parking time limits be just an hour, less than movie length.

These plans only hint at the hidden opportunity for a complete and separated pedestrian and cyclist connection to the Charles River from West Newton Square by completing the few missing links of Albemarle Road and Cheesecake Brook parallel to Washington Street and Watertown Street. This would be a HUGE win and can be accomplished at relatively low cost in the short run. It should be a high priority given the lack of and access to open space in West Newton.

This document is unusually difficult to understand and respond to. Kindly simplify most people do not have unending hours to spend.

I'm concerned about the proposed changes to the SR3 zoning. If I understand the proposal, the new regulations would allow for multi-family houses that would be potentially much larger than the single and 2 family houses currently on the street (Warwick Rd). Putting a large, multi-family dwelling on our road would not blend in the with existing houses.

I am in favor of Hello Washington St as conceived, but I also think it is very important for the Commuter Rail to have much higher seven day a week frequency both inbound and outbound in order to truly make West Newton a car not required zone. Without high frequency service (every 15 minutes), most trips will be made by car.

I think redo on this section of West Newton would be amazing. Capping the pike, extending the village center, enhancing the whole feel

This could be a highly valuable location to congregate and to have retail on the bottom floor if the park area were relocated to the north. This should be 3-4 stories.

Agreed, and I am pleased that the city is taking this opportunity to proactively plan for this corridor, rather than letting the chips fall where they may as individual parcels are developed. There is tremendous opportunity to create a much more vibrant, inviting and safe environment here!

Washington St as it currently stands is incredibly inhospitable to pedestrians. Please, let's change that. I live in Auburndale and have teens at North. I so wish they could comfortably walk home via Washington St.

Yes, to not inducing demand for car ownership. We need to be planning for the future. 'If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.'

Yes, very much agree with these priorities.

Leveraging the development (increased height and density) for new T stations is for naught, unless a guarantee is made by MBTA to simultaneously build out Urban Rail. What good are new stations that compliment a poorly managed, infrequent, commuter rail service. Not a station should be built until MBTA runs Urban Rail to Boston and Cambridge every 10 minutes.

Tracks, bridges, stations and the will of the people are all place. MBTA needs to partner with Newton though state and federal funding, not claim there is no money to be found. Why can't the City of Newton, pause approving the Hello Washington Street Vision Plan until the MBTA contributes to a private public partnership?

Buildings were once taller, but the design of these buildings were quite different from today's quick build structures. A 3 or 4 story building from the 1800s (City Hall in West Newton) had turrets, surface decorations, varying fenestration, and a complex massing of delicate forms. You really can't compare them to today's buildings just by height. Zoning should require new buildings to visually fit the forms of the neighborhood (massing, surface decoration, materials) if the building is above 2 stories.

West Newton is on the National Register as a Historic District, as of 1990. At that time 23 buildings were recognized, including the 1831 Seth Davis Hotel (next to Sweet Tomatoes), and the former library (Police HQ), the CVS building from 1875. These should be recognized for their history and elegance. They add to the beauty and human scale of the village. What can be done to protect them from demolition? Some of them were eliminated in the Vision Plan sketches. Very disconcerting.