Around Town

Town Solves Filippello Park Parking Problems for Fall, Not Long Term Ones

By |

Watertown’s Filippello Park draws many visitors, from those going for a stroll, to children enjoying the playground, to sports leagues playing on the softball or soccer fields. The demand usually ramps up during the evenings, and park users will park on nearby streets, so residents of those areas struggle to find a spot of their own. 

Monday night, the Town of Watertown held a meeting about plans for the park during the fall, but the room full or residents had bigger issues on their minds. Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon announced that the two playing fields at Filippello Park will not close, as previously discussed, during the fall. The Town looked for field space in other towns, or at Daly Field, in Brighton, but little was available, and none with lights. With the fields remaining open, parking had to be found because the main lot off Grove Street will be closed while the entrance that end of the park is renovated during the fall.

Government

Find Out When You Can Meet with State Rep. Jonathan Hecht

By |

Representative Jonathan Hecht will hold office hours once in Watertown this July, his office announced. Constituents are invited to meet with Representative Hecht at the following time and location:
Tuesday, July 24th, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Watertown Town Hall, 149 Main St, Watertown, 3rd Floor hallway
Anyone unable to attend these office hours can call Representative Hecht at 617-722-2140 to schedule an appointment at another time.

Bicycling

OP-ED: State Sen. Brownsberger Pushing to Make Roads Safer for Bicyclists

By |

(The following piece was provided by State Sen. Will Brownsberger (D – Belmont) who also represents Watertown and parts of Boston)
When I cycled across the country in 2011, I saw a lot of roadkill. I was constantly aware that all it would take was one mistake by me or by one of those caffeinated guys in big rigs and I’d look about the same. On the open road, I developed a profound gratitude towards the tens of thousands of drivers who did not hit me. The Senate just approved a safety package that would require a clearance of at least three feet for vehicles passing vulnerable road users like highway workers, cyclists and pedestrians.  It would add an additional foot of required clearance for each ten miles per hour of speed.

Election 2018

Watertown Republican State Committeewoman Endorses Diehl for Senate

By |

The Diehl for Senate campaign provided the following press release:

Representative Geoff Diehl, the endorsed Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, announced that he has received the endorsement of Republican State Committeewoman Deborah Dugan of Watertown. “I am pleased to endorse Geoff Diehl for U.S. Senate. As a State Representative, Geoff has done more for the people of Massachusetts than Senator Warren has done as a United States Senator,” said Dugan. “I am honored to have received Debby’s endorsement. She is extremely hard worker and her strong support will help us win Watertown,” said Diehl.

Development

Planning Board to Hear Arguments for Amendment for Taller Tower at Arsenal Yards in July

By |

At its next meeting the Planning Board will hear arguments from the developers of Arsenal Yards about their requested amendment to increase the allowable height in the area to 197 feet. The proposed amendment to the Regional Mixed Use District (RMUD) section of the Zoning Ordinance would increase the maximum height by 67 feet over the currently allowed 130 feet. The maximum height is allowed if a parcel is 10 acres or more. The Planning Board will discuss the amendment on July 11, 2018 at the meeting that begins at 7 p.m. in Town Hall. The item is comes after two other cases.

Government

Filippello Park Improvement Project Moves Forward, Town Holding Meeting on Closing of Field

By |

The reconstruction of one section of Filippello Park got the Town Council’s approval, and a meeting will be held the temporary closing of the field on the Grove Street side of the park. On June 26, the Town Council approved borrowing $1,287,000 to fund the renovation of the area near the park entrance off Grove Street. The lowest bid came from Heimlich Landscaping & Construction, which was one of two bids, said Glenn Howard, landscape architect with CDM Smith. Many of the Councilors said they happy to approve the funding for the park improvements, which passed 9-0. “I am really excited about this,” said Councilor Anthony Donato.

Development

Zoning Board Delays Vote on Apartment Building on Morse Street

By |

The third time was not the charm, at least not yet, for developers seeking the approval of the Zoning Board to turn the former factory building into an apartment building. The developers of 101-103 Morse Street appeared before the Zoning Board in April and June 2017, and were back again last week. Each time the number of units in the development were cut, first from 48 to 40, then from 40 to 36. The project is located south of Watertown Street in a T Zone (two family). The building, however, started as a factory and then became a massage school, so it is a legal non-conforming use.

Government

OP-ED: Mass. Senate Passes Act to Reduce Pedestrian/Bicycle Fatalities

By |

State Sen. Will Brownsberger released the following piece on legislation, of which he was the lead sponsor, to increase bicycle and pedestrian safety:

The Massachusetts State Senate voted Thursday, July 28, 2018 to pass legislation that aims to create safer streets for all road users. Developed in collaboration with a coalition of bicycle, pedestrian and transportation advocates, S.2570, An Act to reduce traffic fatalities, includes several measures to improve road safety, lessen the severity of crashes, and standardize the collection and analysis of crash data. The bill classifies several groups, including pedestrians, utility workers, first responders and cyclists, as “vulnerable road users,” and requires motor vehicles to apply a “safe passing distance” of at least three feet when traveling 30 miles per hour or less with an additional foot of clearance required for every 10 miles per hour over 30 miles per hour. Current law only requires motor vehicle operators to pass at “a safe distance and at a reasonable and proper speed.” The bill would further require a vehicle that is overtaking a vulnerable road user to use all or part of the adjacent lane, crossing the center line if necessary, when it cannot pass at a safe distance in the same lane and only when it is safe to do so. “We need to keep working year after year to achieve a future in which traffic fatalities get as close as possible to zero,” said Senator William N. Brownsberger (D-Belmont), lead sponsor of the bill in the Senate.