After much discussion and debate in the March 11 Land Use Committee meeting, the owner of 386-390 Watertown Street withdrew his request for a zoning change and a special permit.
At the March 4 City Council Land Use Committee meeting, members had learned that the ongoing zoning change and special permit requests for 386-390 Watertown Street in Nonantum were complicated by the fact that one of the two owners, John Mula, had apparently sold the property the day before the February 25 Land Use Committee meeting, and the new owner was Newton Park Watertown Realty, LLC, managed by Mula’s partner, Nicholas Beaujean. In addition, the LLC was granted a $5,079,000 mortgage to develop the property. The property to be developed had previously been approved for three stories and ten units, requiring no zoning change, and Mr. Mula and Mr. Beaujean had claimed this was no longer financially feasible.
With the revelations about change in ownership and additional financial disclosures, Land Use Chair Andrea Kelley scheduled another meeting, originally to be held via Zoom with no public hearing because the public hearing had been closed. At some point, the Land Use Committee determined that it would vote to open the public hearing after the Committee heard from Attorney Matt Eckel, representing Mr. Mula, Mr.Beaujean, and the Newton Park Watertown Realty, LLC.
Since the March 4 Land Use Committee meeting, there had been accusations about fraud and misrepresentations. For the March 11 meeting, people gathered in the City Hall Chamber and on Zoom to comment on the new revelations. Mr. Eckel said that it had been an oversight not to mention the transfer of the property at the last meeting. But he explained that Mr. Mula and Mr. Beaujean were still partners and that Mr. Mula would not receive any money until the project was built. He emphasized that the project was “great looking,” and the extra story and additional three units did not compromise its appearance.
Mr. Beaujean, who attended via Zoom from California, spoke about his concerns. He noted what he called “fear mongering” allegations about the sale and mortgage. Among the false claims he mentioned, he said he heard that he was mistakenly called a “slum lord,” and that he was an out-of-town developer, when in fact he was born in Rhode Island and all his projects were in the Boston area. He explained that they faced a deadline of February 28 to receive the mortgage and that after John Mula paid off his previous partner and other financial obligations, they have $3,079,000 for construction, which meant that the project construction would allow for only $220/sf, and hence would not be financially feasible to build the quality that the community desires and enjoys. He noted that what started as a thoughtful and collaborative discussion eventually degenerated into threats of lawsuits.
The majority of the speakers opposed the zoning change and special permit. Several Nonantum residents rose to object to the change in zoning to MU4, which would allow the developer to build an additional story and three more units, one of which would be designated affordable (in addition to the two already so designated).
Ms. Terry Sauro, President of the Nonantum Neighborhood Association, reiterated her concern that changing the zoning would set a precedent allowing additional zoning changes on Watertown Street, thereby altering the village center. Al Cecchinelli said he is running for mayor because people in City Hall were not protecting the community. Margaret Ward recalled the community struggle to convince the City Council to remove Nonantum from the Village Center Overlay District and consider development of large, empty lots parallel to Watertown Street. Now, she said, with the MU4 option, developers would seize the opportunity to sell property and change the village center. Francis Yerardi, a local business owner, said, “The community doesn’t have faith that this developer, nor this city hall will do right by them.”
On the other side, Zach Bianchi, whose family have lived in Nonantum for several generations, reiterated his plea for more housing for young families who want to stay in the community. Lynn Weissberg, who does not live in the community, said that nothing had happened that should change the minds of the Councilors and that they should vote for the zoning change and special permit. Lisa Monahan, who lives in Newton Highlands, assured the Committee that MU4 was not a bad thing and would not set a precedent. She said she could not imagine a better design for the project.
Finally, Mr. Beaujean asked to speak again. He expressed gratitude for the process and the time the Committee gave it. Saying he anticipated the project would be so divisive, he asked Chair Kelley if he could make a motion to withdraw the requests. She explained that the motion would have to be made by a Committee member. There was some confusion about what the withdrawal of the request, without prejudice, would mean. Councilor Randall Block offered a motion to withdraw the petitioner’s requests with prejudice, but he withdrew his motion before it came to a vote.
Finally the Committee voted unanimously to withdraw both the zoning change request and the special permit, and the meeting was adjourned. (See NewTV video of the meeting.)
Ed. Note: We corrected this article to reflect accurately the disposition of Councilor Block’s motion.
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