The Land Use Committee of Newton City convened on September 16, 2025, to discuss a significant development proposal known as the Riverside Mixed Use Project. The meeting, chaired by Kevin McCormick, included participation from various city councilors both in person and via Zoom, highlighting the collaborative nature of the discussion.

The primary focus of the meeting was the Riverside Mixed Use Project, which has undergone several iterations since its inception. Attorney Steven Bookbinder, representing the petitioner MS Riverside Fi Owner LLC, provided a comprehensive overview of the project’s history and current proposal. The site, located at a strategic intersection of Route 95 and the Massachusetts Turnpike, spans approximately 9.34 acres and is adjacent to the terminus of the Green Line.

Bookbinder detailed the evolution of the project, noting that previous approvals for mixed-use developments had not been executed. The current proposal, referred to as Riverside 4, seeks a special permit for a smaller development consisting of six residential buildings with an attached multilevel garage and approximately 20,000 square feet of retail space. Additionally, the proposal includes text amendments to the Mixed Use 3 District and a map change to rezone the Hotel Indigo site from Business Use 5 to Mixed Use 3.

The development team has engaged with the neighborhood liaison group and Ward 4 councilors over the past year to refine the project based on community feedback. Bookbinder acknowledged that while not everyone may be completely satisfied with every aspect of the proposal, the team believes they have reached a compromise that reflects community input.

Following Bookbinder's introduction, Robert Korf, principal of Mark Development, presented an overview of the project, emphasizing its marketability and constructability. The meeting included a detailed presentation from various team members on site design, building architecture, and transportation considerations.

The committee's discussions underscored the importance of community involvement in shaping the project, as well as the ongoing challenges of balancing development needs with neighborhood concerns. The meeting concluded with an acknowledgment of the extensive groundwork laid for the Riverside Mixed Use Project, setting the stage for future deliberations and potential approvals.