# Zoning & Planning Committee - November 9, 2026

The Newton City Council’s Zoning & Planning Committee met on November 9, 2026. The committee interviewed Susan Survey for appointment to the Community Preservation Committee and Richard Silva for the Newtonville Historic District; both matters were to be forwarded to the full Council. Most of the meeting focused on proposed updates to the city’s demolition-delay ordinance, including extending the review timeline from 45 to 60 days, improving notice to residents, establishing maintenance requirements for properties under delay, and revising rules for partial demolition and waivers. Members discussed a proposed 24-month delay for properties found preferably preserved and eliminating the waiver for full demolition; these points were deliberative rather than final ordinance votes. The department was asked to return with further language on partial-demolition limits and design criteria, and the chair planned to bring a revised package back to the committee before public comment.

Staff also proposed application fees of $500 for total-demolition review and $250 for partial-demolition review, plus a proposed $20 fee associated with notice signs. The committee approved creating a separate docket item for the proposed fees; the transcript does not establish a final fee amount or adoption of the ordinance changes. The committee also discussed reducing the landmark designation vote threshold from three-quarters to two-thirds while retaining a four-vote minimum, but the transcript ends before the vote result. No procurement activity, contract awards, vendor selections, or purchasing decisions were identified.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** November 09, 2026

### Sources
- [Zoning & Planning Committee - November 9, 2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8ybpUqzFeo) - NewTV Government