Development

Planning Board OKs Seven Story Parking Garage at Arsenal on the Charles

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The Planning Board gave the go ahead to the owners of the Arsenal on the Charles to build a parking garage that will be 90 feet tall. 

The parking structure will have seven stories, which will reach the maximum height of 79 feet, and then will have a “green” roof with grass or other things growing on it. This roof will increase the height to 90 feet. The roof is needed so the top floor does not have to be plowed when it snows. The garage will have about 1,800 spaces, and will allow owners athenahealth to remove the same number of spaces from ground level in the complex that stretches along Arsenal Street, said Larry Beals, architect with Beals Associates Inc. which is designing the garage and other changes in the Arsenal. When completed 94 percent of the parking will be in garages, compared to 58 percent now. Residents worried about the size of the structure.

Government

Grant Will Provide Watertown Firefighters With New Set of Protective Gear

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Watertown firefighters will have a new set protective clothing to fight fires thanks to a federal grant awarded recently. Last week, Watertown Fire Chief Mario Orangio received notification that the Watertown Fire Department will receive $186,750, or 90 percent of the cost of purchasing a new set of “turnout gear,” through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG). “I am pleased to report that our application to the AFG equipment program has been awarded,” Orangio said. “This award allows us to purchase 83 new sets of gear replacing some as old as 10 years.” The town will have to provide the remaining 10 percent of the cost, $20,750, Orangio said.

Police/Fire

See What Authorities Found in the Suspected Meth Lab House

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Police discovered a variety of items suspected to be used to purify methamphetamine into the crystal form when they search the suspects home on Winter Street on Friday. Kyle Tuschall, 31, of Watertown, who suspected of running a small meth lab in his apartment, was released of $5,000 bail after being arraigned on Monday at Waltham District Court. When police and Drug Enforcement agents searched Tuschall’s home, which he shares with his girlfriend, they found a variety of items which police believe are used for processing meth. (See the previous article by clicking here). Items included lab glassware, chemicals, butane lighters, marijuana pipes, coffee filters and a self-made water filtration system.

Letters

LETTER: Resident Asks for Moratorium on New Big Projects on Arsenal Street

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Dear Director of Planning, Town Council members, Chairman of the Planning Commission and Zoning Officer,

I would like to urge you as a group to give serious consideration to imposing a temporary moratorium on large new projects on the Arsenal corridor while a master plan is developed and zoning is re-written, in order that all development be thoughtfully evaluated in this critical area. The town needs to gain input from stakeholders and to proceed carefully; these decisions will affect residents for many years to come, including my children  and their children. I have lived in Watertown since 1975 and love this community. I want to see it continue to be a place that balances development with the needs of it residents so that it can continue to maintain its strong community orientation. The Community Development and Planning Department has worked hard to develop a Comprehensive Plan; it should be utilized.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Arrested for Beating on Car, Employee Caught Stealing Cash

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests

June 2, 2:51 p.m.: A 39-year-old Watertown man was arrested on domestic assault and battery charges. June 2, 9:20 p.m.: Police went to Starbucks after receiving a report of a man attempting to break into a car in the parking lot. The man was banging on a Honda Civic. The owner of the car told police that he did not know the person banging on the car.

Around Town

Tufts Health Plan Lends a Helping Hand Around Watertown

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Groups of people in blue T-shirts could be seen around Watertown last week working on a variety of projects – all part of the Tufts Health Plan Corporate Volunteer Day. More than 130 employees of the company based on Mt. Auburn Street in Watertown took part in the company’s sixth annual volunteer day. Some cleared brush and planted flowers and plants at the Commander’s Mansion and the Old Burying Place; while others painted the railing at Watertown’s Main Street Bridge, buildings at Arsenal Park and a wall at Filippello Park.  

A wall on Baptist Walk (off Mt.

Around Town

Watertown Girl Scouts Spend the Night in the Woods

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Girl Scouts from around Watertown spent last Saturday night in the woods. The scouts headed to Camp Cedar Hill in Waltham where they spent the day doing crafts, hiking and playing field games. “Each girl was encouraged to be independent and self sufficient” said Encampment Director, Emma Galloway, “That’s what Girl Scouts is all about; Building courage, confidence, and character!” Some of the activities included practicing to build a fire, archery, stargazing and cooking their dinner over a campfire. They also played field games such as empty pizza-box relay (with boxes donated by BHOP), beach volleyball and pool-noodle caber toss.

Police/Fire

See Footage of the Watertown Meth Lab Suspect Being Arrested

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The arrest of the man suspected of running a small meth lab in Watertown was captured by WBZ-TV. Kyle Tuschall, 31, of 10 Winter St., was arrested when he tried to push through police who had cordoned off the home where they found materials believed to be used to turn powder methamphetamine into the crystal form on Friday. See the WBZ footage in the video above. Neighbors alerted police when they smelled a strange odor coming from the home. Hazardous material teams, State Police, Drug Enforcement Agency personnel and Watertown Police and Firefighters collected the items from the white house that sits just off Church Street, near the back parking lot of the Watertown Free Public Library.