7-story vision draws critics
A developer wants to reshape the skyline of downtown Waltham by erecting a complex with one six-story and two seven-story buildings.
The plan calls for 350 luxury apartment units above 35,000 square feet of first-floor retail space on a 4 1/2-acre site at the corner of Main and Moody streets, opposite the common.
It is already drawing fire from some residents and merchants, who say the project would overshadow Waltham's historic downtown and would open the door for other outsized projects.
They plan to show up in force at a hearing tomorrow night on more than two dozen changes to the city's zoning law proposed by the developer, Northland Moody Street LLC , a division of Northland Investment Corp. of Newton.
To accommodate the building project, the developer wants to create a new category of business zoning for the site. It would allow:
Buildings as tall as 90 feet. The current limit for the site is 65 feet.
More housing units per acre.
An underground parking garage. Plans call for 570 spaces.
Fast-food restaurants.
Commercial indoor recreational facilities, such as a fitness center or dance studio.
Opponents are concerned that if the new district is approved, other downtown owners would seek similar zoning status and replace their mostly two- and three-story buildings with ones that would tower over the riverfront and the common.
Fred Kimberk -- an architect who owns 11 downtown properties, including Cafe on the Common -- said he has collected 300 signatures from residents and merchants opposing the zoning changes.
"My biggest problem is that the thing is too big," said Kimberk, who specializes in the renovation of historic buildings such as the ones surrounding Waltham Common. "All the historic buildings are relatively small in footprint, and to build a development that's three times higher than anything else, and an entire city block long, would kind of overwhelm the place."
In a letter accompanying the petition, Kimberk said the project would undermine downtown's unusual mix of independent restaurants and historic buildings, block sunlight on the common, and worsen traffic congestion.
"I think Waltham's enough of a desirable place that if they stick to the existing zoning bill, they'll have suitors. And the mayor's done an enormous job of sprucing up downtown Waltham," said Kimberk. "If they allow this oversized, faceless, urban-sprawl kind of development that everyone has, they're going to lose far more than they gain in the long run."
Al Arena has lived on Noonan Street for 77 years, a few blocks west of the development site. Arena, who is president of the Waltham Museum, said he and his neighbors are "violently opposed" to the project.
"It's going to set a precedent," he said. "It'll be steps going up to the sky."
Robert E. Connors Jr. , a lawyer who is representing Northland, said he would not comment on the project until after the hearing.
Northland's proposal calls for a pair of seven-story buildings totaling 365,385 square feet and one six-story building of 128,105 square feet. They would surround a landscaped courtyard.
Four buildings would be razed. They house branches of Sovereign Bank , Citizens Bank , Athena Healthcare , Coldwell Banker Realty , and other offices.
Northland's website says its development division specializes in "complex urban mixed-use projects and suburban multifamily campuses." The company built Endicott Green in Danvers, a 258-apartment complex.
Doris Donovan , president of the Waltham Council of Neighborhood Advocates , said her group had not taken a position on the project but was urging residents to attend tomorrow's hearing.
"We need to see more about the zone change." Donovan said. "We want to get a feel for it and for how the councilors feel."
She said she welcomed mixed-used development downtown, but questioned whether the project justified a "massive zone change."
Tomorrow's public hearing is 8 p.m. in Council Chambers at Waltham City Hall, 610 Main St. Stephanie V. Siek can be reached via e-mail at ssiek@globe.com. 
