Newton To Hold Citywide Vote On Northland Project In March

NEWTON, MA -Newton City Council agreed Tuesday to hold a citywide vote on March 3 to decide the future of the Northland Development - a 22 acre project slated for Newton Upper Falls. The referendum comes after a group petitioned the city council to rescind their own vote on the project, or put it to the Newton voters.

The election date effectively saves the city more than $100,000, by having it on the Democratic Primary Election Day. But leading up to the selection of the date, some expressed concern that it may too soon to get out the vote.

Randall Block, of RightSize Newton, the group that had protested the original city council vote, saying the development was too big said his group would try their best.

"There are only 42 days to the election date. A short campaign always favors the side with more money. We will do our best to persuade voters to vote 'NO' on the Northland plan. Newton needs to hit the pause button and bring commonsense to the way development proposals are approved," he said.

The group will have some competition.

Minutes after the date was selected Tuesday during the city council meeting, Newton resident Allison Sharma announced that "Yes for Newton's Future," described as a group of residents and activists, would be working to support the development.

"The vote on March 3rd is a referendum on the future of our city and its progressive values," she said in a statement. The Northland project embraces Newton’s values by providing affordable housing to working people and older adults, creating open space, and setting the highest standard for environmental sustainability," said Allison Sharma, of Yes For Newton's Future.

In December, city council members approved a zoning change so that Northland Investment Corporation's project, which Northland and then Mayor Setti Warren presented as a concept in 2016, as part of a pro-active housing plan for the city, 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.

Following the December vote, RightSize Newton members 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.

When the question came to the city council, the group stuck with their earlier decision Read More: Newton Councilors Thwart Vote On Northland.

Following the city council decision Tuesday, the Newton Chamber of commerce praised the move:

"We commend the City Council for doing the right thing and setting the date of the Northland referendum to March 3, a date which ensures a robust turnout and allows for five days of early voting," Chamber President Greg Reibman said in a statement, calling it a game changer for the region.

The regional chamber, made up of more than 900 area businesses, has been supportive of the project, saying it will help update an old shopping plaza and transform industrial buildings into homes, office space and eight new parks, bringing new business, new jobs and new tax revenue.

Sharma called the development a step toward the future.

"The housing crisis has hit Newton hard. Teachers, first responders, retirees, young professionals and city employees can’t afford to live in Newton," she said. "The Northland project will help maintain a vibrant and inclusive city by creating 140 permanently affordable units, the largest introduction of affordable housing in Newton’s recent history. Plus, this project will create and maintain an unprecedented amount of new public open space, which will be a community asset for all Newton residents. In addition, the Northland Newton project would be the most environmentally sustainable mixed-use project in Massachusetts."

Northland's project website: https://www.northlandnewtondevelopment.com/

• 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).