Newton's Northland Project Decision Postponed To December

NEWTON, MA — A decision on the fate of the Northland development project in Newton's Upper Falls - the city's largest in a very long time - will have to wait until next month. Although a vote was set for city council Monday night, it was postponed until Dec. 2.

Northland Investment Corporation's project would transform three parcels in a 22.6 acre area that includes the old mill factory near the corner of Needham and Oak streets into 800 units of apartments, including 140 deemed affordable. It would also be home to a spray park and a number of buisness, restaurant and office space and a shuttle service to link the area to the MBTA in an effort to attract non-drivers.

Those opposed to the development have cited three main concerns — transportation, traffic and impact to schools — since Northland first started the process in 2018.

In response the city and Northland have worked together and trimmed and adjusted the project - everything from the number of housing units to how much retail and restaurant space. Most recently the mayor, who supports the project, requested the developer pay a $1.5 million mitigation fee to go toward renovations at the Countryside Elementary School, where any children would be sent, should they live there. It's the first time mitigation funds have been directed toward a school near a development.

RightSize Newton, made up of a group of residents who oppose the project said it's not enough.

"We share the goal of increased affordable housing, but not at this cost," said Randall Block of the group. "The city has waited many years for this site to be redeveloped, but we should not let our desire to see the site developed override the reality that the proposed project is not the right development; waiting a little longer to get the development right is the right decision."

The matter came to the Land Use committee on Sept. 25, 2018. City Councilor Greg Schwartz said there have been 16 public hearings, a number of working sessions and presentations throughout the past year on the project, according to officials.

The main question that Schwartz said the Land Use had been working through for the past 14 months was related to managing traffic on that site on that location. "The question will be will that work or not?," he said.

Last week the Land Use Committee voted to approve both the request to change the zoning and the special permit and the site plan request.

More: Newton-Needham Chamber Urges City Council To Support Northland

Watch a NewTV, Newton News report on it:

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).