getting better all the time--March update

In this postl, I will:

• Describe the environmental parts of Zoning Redesign—brought to the Zoning and Planning Committee in March
• Briefly outline two separate volunteer efforts
  • The PLAAN to make Newton more age-friendly
  • The Two Bridges Trail

Zoning Redesign is starting to produce some draft language for City Ordinances—at the Zoning and Planning Committee’s March 9 meeting, we had a first look at possible rules that would help mitigate the impact of buildings on stormwater and changing current rules to allow the kinds of building changes that would lower the heating or lighting costs for homeowners and others.

The draft, which is already undergoing further modification, is here.

It’s exciting to see the City starting to move in this direction. Many of us want to be able cut our greenhouse gas emissions at home—and allow the same for our neighbors.

The stormwater rules will also help us keep the Charles River and Crystal Lake cleaner—by removing the dirtiest “first flush” of a rainstorm and treating it—and by building in retention of rainwater so it is less likely to contribute to flooding (and recharges the local groundwater!). As the climate changes, New England is likely to see more intense storms (and flash droughts), so these rules can contribute to local resiliency.

Volunteers are what make Newton a great city to live in—and they keep making our community even better.

Marian Knapp is certainly one of those. Even as she plans to step back from the intensity of her work making Newton an “All Age-friendly” community, she is planning for the next wave. The Council on Aging (CoA) has outlined six “domains” which constitute and define an age-friendly community, and already has “Action Teams” set up to plan for:

1. A new or expanded Senior Center
2. Transportation & Mobility
3. Housing, and
4. Social Engagement

The CoA is looking for team members for the Civic Participation, Policy & Politics domain and for the Communications domain. If you are interested, send me an email, and I’ll connect you!

Speaking of transportation, Ted Chapman has been coordinating the successful application for a study grant to look into connecting his neighborhood of Lower Falls with the Charles River Lake District parks and the Riverside T stop via off-road trails. He’s put together a wonderful vision and some enthusiastic volunteers and elected officials (including Rep. Kay Khan and a few city councilors) to see this become reality. He does a good job of mapping out this idea in the Newton Conservators newsletter.