Aldermen Give Thumbs Up to Chestnut Hill Square

The full board gave its unanimous approval for the necessary special permits and zoning changes.

[Updated, 12/7/10] The long-debated Chestnut Hill Square project has passed yet another hurdle. Following last week's recommendation from the Land Use Committee, the full Board of Aldermen voted unanimously in favor tonight for the necessary re-zoning and special permits for the 11.32-acre site located at the former Omni Foods site off Route 9. Twenty members of the 24-person board were present.  "No project is ideal, but I think this is the best we're going to get," said Alderman Cheryl Lappin. The approval will rezone the area to a Business 4 space and will grant special permits for mixed-use developments.  Lappin gave her support for the New England Development project, citing the potential $15 million in improvements the project would …

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Week in Review: Nov. 29 - Dec. 5

The city ushered in the holiday season this week in many ways.

Did you miss something this week in Newton? Here's an update on a few of the stories Newton Patch has covered for the last seven days.    

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Chestnut Hill Square Gets Committee's O.K.

The fate of the massive Route 9 project now rests in the Board of Aldermen's hands.

The Chestnut Hill Square project is one step closer to reality. The Board of Aldermen's Land Use Committee voted early this morning to recommend the necessary special permits and zoning changes for the mixed-use development at 200-230 Boylston St. proposed by New England Development.  The Land Use Committee met for more than five hours last night to review the board order--18 pages of findings and conditions they developers must meet--that now goes to the full Board of Aldermen. The eight committee members unanimously recommended the zoning changes, but two-- Aldermen Deborah Crossley and Susan Albright--abstained from voting on the special permits. "There's a lot of additional work that needs to go into this board order," Crossley said…

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Five Things You Need to Know Today: Nov. 30

Mayor Setti Warren will host the last of his town hall meetings tonight.

[Editor's note: we previously posted the Land Use meeting to start at 7:45 p.m. when it actually starts at 7 p.m.]

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Meghan B. Kelly

11:00 am on Tuesday, November 30, 2010

It'd be great if they did something with that space on Route 9. I used to work over there when the supermarket was still in operation and it's been kind of sad to see the lot just sit there, unused.   more ›

Week in Review: Nov. 22-28

While many celebrated the joys of Thanksgiving, the city had a news-filled week.

Did you miss something this week in Newton? Here's an update on a few of the stories Newton Patch has covered for the last seven days. At the start of the week, the School Committee voted unanimously to recommend a facilities package that includes permanent construction to expand F.A. Day Middle School and the purchase of up to six modulars for several elementary schools. At the same meeting, the committee also heard a final report on the anticipated increase to enrollment as well as a revamped bullying policy and procedure. An attempted armed robbery at Dunkin' Donuts on Monday left police looking for assistance in finding the alleged suspect, who may have been involved with a break-in at Radiant Fuel Co. earlier in the evening. On …

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Will the FOG Lift in Chestnut Hill?

City officials want Chestnut Hill Square developers to pay $70,000 to reduce buildup of fat, oil and grease in nearby sewer pipes.

There's a sticky situation regarding the Chestnut Hill Square project. Actually, it's more of a greasy situation--fat, oil and grease, for that matter. City officials want the developers of the Route 9 project to pay up to $70,000 to study, monitor and reduce the amount of fat, oil and grease that make their way from area restaurants into the Newton and Brookline sewer systems. The developers say they're willing to help some, but it's not their problem and $70,000 is too much money. "This isn't our issue, I have to tell you in all candor," New England Development attorney John Twohig told the aldermen's Land Use Committee last night. The Chesnut Hill Square plans call for four buildings on 11 acres at 200-230 Boylston Street, featuring 102…

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Five Things You Need to Know Today: Nov. 23

Come see the Newton Youth Players perform Guys and Dolls tonight at the Newton Cultural Center.

Need a gift for the kid in your life? The Newton Free Library will hold its annual puppet sale fundraiser today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Druker Auditorium. Fred Reidy will be on hand to sell his puppets just in time for the holiday season.  The Land Use Committee will meet tonight at 7 p.m. in room 222 of City Hall to continue discussion of the Chestnut Hill Square project. Check out a .pdf of tonight's agenda to the right under our photos section.  Expect delays on Washington Street eastbound, especially during the morning commute. A DPW utilities division contractor will be conducting emergency sewer repairs at 1838 Washington St., which will occupy the two inside lanes just south of Aspen Avenue. Traffic will be maintained in…

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Focus on Foot Traffic at Chestnut Hill Square

Developers of the Route 9 project address pedestrian access issues as a vote approaches.

It's almost decision time for Chestnut Hill Square. Developers of the massive Route 9 project met again last night with the Board of Aldermen's Land Use Committee, which should vote on their proposal by the end of the month, said committee Chairman Ted Hess-Mahan, ward 3 alderman-at-large. At last night's meeting, the developers said they would make "numerous small changes to the design, all of which were improvements to pedestrian mobility," said Deborah Crossley, ward 5 alderman-at-large. The developers are seeking special permits and zoning changes to build 102,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, 60,000 square feet for medical offices, a 51,000-square-foot supermarket, a 30,000-square-foot health club and 91 residential …

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Five Things You Need to Know Today: Nov. 4

Newton North High School's Theatre Ink opens its latest performance tonight, "The Skin of Our Teeth."

Mayor Setti Warren will host the first in a series of town hall meetings he has scheduled throughout the month of November. The meeting, which will be held at the Pellegrini Field House at 7 p.m., will allow residents to voice their concerns about infrastructure needs in the city. The meetings are a result of a dismal financial forecast and a long list of capital needs presented last month. Newton North High School's Theatre Ink will present Thornton Wilder's "The Skin of Our Teeth." The show's opening night is tonight and it will run through Saturday. Tickets are $7 and can be purchased online.  Some residents in Newton Centre and Chestnut Hill could see some discolored water today as the Fire Department will be testing …

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Chestnut Hill Square Development Still Under Review

Despite some small issues, an independent reviewer says planned traffic improvements are sufficient.

The massive Chestnut Hill Square project will bring a lot more traffic to Route 9 and surrounding areas, but officials are confident that planned road improvements will lessen its effects. The Board of Aldermen's land use committee met with the Chestnut Hill Square developers, traffic consultants and other city officials for three and a half hours last week to continue the discussion on the project's potential traffic plans.  An independent traffic consultant -- hired by the city but paid for by the developer -- has reviewed the plans and found them to be sufficient, despite some qualms about the developer's methodology and other issues, said Ted Hess-Mahan, Ward 3 alderman at large and chairman of the land use committee. "They didn't …

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