The Challenges of Implementing a Community’s Economic Development Vision

By Michael A. Wang

Even communities that have proactive leadership and a seemingly forward-thinking approach to development can run into unexpected challenges when trying to implement a long-range vision. With strong leadership and systems in place, communities can often position themselves well to attract private investment by undertaking a collaborative visioning process designed to build consensus among key stakeholders. The resulting “road map” - whether a Comprehensive Plan, District Master Plan or Area Vision Plan - can help identify, not only goals but, a process for achieving balanced and sustainable economic growth.

Each municipality has a unique set of variables that need addressing, and priorities might include infrastructure improvements, better transportation connectivity, mixed-income housing, a more diverse tax base or an improved public realm, to name a few. The resulting implementation approach often centers on strategies such as updating regulatory frameworks, helping to make key development sites shovel-ready or providing creative financial incentives, all of which can help facilitate meaningful public-private partnerships.

Needham Street Area Vision Plan, Newton, MA

Increasingly, however, it seems that even when foundational vision documents are in place and communities have an experienced developer interested in a prioritized development site, the approvals process can be unnecessarily onerous. Keeping in perspective long-term goals for economic development, and how best to achieve them, can sometimes be very challenging for community leaders, as well as their constituents. Whether “NIMBYism” or a presumed distrust of developers, it is not uncommon to find certain community groups stirring fears of the unknown and automatically positioning themselves to campaign against transformative development proposals.

In Newton, MA, there are two 1 million plus square foot mixed-use developments – Newton Northland and Riverside Station - currently going through the approvals process. These projects are well-suited for the development sites that they are slated to occupy. The Northland project, located along the Needham Street commercial corridor, plans to reposition a largely vacant and underutilized parcel, while preserving the historic Saco-Pettee Mill. The developer of the Riverside Station project proposes to convert acres of asphalt - currently used as a commuter parking lot - into a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood in a location that meets the definition of transit-oriented development.

Each of these projects has been designed to address specific goals identified in area vision plans that were generated through a collaborative community outreach process. These include a vision for land use that incorporates mixed-use and diverse housing options, as well as new cultural and recreational opportunities. Despite designs that show a high-level of contextual sensitivity and a purposeful consistency with area vision plans, community groups continue to ask for more…. or is it less? One current trend derailing development proposals is the call to “right size” these neighborhood developments - which invariably means “downsize”. But what seems to be getting overlooked is the fact that the down-scaling of these developments often leads to the omission of the very public amenities, vibrant place-making characteristics and desired density that would make these projects a dynamic part of the larger community.

The Northland project was recently approved overwhelmingly by the Newton City Council, after an extensive vetting process led by the Council’s Land Use Committee. Despite careful consideration and endorsement by the Council, Planning & Development Department staff and professional peer review experts, the Northland project now faces a referendum, sponsored by a “grass roots” organization that is calling for a “thoughtful, holistic review” process that, in fact, was just completed. Hopefully, community groups that continue to oppose these developments will take a step back and contemplate the long-range economic development goals that they helped identify for their City, understand that these projects are an integral part of achieving that vision and trust that the processes already in place will result in their thoughtful execution.

Rendering of the main public green in the Northland Newton project