Group Of Newton Councilors Thwart Vote On Northland

NEWTON, MA — The question of just when voters will have a chance to decide the future of the Northland Development - a 22 acre project slated for Newton Upper Falls - is up in the air, after a group of councilors invoked a rule that postponed a vote to set the special election for March 3.

In December, city council members approved a zoning change so that Northland Investment Corporation's project, which has been in the works for nearly four years, could transform three parcels in a 22.6 acre area near the corner of Needham and Oak streets into 800 units of apartments, including 140 deemed affordable. It would also be home to a parkland, 750 new trees and a number of businesses, including local businesses, restaurant and office space and a shuttle service to link the area to the MBTA in an effort to attract non-drivers.

But immediately following the vote, a group opposing the project called RightSize Newton began collecting signatures in an effort to require the city council to repeal its vote, or hold a special citywide vote asking Newton voters to decide. In the end, they got some 5,000 and forced the question back to the city council.

At the special meeting Wednesday in response, councilors - both those who previously voted for and against the project - agreed not to rescind their vote.

"This project took a long time for us to consider because it changed dramatically during the course of project," said Councilor Laredo who supports the project. "The reason this project took so long was not because we delayed on it, but because it was a slow laborious project to get changes made on it," said Councilor Laredo who said the project was weighed against various alternatives over the years.

"Even if we didn't get 100 percent of the things we wanted in negotiations," said newly elected Councilor Bill Humphrey, "Nevertheless, I respect the fact that there were a lot of improvements made in response to public input over years of hearings and community meetings."

Humphrey is a ward councilor for the neighborhood and took the council seat of Councilor John Rice who worked on those negotiations throughout the years.

"This project is substantially different and better than what was proposed at the beginning of the process," he said.

Rick Lipoff agreed, and said people need to understand the scale: It's 180,000 square feet of office space, 115,000 square feet of retail space and of the 800 units of residential units it works out to 36 residential units per acre, mostly smaller units for younger people and retirees, he said, adding; "That's on 22 acres of land."

Upon voting not to rescind their own vote, the council has 30 days to set a date for a special election and take the question to voters. The majority of the council was prepared to hold the election on March 3, the day of the US. Presidential primary in part to save about $100,000 in another part to ensure as big a turnout as possible.

The handful opposed to holding the election on March 3, like Laredo, said money shouldn't matter and cited questions about process, "Rushing a process, I think, I wrong," he said.

The cost of a stand-alone election would be about $145,902. To add a special election to the Presidential Primary would cost the city about $32,917, according to City Clerk David Olson:

But before the council vote happened, Councilor Emily Norton called out "Charter Privilege" to suspend the conversation decision. Norton, Councilor Allan Ciccone, David Kalis, Julia Malakie and Christopher Markiewicz - who were opposed to the March 3 date -showed they supported her, effectively postponing the decision on the date to the next regular council meeting on Jan. 21.

Council President Susan Albright said she had wondered if something like this might happen, so asked Olson to look into whether there might still be a way to hold the vote on March 3.

Olson found later that ballots can still be printed for an additional $3,000 rush fee on Jan. 22 and still make it to the printer.

Watch Wednesday's meeting, recorded by NewTV. The meeting begins at 23:20:

Previously:

Newton's Northland Project Decision Postponed To ... (Nov)

Newton City Council Approves Northland Project (Dec. 2)

Northland Project Approved, But Newton Group Plans To Fight (Dec. 3)

Northland Project: Possible Referendum, Mayor's ... (Dec. 17)

RightSize Newton Files State Complaint Against Mayor (Jan 2020)

Newton Councilors To Discuss Northland, Possible Referendum (Jan 2020)

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).