Development

Town Council Meeting to Consider Watertown Design Standards, Guidelines

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About nine months of work, meetings and debate, Watertown’s new standards for developments in town will be considered for final approval by the Town Council. The Council scheduled a public hearing on June 30 at 6:30 p.m. in Town Hall on the proposed changes to the Zoning Ordinance that have been proposed as part of the design standards. The Council will also consider adopting a separate set of design guidelines. Guidelines help spell out how the town wants developments to be built and the standards are the language of the guidelines folded into the town’s zoning bylaws, said David Gamble, the consultant hired by the town to help create the new set of rules. The Council voted to create the standards and guidelines to help the town handle the influx of new development in town, particularly along Arsenal Street.

Around Town

Watertown Groups Hosting Healthy Aging Forum at Coolidge Apartments

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The next Watertown Healthy Aging Forum will take place on June 24 at the Apartments at Coolidge School. The event on Wednesday, June 24, 2015 from 7-9 p.m. (6:30 sign-in) at the Auditorium at the Coolidge School Apartments, 319 Arlington St., Watertown. The event is open to the public. Learn lessons from 5 towns where many people live to 100
We’ll view and discuss Blue Zones* videos
What key steps can all of us, youngsters – middle aged – or older, take to live healthier, longer lives? Can Watertown apply these lessons?

Government

Meet State Rep. John Hecht During His Upcoming Office Hours

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Watertown residents will have two opportunities to speak with State Rep. Jonathan Hecht in June. He will hold office hours on Monday, June 15 from 5-6 p.m. in the Raya Stern room in the Watertown Public Library and Thursday, June 18 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. in the small conference room on the third floor of Watertown Town Hall. Constituents are invited to meet with Rep. Hecht to discuss pending legislation or any other issue of concern to them. Anyone unable to attend these office hours can call Rep. Hecht at 617-722-2140 to schedule a meeting at another time.”

Schools

See Which Teachers Were Honored at the Watertown High School Graduation

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Several teachers received awards and recognition during the graduation ceremony for the Watertown High School Class of 2015 on Friday. Honorees included teachers at the high school and other schools around the district. The big award – Teacher of the Year – went to WHS music teacher Daniel Jordan, who was nominated by the faculty and staff at the high school. He has been a teacher at the high school for more than 20 years, and leads the band in concerts at the school, at athletic events, and special ceremonies such as the WHS Memorial Day Ceremony, said WHS Principal Shirley Lundberg

Jordan is always happy to collaborate with other teachers at the school. “I am really speechless,” Jordan said.

Government

Hearing Planned for Trees Scheduled to be Cut Down

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Watertown Tree Warden Christopher Hayward will hold a hearing about trees that are due to be cut down. Residents are welcome to attend and give comments about the trees. 

The hearing will be held on June 17, 2015 at 11:30 a.m. in the Watertown Administration Building (Town Hall), Lower Hearing Room

Here are the tree locations, diameter of the trunk and type of tree being discussed at the hearing:

8 Westland Road, 4”,  Oak

32 Lowell Ave., 15”, Norway maple

69 Lowell Ave., 17”, Norway maple

85 Lowell Ave., 18”, Norway maple

26/28 Fifield St., 22”, Norway maple

The hearing announcement adds:

Please note that you do not need to attend the Tree Hearing to be heard. If you cannot attend but are for or against the removal of any of the trees listed and want your thoughts to become public record, please email the Tree Warden at chayward@watertown-ma.gov. Your concerns will be read into the public record at the hearing. Your email must be received by me by 10:30 a.m. on June 17, 2015. If you have any questions, please contact Christopher Hayward at the email listed above or at 617-972-6426.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Church Broken Into, Paintings Stolen from Home

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
May 28, 12:30 p.m.: Police stopped a vehicle for having an expired inspection sticker and the officer discovered the driver had an outstanding warrant. A 34-year-old Watertown man was arrested for for a warrant from Woburn District Court for violating a restraining order. May 29, 6:24 p.m.: Employees from Pearle Vision spotted a man taking some eye glasses from the store at the Arsenal Project. They followed him until he was at the Dunkin Donuts in the mall.

Real Estate

See How Much These Four Watertown Condos Sold For This Week

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Three condos sold in Watertown this week. See the details here. $495,000 – 1 Angela Lane Unit 1, 5 room, 2 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo

$336,900 – 93 Franklin St Unit 1, 3 room, 1 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, 2 Family condo

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$335,000 – 4 Repton Cir Unit 4409, 3 room, 1 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, condo

$810,000 – 60-62 Riverside St., 2 unit, 10 total room, 4 total bedroom, 2 Family – Side by Side multi-family home

Schools

See Photos from Watertown High School Graduation 2015

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Watertown High School’s Class of 2015 celebrated completing their school career, and said good bye during Friday’s graduation ceremony. In front of packed stands at at Victory Field, 181 students received their diplomas. (See the list of graduates here). Valedictorian Molly Day noted that students spent more than 4,500 hours on campus during their four years at WHS. The school provided them with some perspectives that not every high schooler gets.