Zom Living's original proposal included 495 apartments at South Shore Plaza in Braintree. Image courtesy of Zom Living

A housing developer has reduced the size of a proposed multifamily project at Braintree’s South Shore Plaza after recent objections from neighbors, while defending housing as a “fundamental right.”

In January, Orlando, Florida-based Zom Living submitted plans for 185 senior housing units and 310 conventional apartments in a pair of buildings known as The Residences on Granite.

The project would occupy a section of the 1.6 million-square-foot mall’s south parking lot.  Under an updated proposal submitted to Braintree officials this week, Zom Living reduced the senior apartments from 185 to 160 units, and the conventional units from 315 to 230. The senior living building was reduced from five to four stories.

And a former 99 Restaurant outbuilding was added to the proposed planned unit development district, which now spans 10.3 acres. Simon Property Group will continue to own the restaurant site for future redevelopment, a Zom Living spokesman said.

In a submission to the Braintree Planning Board, developers contrasted opposition to the project to the town’s recent rezoning to allow cannabis production in its highway business district.

“Conversely, as a matter of public policy, The Residences on Granite District, located adjacent to a 1.6 million-square-foot regional shopping center, concerns housing – a fundamental right – and an over $150 million investment in Braintree with guaranteed real estate tax revenue every year to the town,” the filing states.

Zom Living’s original proposal generated a backlash from some residents at a January hearing, and Braintree Mayor Charles Kokoros has publicly opposed the project because of its “extreme density,” according to a Patriot Ledger report. Kokoros’ office did not respond to a request for comment on the changes.

The proposal requires a zoning change by the Braintree Town Council, and a subsequent site plan approval from the Braintree Planning Board, which will review the new proposal on April 11.

Multifamily developers recently completed projects at mall properties in Woburn and Hanover, replacing surface parking with new apartment complexes totaling 649 units.

Developer Edens used the state’s Chapter 40R smart growth zoning mechanism to redevelop the former Woburn Mall property as a lifestyle center, including 350 apartments.

Hanover Mall owner PREP Property Group sold a 13-acre portion of its Route 53 property to Texas multifamily developer The Hanover Co. for its 297-unit apartment complex, known as Hanover Crossing Residences.