Nonantum barber John Mula wanted a zoning change for his barber shop property at 386-390 Watertown St., so he could add another floor of residential units to it, but the Land Use Committee said “no” to that idea Tuesday night.

Mula’s original plan from 2017 called for 10 residential units on three floors. That plan was approved, but delays and inflation eventually made the plan financially infeasible, Mula explained at an earlier public hearing.

“The design itself was overall met with positivity,” Matt Eckel, attorney representing the project, said. “People liked the design and, in general, thought it seemed like a reasonable project. However, based on the zoning constraints, we had to look for some kind of zone change.”

Mula teamed up with developer Nick Bogine, and they requested the city re-zone that lot from BU1 (business) to MU4 (multi-use), which would allow a fourth floor to be added. That fourth floor would have three residential units, bringing the total to 13 residential units, with three set as affordable. The fourth floor would be set back 20 feet.

The zoning change request plan has been the source of debate for months now, with advocates saying it would fix an eyesore of a hole in the ground and add to the city’s housing inventory. Opponents say it would set a precedent for others and encourage mixed-use development all over Nonantum.

On Tuesday night, debate continued.

“As a member of the then-Board of Aldermen, I had the pleasure of working on the creation of the Mixed Use 4 zoning district,” former Alderman Marcia Johnson said. “And as a resident in a mixed-use building, I can attest that this project is ideal for this location. It fits with the streetscape, and it’s wonderful for the community and those who will reside in this project.”

Terry Sauro, chair of the Nonantum Neighborhood Association, said neighborhood residents were on board with the original approved plan but not the zoning change. And she claimed Mula referred to opponents of the project as “nazis” and “klansmen.”

“I promise you, none of us are members of the Nazi party or the Klan,” Sauro said.

Margaret Ward said she’s concerned that rezoning for multi-use will encourage corporations to buy up lots and put corporate chain businesses in them, driving out local small businesses.

“When that family has to close their business if, and likely when, that property owner decides it’s more lucrative to sell the property and rebuild, what are you going to say to them?” Ward asked the committee.

Alex Jablon, who ran for state representative last year, said he “respectfully disagrees” with the neighborhood association.

“I’ve known John Mula since I was in sixth grade. He’s been my barber since my last one died, and I hope he continues to be for a long time,” Jablon said. “John is a person of upstanding character, and to hear any accusations thrown against him that he’s not a member of this community is absolutely outrageous.”

Jablon said people opposing the project because of potential precedent are “engaging in kind of a slippery slope fallacy.”

“I think if there was continued development in the Washington Street corridor, I would consider opposing that,” Jablon said. “However, that is not what we’re talking about right now. We’re talking about Mr. Mula’s lot, and I think it has sat vacant long enough.”

Counselors Maria Greenberg, Alison Leary and John Oliver—all of whom are from Ward 1, which includes the Mula buildings—supported Mula’s zoning change requests.

“The MU4 (zoning) is only used in certain aspects, and I think this fits the bill,” Leary said, emphasizing that she understands the fear of small businesses being pushed out by large development. “The reason I’m supporting this project in large part is because it’s not displacing any residents or any businesses.”

Oliver echoed Jablon’s comment about precedent, saying precedent doesn’t mean a mandate. And he reminded the committee that all MU4 properties must get a special permit.

“Personally, I look at this project at 10 units, I look at it at 13 units, and from the streetscape, it feels the same to me,” Oliver said. “I support the project. If we have to bump the zoning from BU1 to MU4 to get it, I think we have to find a way to be OK with that.”

The majority of the Land Use Committee, however, was not OK with that.

Councilors Alison Leary, Andreae Downs, Andrea Kelley and voted in favor of the zoning change, Council President Marc Laredo, who serves on that committee, abstained, and the rest voted against it.

After the zoning change failed, the general view in the room was that approving the project itself would be moot.

But as City Solicitor Jonah Temple noted, the committee only makes a recommendation. The full City Council could decide to approve the zoning change and the project itself despite the committee opposing the zoning change.

“At the full council, if the rezoning fails, the special permit will have to fail, for that reason,” Temple said.

The votes on the special permit matched the vote regarding the zone change.

You can watch the entire debate online.