diff --git a/communities/utils.py b/communities/utils.py
index e15205630..0dd635334 100644
--- a/communities/utils.py
+++ b/communities/utils.py
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ def has_new_community_id(function):
     @wraps(function)
     def wrap(request, *args, **kwargs):
         if not request.session.get('new_community_id'):
+            print('Not NEW COMMUNITY ID IS PRESENT')
             return render(request, '403.html', status=403)
         return function(request, *args, **kwargs)
 
diff --git a/communities/views.py b/communities/views.py
index e1ed87379..bccab2a59 100644
--- a/communities/views.py
+++ b/communities/views.py
@@ -144,12 +144,13 @@ def create_community(request):
             if env == 'SANDBOX':
                 data.is_approved = True
                 data.save()
+                request.session['new_community_id'] = data.id
 
                 # Add to user affiliations
                 affiliation = UserAffiliation.objects.prefetch_related('communities').get(user=request.user)
                 affiliation.communities.add(data)
                 affiliation.save()
-                return redirect('dashboard')
+                return redirect('community-boundary')
             elif subscription_form.is_valid():
                 handle_community_creation(request, data,  subscription_form, env)
                 return redirect('community-boundary')
diff --git a/tests/functional/test_create_community_gis_ui.py b/tests/functional/test_create_community_gis_ui.py
index cbf3e7b06..d5db771cf 100644
--- a/tests/functional/test_create_community_gis_ui.py
+++ b/tests/functional/test_create_community_gis_ui.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 import faker
 import pytest
+from django.shortcuts import redirect
 from django.urls import reverse
 from selenium.webdriver.common.alert import Alert
 
@@ -15,6 +16,22 @@
 from communities.models import Community
 
 
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def session_data(request):
+    # Access the session object
+    session = request.session
+
+    # Set values in the session
+    session['user_id'] = 123
+    session['username'] = 'testuser'
+
+    yield session
+
+    # Optionally, clean up the session after the test
+    session.clear()
+
+
 class TestFeatures(UiFeatureHelper):
     def setUp(self):
         self.login()
@@ -37,9 +54,9 @@ def fill_out_and_submit_account_creation_form(self):
         self.community_name = self.fake.name()
 
         # fill out form
-        self.py.get("[name='first_name']").type(self.community_name)
+        self.py.get("[name='first_name']").type(self.fake.name())
         self.py.get("[name='last_name']").type(self.fake.name())
-        self.py.get("[name='community_name']").type(self.fake.name())
+        self.py.get("[name='community_name']").type(self.community_name)
         self.py.get("[name='community_entity']").type(self.fake.name())
         self.py.get("[name='state_province_region']").type(self.fake.name())
         self.py.get("[name='country']").type('Antartica')
@@ -54,8 +71,10 @@ def fill_out_and_submit_account_creation_form(self):
         # bypass validate_recaptcha on the backend when clicking this button
         with patch('communities.views.validate_recaptcha') as mock_validate_recaptcha:
             mock_validate_recaptcha.return_value = True
-            self.py.get(".primary-btn").click()
 
+            with patch('communities.views.dev_prod_or_local') as mock_dev_prod_or_local:
+                mock_dev_prod_or_local.return_value = 'SANDBOX'
+                self.py.get(".primary-btn").click()
 
     def select_native_land_method_and_submit(self):
         # pick NLD add boundary radio button
@@ -99,9 +118,9 @@ def navigate_to_search_native_land_digital_database_page(self):
         assert self.select_add_boundary_method_path in self.get_current_url()
 
         self.select_native_land_method_and_submit()
-        #
-        # # verify user is on select boundary by nld page
-        # assert self.select_nld_add_boundary_method_path in self.get_current_url()
+
+        # verify user is on select boundary by nld page
+        assert self.select_nld_add_boundary_method_path in self.get_current_url()
 
     def navigate_to_upload_shapefile_page(self):
         create_community_url = urllib.parse.urljoin(self.live_server_url, self.create_community_path)