Brian Yates

Alderman-at-Large, Ward 5
City of Newton, MA

Experience

• Alderman-at-Large, Ward Five, 1987-Present
   
  • Nearly 100% attendance at full Board meetings
     
• Former Chair, Zoning and Planning Committee
  • Sponsor of nationally recognized zoning amendments to control over-development.
  • Sponsor of historic preservation measures, Landmark Ordinance, etc.
     

• As a member of the Committee on Community Preservation, I’ve worked to preserve Newton’s Historic Buildings and Landscapes, acquire new open space, and preserve or develop community housing:

  •  HISTORIC PRESERVATION

    • Restoration of East, West, and South Burying Grounds

    • Durant-Kenrick Estate

    • Brigham House

    • Newton Health Department  Building

    • Newton Corner Branch Library
       

  • OPEN SPACE

    • Angino Farm

    • Crystal Lake

    • Kessler Woods

    • Dolan Pond
       

  • COMMUNITY HOUSING

    • Wyman Street

    • Forte House near Dolan Pond

    • Covenant Residence
       

• Member, Public Safety and Transportation Committee

  • Worked to improve safety and transit access in southeast corner of city

  • Worked to get dilapidated and dangerous MBTA staircase replaced on Rte. 9
     

• Former Member, Public Facilities Committee
  • Supported renovations of Newton South High School
  • Supported renovations of Oak Hill Middle School and renovations to Day and Bigelow Middle Schools
  • Supported Elementary School renovations (Countryside, Angier, Bowen, Williams, Memorial-Spaulding, etc.)
  • Supported changes in sewer policies to prevent any sewage backup into residents' homes
  • Sponsored ordinances to require city to recruit volunteer snow shovelers and to prevent snow dumping on sidewalks by city plows
  • Worked to hold down costs of North High School and reduce its impact on the surrounding neighborhood

• Former Member, Real Property Re-use Committee
  • Supported establishment of the Brigham House Community Center in the former Newton Highlands Library
  • Supported transfer of Department of Public Works Land on Rumford Avenue  to Conservation Commission
  • Supported demolition of former City Incinerator on Rumford Avenue and sale of site for an office building
  • Supported use of former Carr School as a “swing school,” while other schools were renovated, but subject to return to city jurisdiction when no longer needed.

• Previous City Positions
  • Zoning Review Committee, 1987 – took part in total restructuring of ordinance that included establishment of minimum threshold for commercial development that would require a special permit.

• Economic Development Commission
  • Helped to establish new Mixed Use Districts on Needham Street to begin controlling commercial over development.
     
• Community Support
  • Founder and later President, Friends of Hemlock Gorge Reservation, Newton Upper Falls, 1988 to present

This page last updated on Wednesday March 30, 2011

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