Push for more commercial development at Overlook Ridge

Responding to council wishes, Roseland had previously committed to a hotel on the Revere portion of Overlook Ridge, the 100-acre site of the former Rowe Quarry in Malden and Revere. Roseland is building a mixed-use development, but the company opposes the amendment because of concerns it would pose problems for its lenders, said spokeswoman Nancy J. Sterling.

“Particularly with this environment, they don’t like those kinds of restrictions,’’ she said. “That’s why the amendment created a problem for us.’’

Roseland will have another chance to argue its case later this month. Because of a technical flaw in the advertising of public hearings on the zoning changes held by the council and Planning Board, the city will need to hold new hearings and the council will have to take a new vote.

The council is set to hold a hearing Nov. 23 and the Planning Board Nov. 24. The council is then expected to vote on the zoning change in early December, said city clerk John Henry.

The zoning plan calls for creation of three new overlay districts in Revere.

One of them, Overlay District B, would allow for mixed uses and more dense development than current rules permit on 10 acres to the rear of the Revere land.

Overlay District A would allow Roseland to put alternative energy facilities in a 7-acre park it built across the street. Overlay District C would allow for a hotel on 3 acres next to housing the company built at the front of the Revere land.

Roseland added Overlay District C to its plan and pledged to develop a hotel there after encountering resistance from councilors to its bid to establish District B. Councilors had complained that Roseland was not doing enough to bring commercial development to the Revere side. (Malden adopted an overlay district for its side in 2007.)

The amendment would require Roseland to seek a permit for a hotel in Overlay District C before the other two overlay districts would take effect.

Council president Daniel Rizzo said the council attached the amendment to hold Roseland to its pledge to bring commercial development to Revere.

“Way back in 2000, the Roseland group promised the city of Revere that this would be a mixed-use development, but so far the only thing we have seen has been apartments,’’ he said.

Roseland to date has built four apartment buildings containing 722 units on the Revere side and a single condominium building with 250 units on the Malden side. Due to market conditions, the company is currently renting the Malden units. It also built a fire station for the shared use of Malden and Revere, and the park. The only commercial development so far is a convenience store in the Malden residential building.

Rizzo said councilors would be amenable to other types of commercial development on the Overlay District C site but believe “there is a need for a hotel at that location.’’

Sterling said Roseland wants to make clear to the council its opposition to the amendment. In addition to its concern about the problems it could cause its lenders, she said the city cannot legally pose the restrictions the amendment contains.

But Rizzo said the council will stick to its amendment.

“They can make all the claims and put up all the arguments they want, but I believe at the end of the day the City Council is going to hold firm on our demands for what we are looking for up there,’’ he said.

Sterling said the zoning change is designed to bring about the commercial development the city is seeking, noting that it would open up the rear 10 acres to mixed development - including commercial - and the front 3 acres to a hotel.

She said Roseland’s commitment is to build a hotel on the Overlay District C site “and to make every effort to find an operator. We don’t believe that will be a problem in that area.’’

Sterling said Roseland believes the market would support two hotels at Overlook Ridge, one on the Revere site and one on the Malden side near Route 1.

Revere Mayor Thomas G. Ambrosino said he does not favor the amendment.

“I want to see a hotel as well, but I think that condition is a little too onerous,’’ Ambrosino said, adding that, “If this is the way the council wants it, I’ll sign it.’’

Ambrosino said he is pleased by the progress of the overall project.

“I think they’ve done an excellent job and moved forward fairly expeditiously given the market conditions,’’ he said of Roseland.