By Greg Reibman

I come with good news. But also, potentially, some disturbing news.

Last night, the Newton City Council approved Northland's proposed mixed-use project, 17-7.

This project -- the result of more than three years of discussions and tough negotiations between city leaders, neighbors, civic groups, housing advocates, environmentalists and the developer -- is a game changer for our region.

It will transform 23 drab acres of old parking lots, an outdated shopping plaza and industrial buildings into desperately needed homes, amenity-rich office space and eight new parks. It will bring new vitality to Needham Street and beyond; bringing new business, new jobs and new tax revenue here.

Project highlights include:

• 800 desperately-needed apartments, 140 of them affordable, the most ever created in Newton by a single development.
• 180,000 square feet of brick and beam office space for small and mid-sized companies.
• 10 acres of new public gathering and open spaces, including eight new parks and new connections to the Upper Falls Greenway.
• A "mobility hub" with free to all public electric shuttle service to the Newton Highlands T station every 10 minutes (plus free T passes for residents) along with car-share and bike-share infrastructure.
• A strict, accountable and comprehensive plan designed to mitigate traffic; plus millions in mitigation funds to explore enhancing bike and pedestrian connections to the MBTA and Needham Crossing.
• $1.5 million to renovate a nearby elementary school.
• A cutting-edge sustainability program, including three ground-breaking Passive House-certified residential buildings that will surpass anything in the state.
• Subsidized retail space dedicated to non-formula, locally-owned merchants.
• Significant new commercial tax revenue, which can help pay for upgrades to our roads, sidewalks, schools and other public infrastructure.

I applaud Mayor Fuller, our city councilors and the developer on this collaborative effort. In the end, they've agreed to a project that meets the goals of Newton's Economic Development Strategy and the Needham Street Vision Plan. They've crafted a project that will be good for Newton and our region.

Now for the disturbing news.

In spite of last night's 17-7 vote from the City Council and endorsements from the Newton-Needham Regional Chamber, Green Newton, Engine 6 and a diverse coalition of other community and environmental groups, this project may still never break ground.

That's because a neighborhood group called Right Sized Newton has threatened a petition drive to overturn last night's zoning vote at a special election, possibly this spring. Right Size leaders say they will begin collecting the needed 3,000 signatures starting this morning.

This is an outstanding project and a rare opportunity for Newton.

But faced with months of delays and the prospect of losing a low-turnout ballot referendum, Northland could instead to turn to the state's 40B housing law, which would still generate much-needed housing for our region but result in the loss of many millions of dollars in traffic mitigation, free shuttles, parks, school building funds and other community give-backs that Northland and the city have thoughtfully negotiated.