LYNN — It’s been smooth sailing so far for the massive project eyed for the South Harbor site, with most members of the City Council seeming supportive of the proposed $450 million, 850-unit mixed-use development.

Mayor Jared Nicholson unveiled the project earlier this week and presented it to the council for the first time Tuesday. However, at least a pair of councilors — Ward 6 Councilor Fred Hogan, whose ward the project is located in, and Council President Jay Walsh — were part of the development team that negotiated many of the proposal’s terms. Councilors did not take a vote on the proposal, though one is expected later this month.

Only outgoing Ward 2 Councilor Rick Starbard expressed some hesitation regarding the proposal, though even he admitted “it looks beautiful.”

The crux of Starbard’s concerns were centered on the growing impact of a number of developments set to come online in the city in the coming months and years on Lynn’s public school system, public safety, and municipal services.

“As a community charged with providing public safety, public works, public education, (I) don’t think we have the capacity to address those issues with those we have now, I’d like to know what plan we have going forward for these folks,” Starbard asked Nicholson.

While Nicholson didn’t offer specific plans, he sought to assuage Starbard’s concerns by noting projects already underway in the city to address the impact of an influx of new residents. Nicholson pointed to the new Pickering Middle School currently in development, which he said will address overcrowding in the middle school, and ongoing efforts to recruit more public-safety personnel.

Nicholson also noted that the city’s Planning Department found that just 16 Lynn Public Schools students were living in a total of 827 units spread across 12 multifamily developments downtown.

“Empirically it is not the impact on the school department one might expect based on the number of units,” Nicholson said.

Nicholson additionally pointed out that increased revenue from developments like the South Harbor proposal, which is expected to generate $6 million in tax revenue for the city, could be used to bolster municipal services.

Starbard, who owns an auto-body shop in Revere, recognized the opportunity for the project to serve as a gateway to Lynn.

“Would I love to see that every day when I cross the bridge? Yes,” he said.

Councilor-at-Large Brian Field asked Nicholson whether the city will ultimately be responsible for maintaining the proposed 8-acre public park and promenade on the site, which Nicholson said would fall on both the city and the developer, Samuels & Associates. Nicholson added that the city would also explore getting state support for the open space from the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

“My understanding is DCR views this as (the) kind of park they might be interested in supporting,” Nicholson said.

He noted that the department’s commissioner, Brian Arrigo, was the mayor of Revere for seven years and is “very familiar” with the site.

Economic Development & Industrial Corporation of Lynn (EDIC/Lynn) Executive Director James Cowdell told councilors the city has long wanted to construct something on the South Harbor site that makes passersby say “wow.” This proposal, Cowdell said, achieves that benchmark.

Cowdell, a former councilor himself, said he understands the complex dynamics behind voting for a tax incentive, which the city is offering Samuels on the project — essentially allowing the company to pay the increased tax rate for the site throughout a 20-year period instead of all at once. But, he urged councilors to see the bigger picture on the South Harbor proposal.

“In Lynn, that project doesn’t work without a tax incentive. That should give the council comfort,” he said. “Everything is changing and we need your support.”