Development

Residents, Business Owners Say Pleasant Street Zoning Changes Go Too Far

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The Planning Board got the first public input Wednesday night on proposals to change the Pleasant Street Corridor zoning rules and heard from a lot of business owners and residents who do not like the proposals. Some did not like the restriction of uses proposed by creating three different zones in the area. Others said the new rules to make the area less “canyon-ized” with tall, long buildings close to the street makes some parcels unbuildable. The Pleasant Street Corridor came into existence several years ago when the Town Council sought to redevelop unused or underused former industrial properties in the Westside of town. In the last couple years development has taken off, but virtually all have been residential, and mostly large apartment buildings.

Development

Major Arsenal Street Project Gets OK from Planning Board, Moves Onto ZBA

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The proposed apartment complex, market and restaurant got a grudging approval from the Watertown Planning Board, and now needs a vote from the Zoning Board for full approval. The project proposed by the Hanover Company and Cresset Development, includes a four-story residential building with nearly 300 apartment units (about 2/3 of which are one-bedroom units), space for a market, a restaurant and other retail along Arsenal Street. Located at 202-204 Arsenal Street and 58 Irving Street, the project got a 3-1 vote of approval from the Planning Board, with some conditions. Planning Board member Neal Corbett voted against the project. Changes

After the first Planning Board meeting, developers were asked to try to break up the look of the east side of the project to stop it from appearing like one big wall.

Government

Watertown Hires Town Engineer for Department of Public Works

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After years without one, Watertown’s Department of Public Works again has a Town Engineer. On Tuesday, Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced the hiring of Matthew Shuman. He will start his new job as Town Engineer on June 23. Shuman comes to Watertown after working as assistant town engineer for the Town of Winchester. Before that he worked with the towns of Melrose and Bedford.

Government

School Officials Will Try to Reduce Class Sizes, Mandated Positions Must Come First

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After finding out that they will not receive as much funding as they hoped, Watertown school officials will try to reduce class sizes with the money they have, said Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald. The schools asked for a $1 million on top of the $2.267 million increase in the preliminary town budget. Tuesday, they received $290,000. (See details from the meeting by clicking here). Last week Fitzgerald said about $640,000 from the $1 million request was needed to cover the increase in special education costs, and the remaining money would go to hire teachers to reduce class sizes.

Sports

Watertown Enjoys Success at All State Track Meet

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The Raiders continued a successful track season at the All State Meet at Bridgewater State on Saturday. Junior Brian DallaCosta followed up his win in the pentathlon at the Div. 4 Meet with a fifth place at the All State Meet. He scored 2,634 points

Senior James Garbier finished seventh in the 800 meter run with a time of 1:55.13. Sophomore Austin Lin got 14th in the 400 meter run and the boys 4 x 400 relay finished 18th.

Government

Town Budget Includes Boost for Schools, but Not as Much as Requested

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The Town Council passed a budget Tuesday night that includes a $290,000 boost for special education costs, but not the $1 million requested last week by the School Committee or the amount requested by the Superintendent in April. The money from the amendment brings the total education budget to $39.232 million, an increase of $2.557 million. Also approved were two one-time curriculum fundings of $210,000 in Fiscal 2014 and $750,000 in Fiscal 2015. The total increase is a 9.59 percent increase over Fiscal 2014, said Town Manager Michael Driscoll. The amendment fell short of the $1 million requested by the School Committee last week ($640,000 for special education and $360,000 to reduce class sizes).

Police/Fire

Medical Examiner Releases Ruling on Deaths of 2 Boston Firefighters

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The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled that the death of two Boston Firefighters – including Watertown-native Edward Walsh – was accidental. The deaths of Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy in the 9-alarm Back Bay fire were caused by smoke inhalation and thermal injuries. The cause of the fire was sparks from welders that ignited the building next door. No criminal charges have been filed, but the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office continues to investigate the incident, according to WBZ-TV. Walsh was honored with a wake and funeral Mass in Watertown.

Around Town

Man Busted on OUI When Making Late Night Drink Run

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A Mattapan man faces drunken driving charges after police spotted him speeding and trying to go to a liquor store after 2 a.m.

At 2:41 a.m. on June 7, an officer was helping another officer on a traffic stop when he spotted a car speeding on Arsenal Street, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. The driver also did not show any attempts at being cautious when going past the police cruisers. The vehicle then made a sharp turn into the parking lot of Arsenal Wine & Spirits. which was closed at the time. “The officer observed the individual banging on the door of the liquor store,” Lawn said.