Newton City Zoning Code
§ 320-19 Special District 9
Planned Neighborhood Development Zone.
[Amended 3-9-2026 by Ord. No. 2026-5]
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A.
SD-9 purpose. Special District 9: Planned Neighborhood Development Zone covers approximately 52 acres along High Street at the western edge of town. Development in this zone includes a mandatory 20% set-aside for affordable housing. Mixed-use is permitted along High Street and adjacent to the Newton Hospital to provide retail and services to the neighborhood. The remainder of the development is permitted to be residential and should vary in density from higher density closer to High Street to lower density further from the road frontage. A minimum of three building types shall be provided for any development. The following building types are permitted in the District:
(1)
Single-family;
(2)
Townhouses;
(3)
Multifamily residential and elevator flats;
(4)
Duplexes;
(5)
Triplexes;
(6)
Mixed-use buildings;
(7)
Live/work; and
(8)
Parking garages and parking garages with liner buildings.
B.
SD-9 bulk requirements.
Building Configuration | Principal building | 4 stories/50 feet maximum; 2 minimum |
Accessory building | 2 stories/25 feet maximum | |
Lot Occupation | Lot width | 20 feet maximum |
Lot coverage | 70% maximum1 | |
Residential Density | 85% of the development | Max. 8 du/acre |
15% of the development | Max. 20 du/acre | |
Affordable Housing Requirement | Minimum set-aside | 20% |
Building Disposition (§ 320-26B) | Edgeyard | Permitted |
Sideyard | Permitted | |
Rearyard | Permitted | |
Courtyard | Not permitted | |
Commercial/Mixed-Use Building Setbacks | Front yard primary (g.1)2 (NE side lot line along hospital lot should be treated as a front yard) | 10 feet minimum, 30 feet maximum |
Front yard secondary (g.2)2 for corner lot | 10 feet minimum, 30 feet maximum | |
Side yard (g.3)2 | 20 feet minimum | |
Rear yard (g.4)2 | 50 feet minimum | |
Frontage build-out | 60% minimum at setback | |
Residential Building Setbacks | Front yard primary | 100 feet minimum |
Front yard secondary | 20 feet minimum | |
Side yard, detached housing | 20 feet minimum | |
Side yard, attached housing | 0 feet | |
Rear yard | 30 feet minimum | |
Frontage build-out | Not applicable | |
Accessory Building Setbacks | Front (h.1)2 | 20 feet minimum + principal bldg. setback |
Side yard (h.2)2 | 5 feet minimum or 10 feet at corner | |
Rear yard (h.3)2 | 5 feet minimum | |
Private Frontages (§ 320-26A) | Common lawn | Permitted |
Porch and fence | Permitted | |
Terrace | Permitted | |
Forecourt | Permitted | |
Shopfront and awning | Permitted | |
Gallery | Permitted | |
Arcade | Permitted |
NOTES: 1 For projects that include structured parking, affordable housing, or enhanced open space, the permitted lot coverage is increased to 80%. 2 See § 320-19C. |
C.
SD-9 building configuration, height and setbacks.
BUILDING CONFIGURATION 1. Building height shall be measured from the average elevation of the finished grade along the front of the building to the mean elevation of the roof surface. 2. Stories may not exceed 14 feet in height from finished floor to finished ceiling, except for a first-floor commercial function which must be a minimum of 11 feet with a maximum of 24 feet. |  |
SETBACKS — PRINCIPAL BLDG 1. The facades and elevations of principal buildings shall be distanced from the lot lines as shown. 2. Facades shall be built along the principal frontage to the minimum specified width in the table. |  |
SETBACKS — OUTBUILDINGS 1. The elevation of the outbuilding shall be distanced from the lot lines as shown. |  |
PARKING PLACEMENT 1. Uncovered parking spaces may be provided within the third layer as shown in the diagram. 2. Covered parking shall be provided within the third layer as shown in the diagram. Side-or rear-entry garages may be allowed in the first or second layer at the discretion of the Planning Board. 3. Trash containers shall be stored within the third layer. |  |
