Around Town

DCR Celebrating Groundbreaking for Charles River Riverfront Project

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A flurry of work can already be seen along the Charles River, east of Watertown Square, and the official groundbreaking for the construction project will be held on Monday, July 21. The work is phase I of the Watertown Riverfront Park Project and goes from the Founders Monument to Perkins Hill. Improvements include reconstructing pathways, additions of river overlooks and a sensory trail for vision impaired students. The work is due to be completed this fall. Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Maeve Bartlett, DCR Commissioner Jack Murray, Senator Will Brownsberger, State Rep. Jonathan Hecht and other local officials will be at the ceremony.

Development

Council, Planning Board Worry Comprehensive Plan is Too Specific

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As they started to delve into the draft of the 200-plus pages of the Watertown Comprehensive Plan, members of the Planning Board and Town Council said some of it has too many details that could lock the town into something that does not make sense. The group, made up of the Planning Board and the Council’s Economic Development and Planning subcommittee, looked at the vision statement and the Land Use portion of the plan on July 14. Some of the things that worried them was that some of the goals had specific numbers for how to change zoning or building requirements. Planning Board Chairman John Hawes said he is not comfortable the statement in the Arsenal Street Corridor section saying that residential projects with frontages right on the street should be allowed, as well as the statement that the setback should be reduced from the current 25 feet. “I think that needs more discussion,” Hawes said.

Environment

See How Many People Signed up for the Solarize Watertown Program

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Enough Watertown residents took part in the Solarize Massachusetts program to reach the second highest level, which will result in savings for those taking part. 

The program was open to Watertown residents and businesses, and 28 photovoltaic solar systems will be installed around Watertown through the program, Solarize Watertown announced. Combined, the systems will provide 136 kilowatts of solar energy. Watertown Solar Coach Matt Riegert said residents who act quickly can still take part in the program. “Although the program officially ended on June 30th, the Solarize Watertown designated installer, Next Step Living, is honoring the Tier 4 pricing through the month of July,” Riegert said. The program is jointly run by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.

Government

Town Council Approves Medical Marijuana Zoning

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The Town Council approved a zoning change that would allow medical marijuana dispensaries in certain parts of Watertown. 

The facilities would only be allowed in areas zoned for industrial use (I-1, I-2 or I-3). The marijuana dispensaries would not be allowed to operate within 500 feet of a place where children commonly congregate, such as schools, parks and child care facilities. The Council voted 6-1, with Councilor Angeline Kounelis, who represents East Watertown, voting against the proposal. “There was a statement that these would be in ‘out of the way locations.'” Kounelis said. “The out of the way locations are all in East End of Watertown.

Development

Zoning Board Approves Major Arsenal Street Project

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The major residential and retail project at 202-204 Arsenal Street received final approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals Wednesday night. 

The project includes a four-story, 297-unit apartment building (with 30 affordable rate units), as well as an 80-seat restaurant and a 33,000-square-foot market on Arsenal Street, a little east of Irving Street. The Zoning Board gave its approval after a lengthy discussion and with certain conditions, said Watertown Community Development and Planning Director Steve Magoon. Among the conditions that were already recommended by town Planning staff were that the developers contribute to a transportation management association (TMA) to provide additional public transit to the area. Also, the project will also make improvements to the Community Path along the length of the project. Tuesday night the Zoning Board added some conditions, Magoon said.

Development

Residents Want Developments to Take Account for Nearby Neighborhoods

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With developments along Arsenal Street coming closer and closer, residents have requested that new projects take into account the residential areas near where they will be built, and get that these areas get the some of same protections as the Charles River. Many projects focus on the front of the development and the look from the street, but residents at the Comprehensive Plan Review meeting said their homes should also be taken into account. “Developments need to be blended into the fabric of the neighborhood,” said resident Rena Baskin. She suggested having rules about where green space should go so that developers know what to expect. “They should have green space, not in the middle of the building but near the neighborhood or on the river,” Baskin said.

Government

See Who was Named the New Assistant Town Manager

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Town Manager Michael Driscoll will get some assistance running the municipal government and it will come from a person familiar to many in Watertown. Steve Magoon, the director of Community Development and Planning, will now also be the Assistant Town Manager. Driscoll announced his appointment at Tuesday night’s Town Council meeting. Magoon will continue to serve as director of Community Development and Planning, and take on some special projects and areas. His new duties will include:

Serve as acting town manager in the absence of the Town Manager
Serve as the town’s designee to the MBTA Advisory Board and as the Municipal Hearing Officer
Serve as a member of the budget team
Monitor various projects involving on-call architecture services
Coordinate with the Department of Public Works on maximizing the use of capital funds and departmental resources, as well as providing information to the general public in a timely, readily accessible fashion
Oversee the examination of changes in staffing and/or the processes needed to better handle enforcement of non-criminal ordinances and regulations such as snow removal, improper garbage disposal, permit violations and the like
Oversee other projects as needed

The appointment came about after a study of the town’s leadership recommended that a deputy town manager be hired.