Proposed Zoning For Newton Gun Store: Hearing Set

NEWTON, MA — Since word got out that someone was starting the process to open a gun shop on Washington Street in Newton last month, the first such shop in town in decades, a lot has happened: Signs have popped up, thousands of people have signed a petition against it, and the city council scrambled to see what could be done to amend zoning laws.

Monday, May 10, will be the first time residents will have the chance to weigh in during a public hearing on the proposed zoning regulations the city council has drafted.

The scramble

Although the mayor was alerted that the licensing process in March, residents learned of the proposed shop around April 15. They set to work and petitioned the city to do something to regulate their location, if not ban them. Within 12 hours, hundreds had signed the petition. As of April 30, more than 8,000 people have signed it.

On April 16, the day after the petition launched, the mayor and City Council docketed proposed amendments to limit the dealers to certain zoning districts, require special permit approval from the City Council, and buffers between a store and sensitive locations.

Then a week later, the city’s Inspectional Services Department issued a stop work order at 709 Washington St., because the store owner did not have a building permit, which is necessary to do the type of renovation work being done, according to the city.

The City Council’s Zoning and Planning Committee began deliberations last week on how to regulate where firearms can be sold in Newton. For two hours, councilors discussed everything from whether the city had the power to ban the sale of guns, to the possibility of creating a specific zoning ordinance specific to gun shops.

The city’s attorneys are looking into how the city can regulate guns sales, keeping the Second Amendment to the Constitution in mind.

You will have 2 mins

Mayor Ruthanne Fuller said people who want to speak about the issue will have two minutes each at the City Council Zoning and Planning Committee public hearing on proposed zoning regulations for firearm businesses.

The zoom link for the meeting is here. The Zoning and Planning meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. with other zoning and planning business and the firearm public comment hearing is slated to begin at 7 p.m.

Related:

• Residents Protest Gun Store Set To Come To Newton
• Newton Issues Stop-Work Order To Planned Gun Store
• Owner Of Proposed Gun Store Applied In January ...