Northland Project Approved, But Newton Group Plans To Fight It

NEWTON, MA — On the heels of the city council's approval of the Northland development project in Newton's Upper Falls - the city's largest in recent memory - a group called "Right Size Newton," wants to reverse the city council's move and take the decision to voters.

Northland Investment Corporation's project, which has been in the works for nearly four years, 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 business, 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 brought the project to the city in 2016.

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.

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

"When neighborhood groups are not taken seriously and have little impact on the ultimate development plan, then it is time to take drastic action," said Randall Block of Right Size Newton.

Under city charter, they have 20 days to collect signatures from 5 percent of Newton’s registered voters –or about 3,000 people. If they get the necessary signatures, the city would put the question in the hands of voters.

"We do not make this decision lightly, but we see no other way to proceed," said Block in a statement.

Greg Reibman the Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce president calls the group's petition drive short-sighted and disruptive. Reibman and the chamber have supported the development saying it will be good for local businesses.

“Northland’s transportation mitigation plan and every other aspect of their project has been thoroughly vetted by some of our region’s top independent peer reviewers," he said in a statement.

Reibman said if faced with months of delays and the prospect of losing in ballot referendum (that might not have many people voting), Northland could end up invoking the state's 40B housing law, which would still generate housing for the region but could mean all of the things the city negotiated out of the developer - millions of dollars in traffic mitigation, free shuttles, parks, school building funds - could fall by the wayside.

RELATED:

• Newton's Northland Project Decision Postponed To
• More: Newton-Needham Chamber Urges City Council To Support Northland

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).