Committee Gives Go-Ahead for Shopping Center Project Despite Traffic Concerns

W.S. Development's proposed revamp of the Chestnut Hill Shopping Center won the unanimous support of Newton's Land Use Committee this week, though aldermen voiced concerns about traffic and parking problems that could be caused by the project's success.

The Land Use committee voted 7-0 Tuesday night to grant several necessary approvals to the Chestnut Hill Developer's plan to replace the building that currently houses Century Bank and City Sports with a three-story multi-function (office and retail) building. The plan needed board approval to build a multi-story building, rezone the Route 9 carriageway for potential angled parking in front of the building, and waive requirements to build additional parking to handle the increased volume that could be caused by the project. (Read earlier Patch articles about the project and .)

Aldermen were concerned with the parking proposal, and the proposed alterations to the Route 9 carriageway, including adding a new access point in front of 55 Boylston St. and installing angled parking on the carriageway for businesses in the new development.

Alderman Lisle Baker echoed a popular sentiment in the room, saying that while he was very excited about many aspects of the project, he still had serious concerns about the traffic and parking implications. He said that even today, traffic on Route 9 becomes untenable during peak hours, and that success at this development could push volume even more.

"There are a lot of appealing things about this project," he said. "My concern is, is the parking going to work, and is the traffic going to work?"

Baker said, eventually, that concerns about increased traffic flow shouldn't stop the project from happening.

"The irony of this is that the petitioner is [requesting changes] because he wants the project to be a success. On the one hand, we want them to be successful, but on the other hand, we don't want them to be so busy that they get in the way of their own success," Baker said. 

Baker was also concerned with the parking proposals, and pointed to figures from the developers' own traffic studies which state that with the site's current usage, there are times during the year when the parking lot is 85 - 95 percent full. The proposal suggests that the existing parking lots could serve a bigger development with parking management strategies like valet use and relocating employee parking during busy holiday shopping seasons.

Alderman Deb Crossley said that reducing the size of parking lots in Newton was a goal she'd like to support, and that she would like to see those practices implemented.

"I am for reducing the amount of surface parking," she said.