Green Newton

Greg Reibman, President of the Newton-Needham Regional Chamber responded to a story in the Globe and emails circulating around Newton suggesting that the City Council is considering a proposal that “would end single-family only zoning in large swaths of city.” Reibmen says, “That’s a little misleading. This change wouldn’t “end” single family homes. A better way to describe it is the council is considering a proposal that would “allow multi-family housing.”

Globe correspondent, John Hilliard, reported that “the City Council’s Zoning & Planning Committee is discussing the proposed rezoning, and is looking at residential areas within a half-mile of the train, subway, and express bus stops, as well as those a quarter-mile of local bus stops. It is part of a larger effort to draft an updated zoning ordinance for the city.

The effort to boost multi-unit development has the support of Green Newton and Engine 6, which advocates for affordable housing. “We need to offer more than single-family homes in Newton, we need a range of options, so [buyers] can enter the housing market at different price points,” said Jay Walter, who serves on Green Newton’s advisory board, and is active with Engine 6.”