Police/Fire

Police Log: Car Stolen Off Street, Handgun Found in River

By |

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

April 14, 12:13 a.m.: Witnesses called police after seeing a silver and black SUV driving down Main Street with a flat tire and being driven erratically. The vehicle swerved a few times and almost lost control. Police located the vehicle on Prescott Street, and the driver was in the front seat slouched forward and asleep. It took several attempts for officers to wake the man in the car.

Government

Comprehensive Plan to Include Focus on Local Business, Diversifying New Developments

By |

The revised draft of Watertown’s Comprehensive Plan will include some new additions and points of emphasis about supporting small businesses and seeking to diversify the local economy after the input provided by residents earlier this year. On Thursday afternoon, he Planning Advisory Committee heard about the public input from the open house in March, as well as online surveys and emails sent to the project team. They also learned about the process for the final approval of the Comprehensive Plan. Phil Schaeffing, the project manager with Stantec, said the input came from a room full of people during the March 9 open house at the Watertown Library, which was also attended by several people online. They received both spoken and written comments at the event.

Around Town

Watertown’s First Sculpture Walk Being Installed, Grand Opening Planned

By |

Liz HelferThe first piece of the Watertown Community Sculpture Walk arrives on Monday. Installation of Watertown’s newest public art installation, the Community Sculpture Walk, began this week when the first of four pieces was erected in Saltonstall Park. The other three sculptures will be installed next week, said Liz Helfer, Watertown’s Public Arts & Culture Planner. Two of the sculptures will be along the path through Saltonstall Park (near City Hall and the Watertown Boys & Girls Club). The other two will be along the section of the Community Path between Whites Avenue and Waverley Avenue.

Around Town

Athenahealth Leaving Watertown, Heading Down the Road

By |

Athenahealth will be leaving its longtime home in Watertown and the company’s headquarters will be relocated to Brighton. For nearly 20 years the health care tech company has been located at the Arsenal on the Charles, a complex the company once owned. Athena has leased 100,000 sq. ft. at Boston Landing in Brighton for its corporate headquarters, the according to the Real Reporter.

Government

Petition to Reduce Size of Buildings Allowed in Watertown Square Sent to Planning Board

By |

The City Council voted to send the petition requesting that the allowable size of new buildings in Watertown Square be reduced to the Planning Board for consideration. Councilors did not weigh in on the request, and were told they were required by statute to send the petition on. The petition submitted with the signatures of more than 200 residents calls for the floor area ratio (FAR) be reduced from 4.0 to 2.2 in the Central Business District, which includes most of Watertown Square. FAR regulates and restricts the height, number of stories, and size of buildings. Other factors impacting the mass and height of the building include the allowable height, the required setbacks from property lines, and the amount of open space required.

Around Town

Public Input on Comprehensive Plan to be Discussed Thursday by Planning Advisory Committee

By |

The Planning Advisory Committee will review the input on the Comprehensive Plan received from the public at a meeting on Thursday. The Comprehensive Plan is being updated after being first adopted in 2015. It serves as the primary planning document for Watertown and covers a variety of areas including: economic development, housing, transportation, open space and recreation, and sustainability. The City held public forums on the plan in September and in March. See more about the Comprehensive Plan update on the project webpage.