Watertown Savings Names New Senior Vice President for Operations

Watertown Savings Bank (WSB) President Brett Dean is pleased to announce that Lisa K. Nichols has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Operations. “Lisa has worked for WSB for 32 years, which in and of itself warrants attention,” Dean said. “Beyond longevity, Lisa is an extraordinarily hard working colleague who cares greatly about the Bank. I have seen her effort, passion, and care first-hand.”

“In the 145 year history of WSB, we have had six Senior Vice Presidents. Clearly, it is an important role and a major achievement that reflects many accomplishments.”

Nichols oversees the Bank’s Operations, BSA, and Customer Support departments. She is also the Bank’s liaison with Fiserv, WSB’s core processor.

Tons of Open Houses to Choose From This Weekend in Watertown

There are a wide variety of open houses this weekend, including a few new properties. $575,000 – 34 Desmond Unit 34, 7 room, 3 bed, 2 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday 12:30-2 p.m.

$479,900 – 8 Chandler St., 6 room, 2 bed, 1 bath antique, Open Houses: Saturday 1:30-3 p.m. Sunday 1:30-3 p.m.

$549,900 – 26 Hersom St., 6 room, 3 bed, 1.5 bath colonial, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30 p.m.

$679,000 – 16 Brimmer St. Unit 16, 8 room, 3 bed, 2 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday 12-2 p.m.

$499,999 – 5 Repton Cir. Unit 5402, 5 room, 2 bed, 2f bath garden condo, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30 p.m.

$619,900 – 7 Hilltop Road, 2 unit, 10 total room, 5 total bedroom 2 family, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 p.m. Sunday 12-2 p.m.

Sponsored by:

$339,900 – 19 Pierce Road Unit 64, 6 room, 2 bed, 1 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

$609,999 – 63-65 Parker St., 2 unit, 10 total room, 4 total bedroom, Open House: Sunday 12-2 p.m.

$899,000 – 21 Warwick Road, 2 unit, 6 total room, 6 total bedroom 2 family, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 p.m. Sunday 12-2 p.m.

$849,000 – 9 Purvis St. Unit 9, 9 room, 4 bed, 2 full 2 half bath townhouse, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30 p.m.

$849,000 – 7 Purvis St.

Here are This Week’s Open Houses Around Watertown

There are several homes holding open houses this weekend around town. $529,900 – 40 California St.. 6 room, 2 bed, 1.5 bath bungalow, Open House: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

$249,900 – 109 Warren St. Unit 4, 4 room, 2 bed, 1 bath mid-rise, Open House: Saturday 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

$395,000 – 101 Hillside Road Unit 101, 6 room, 2 bed, 1f 0h bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Saturday 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Sponsored by:

$849,000 – 9 Purvis St. U: 9, 9 room, 4 bed, 2 full 2 half bath townhouse, Open House: Sunday 12-1:230 p.m.

$849,000 – 7 Purvis St.

Town Council, Planning Board Will Have to Agree on RMUD Changes

When the hearing on the RMUD zoning changes was postponed, it meant the proposal was not voted on within the 90 day period, so a new procedure will be needed when the hearing is held on March 2. After Tuesday’s Council Meeting, Town Council President Mark Sideris said the meeting will be a joint session between the Town Council and the Planning Board. They will convene at the Watertown High School Auditorium on March 2 at 6 p.m.

While the Town Council will vote on the proposed changes to the zoning of the east end of Arsenal Street (including the malls and parts of Arsenal Street, Elm Street and Coolidge Avenue), the Planning Board must weigh in, too, Sideris said. “They have to have a say because we didn’t take up the proposal within 90 days,” Sideris said. The new zoning would allow residential, commercial and office developments in an area now zoned for industrial.

Date and Location of RMUD Meeting Has Been Changed, Again

Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced Tuesday that the meeting to discuss the Regional Mixed Use District zoning amendments has been changed. The original meeting date was cancelled due to snow. A joint public hearing on the Regional Mixed Use District Text and Map Amendment will be held with the Planning Board and Town Council on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 starting at 6 p.m. in the Watertown High School Auditorium, 50 Columbia Street, Watertown. The official meeting notice reads, in part:

BP Watertown Retail LLC submitted a petition request for a Zoning Ordinance Amendment and Map Amendment to create a new Zoning District, Regional Mixed Use District (RMUD), and further to amend the Watertown Zoning Ordinance (WZO). The amendments are intended to be in keeping with and implement the recently adopted 2015 Comprehensive Plan and the Future Land Use Map, which identifies an area for Regional Mixed Use. This request was reviewed by DCDP Staff and by the Planning Board and now includes amendments of, but may not be limited to:

Modified Definitions (open space),
Use Tables (mixed-use, cemeteries, assisted living, new/used vehicles for sale, light industry, heavy industry, and accessory uses) and Use Notes,
Dimensional Table (change of setbacks, coverage, impervious surface, minimum opens space, height)
Dimensional Notes (overall length and faced lengths),
new RMUD Section (intent, purpose, district delineation, dimensional criteria, authority, and procedure) – Creates a new Master Plan process and identifies the Planning Board as the permit granting authority
Site Plan Review (LEED and Energy Assessments requirements) and Parking, and updates to other sections as appropriate.

Monday’s RMUD Hearing Cancelled, New Date Set to Discuss Zoning Changes

{Note: The date and location of the RMUD meeting has been changed}

The much discussed Regional Mixed Use District zoning changes that would impact the area near the two malls will not be voted on until March at the earliest. The snow cancelled the RMUD hearing in front of the Town Council scheduled for Monday night. Town officials announced that a new joint public hearing on the RMUD Text and Map Amendment will be held with the Planning Board and Town Council on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 starting at 6 p.m. in the Watertown High School Auditorium, 50 Columbia Street, Watertown.

See the Winners of the Watertown Savings Customer Choice Awards

Watertown Savings Bank announced the winners of the Customer Choice Awards, and who will receive a share of the $85,000. Watertown Savings released the following announcement:

Voting in this year’s Customer Choice Awards reached a record high! We had just over 7,000 customers vote. Over 300 different organizations had votes, but only the non-profits that received at least 70 votes made the list of this year’s winners.  Click “full story” to see an alphabetical list of the winners. The awards night is scheduled for April 5.