The Newton City Council granted a special permit to alter and extend a legally nonconforming two‑family dwelling at 273–275 Webster Street in Auburndale.

Attorney Lawrence Lee, representing the petitioner, said the proposal replaces an existing two‑family house with a new two‑family structure that complies with dimensional standards imposed for the equivalent use in the MR‑1 district; no additional dimensional relief was requested. Lee said the site is about 10,000 square feet, the proposal meets lot coverage and FAR requirements, and the applicant submitted a landscape plan showing a potential short (about 1–1.5 foot) retaining/sitting wall in the rear to create a slightly leveled patio area for one unit. The petitioner said the retaining wall is optional and could be omitted if the council prefers.

Planning staff (Katie Wewell) summarized the zoning relief required — specifically the special permit to alter and extend a nonconforming two‑family use in an SR‑3 district — and recommended plan-referenced conditions. Wewell noted the property had been reviewed by the Newton Historic Commission, which found the property "not preferably preserved," and said the revised landscape and grading plans included the short retaining wall at a maximum height of about 1.6 feet where it curves into the site. Wewell told the council that the elevations filed originally would control if the council approved the petition, because updated elevations had not been submitted.

A nearby resident (identified in the transcript as Belva/Belleville) urged the council to consider the impact on modest, more-affordable housing and questioned whether demolition was necessary. Councilors asked questions about parking, driveway width, the single existing curb cut and the preserved street tree. The petitioner said the driveway widths met engineering and zoning minimums and agreed to work with engineering if a narrower driveway were required.

After questions, Councilor Block moved to accept the petition; the council closed the public hearing and voted to approve the special permit as submitted with plan-referenced conditions. Conditions recorded in the order include referencing the submitted site, architectural and landscape plans, construction management and tree-preservation provisions, and standard building-permit and occupancy conditions; planning will review final grading and elevations during permit review.