A plan to replace a 160-year-old Newtonville home with four new townhomes is headed to the City Council — despite neighbors' warnings that the project would permanently change the character of Brookside Avenue.

Newton's Land Use Committee voted 5-2 on June 16 to approve a special permit allowing the historic two-family house at 60 Brookside Ave. to be demolished and replaced with four attached single-family homes. The proposal now heads to the full City Council, which could take a final vote Monday, July 13.

The project has divided the neighborhood for months.

Supporters say the redesign is a better use of the property and adds much-needed housing. Opponents argue it's another example of larger developments squeezing into streets built for one- and two-family homes.

"The changes do not benefit" neighboring properties, Brookside Avenue resident Richard Frank told the committee, urging councilors to reject the plan or cut it to three units.

Neighbor Barbara Litman-Pike said even one additional home would have "a permanent impact" on the street's character.

The developer scaled back the proposal before the vote, splitting one large building into two smaller ones, reducing overall square footage, increasing open space and pushing one building farther from neighboring homes.

Attorney Laurence Lee, representing the developer, argued the special permit actually produces a better project than what could be built by right, with more open space and a design that better fits the neighborhood.

Committee Chair Andrea Kelley agreed the revisions addressed earlier concerns, saying the buildings "look like [they] will fit into the neighborhood." The landscaping plan also adds 46 replacement trees, including several requested by nearby residents for additional privacy.

The project would replace the existing house with two buildings containing four homes ranging from just over 2,000 to 2,600 square feet. Nine underground parking spaces are also planned.

Before construction can move forward, the developer must show a proposed front-yard electrical transformer meets Eversource's clearance requirements — the only condition attached to the committee's approval.

The committee also postponed decisions on two other housing proposals. A backyard accessory dwelling unit at 2 Rowe St. was delayed over a building code dispute, while a five-unit development at 83 Lexington St. was put on hold after councilors questioned whether the lot was simply too small for the project.