Zoning & Smart Growth

Zoning & Smart Realistic Growth

As we seek new revenue sources, there is a natural tendency to turn to commercial development. New business and mixed use projects should be enthusiastically welcomed in appropriate areas. However, the temptation to view widespread commercial development which also includes large scale residential as the answer to all our financial woes must be tempered by the desire of most residents to retain the residential feel of our villages.

Newton is a diverse city. Our 13 villages are truly individual in character, structure, and feel. We owe it to those who have invested their lives, resources, heart, and soul in a particular neighborhood to maintain it and enhance it for future generations.

We should be concerned when any elected or city official try to impose a top-down one-size-fits-all solution on our villages. The residents of each of our villages are our greatest resource in helping to determine future development and revitalization. City Hall can help facilitate the discussion and the views of residents must be taken seriously and with great respect.

To avoid familiar mistakes of the past and plan for the future, we must always be mindful of the impact on our schools when expanding housing opportunities. The laudable desire to be welcoming of new residents must be weighed with the social contract to deliver high quality services our existing population.

As a 3rd generation resident of Newton (with family roots in three different villages), a business person, and an elected official, I will continue to balance competing viewpoints and will do everything possible to ensure that your village reflects your desires and that we protect the overall character and currently quality of life of each individual village.

The future of the Newton must be built from the neighborhoods up…not city hall down.

Your support for Alderman Shapiro’s re-election ensures a common sense approach that carefully balances the city’s desire for additional revenue with the requirement we protect the character of each village while providing you opportunities to have your voice heard up front…not after the fact.