Arsenal Park

Town Officials Want to Hear from Public About Changes to Arsenal Park

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Planning for redesigning Arsenal Park has begun, and Watertown officials want to hear from the public about how they think the park should be improved. The first Arsenal Park Design Community meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 15 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Watertown Library (123 Main St.) in the Watertown Savings Bank Room. The park sits next to the Arsenal Yards, the former Arsenal Mall, which is undergoing renovations and expansion. While redesigning of the park Town officials are looking at how the park fits with the new mixed use project which will have apartments and a hotel along with the shops and restaurants. Arsenal Park currently includes a grass field sometimes used for softball and soccer, tennis courts, basketball courts, a skate park, grill and picnic tables and a gazebo, among other features.

athenahealth

Councilors Look at Rash of Problems Popping up on Charles River Road

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Residents of Charles River Road, and nearby streets, told Town officials that the street has been bombarded with problems in recent months, from construction trucks to speeding cars to people parking on their streets. After residents complained about trucks carrying prefabricated pieces of concrete for the garage being built by Athenahealth, the town created certain routes and times when the deliveries can be made. Residents said they are still being delivered early in the morning. In May, residents brought up their concerns to the Town, saying they did not think that trucks were allowed on Charles River Road, which is a parkway along the river. At a meeting of the Town Council’s Public Works subcommittee, Public Works Superintendent Gerry Mee said the Massachusetts Department of Transportation gave the trucks special permits to use the road.

Elections

Candidate for 2-Year School Committee Seat is a Parent and Teacher

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The first candidate for the two-year School Committee seat has been certified to be on the ballot, and the first-time challenger has experience as a Watertown parent and as a teacher in another school system. Lindsay Mosca will run for the School Committee seat being vacated by Candace Miller, who announced she will step down because she is leaving town. The two-year seat will be on the Town Election ballot in November, but will be separate from the four-year School Committee seats. Mosca sent out the following information:
I have lived in Watertown with my husband, Justin, since 2005. Our two young children, Jennie and Jacob (5 and 7 years old), attend the Lowell Elementary School. I teach mathematics at Lexington High School, and my husband is an engineer at VHB in Watertown.

Assisted Living

Town Council OKs Assisted Living Facilities in Parts of Watertown

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Assisted living facilities will now be allowed in certain areas of Watertown after the Town Council approved a change in the town’s zoning ordinance, but some were uncomfortable approving it for an entire zone rather than just for the spot where a developer hopes to put up a facility. The zoning change impacts the Industrial 3 Zone – the I-3 Zone. The proposal for the zoning change came forward from the Department of Community Development and Planning after a developer approached the town interested in putting up a facility for seniors to live and receive nursing care and other services on the site of the Super 8 Motel on North Beacon Street. The zoning change would allow assisted living facilities in the I-3 zone, but the applicant would have to get a special permit with site plan review from the Planning and Zoning Boards. The ground floor would need to have non-residential uses, such as retail.

Building for the Future

School Renovation Projects to be Discussed When School, Town Officials Meet

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All five Watertown public schools will be renovated over the next several years during the Building for the Future project but before the work can begin projects must be approved not only by the School Committee, but also the Town Council. Ultimately Watertown voters will have to approve funding. On Thursday, July 27, a joint meeting of the School Committee and Town Council will be held to start discussions of the school renovation projects. Consultants Ai3 will present their recommendations at the meeting, which will be at 6 p.m. in the Council Chamber in Town Hall, 149 Main St., Watertown. According to the timeline created by Ai3 (see the timeline here), the three elementary would be worked on first.

Government

Town Holding Community Discussion on Airplane Noise Over Watertown

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Watertown residents will have their chance to be heard about noise from airplanes heading to and from Logan Airport at a community meeting. 

The Town sent out the following announcement:

Join Senator Will Brownsberger, Representative Jon Hecht, and District A Councilor Angie Kounelis for a discussion about Airport noise in Watertown

Date:  July 25, 2017
Place:  Coolidge School Apartments, 319 Arlington Street, Watertown
Time:  7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Cost:  Free and Open to the Public

AGENDA
Greetings/Introductions – All

History/Review – Andrea Adams, Watertown Senior Planner, Town’s Representative to the MassPort Community Advisory Committee (10 minutes)

Recent Studies – Myron Kassaraba, Town of Belmont’s MassPort Community Advisory Committee Member (15 minutes)

Legislative Efforts
Watertown District A Councilor Angeline B. Kounelis (10 minutes)
Representative Jon Hecht (10 minutes)
Senator Will Brownsberger (10

minutes)

Community Discussion

Call to Action/Adjourn

Development

Planning Board Approves Hotel and Garage at Arsenal Yards

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After hearing complaints about the design of the proposed Hampton Inn & Suites hotel at Arsenal Yards, designers simplified the look and reduced the number of colors to be used. The Planning Board approved of the changes and voted to approve Phase 2 of the renovation of the former Arsenal Mall on Wednesday night. Phase 2 includes Building B which has retail space on the ground floor and above it a hotel on Arsenal Street with a garage as you go back from the street. When the drawings were first presented at a community meeting in May, people complained materials used were not the red brick of the historic Watertown Arsenal, and that too many colors and materials were used on the outside. Planning Board member Janet Buck said that she did not like the first rendering of the hotel.

Fallen Firefighter

Town Exploring Creating Memorial to Fallen Watertown Firefighter

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The corner of the street where the fire that took the life of Watertown Firefighter Joe Toscano occurred could be named in his honor, as Watertown firefighters seek to create a memorial for their fallen comrade. Tuesday night, the proposal was brought forward officially by East End Town Councilor Angeline Kounelis, who was supported by members of the Watertown Fire Department. “This past March 17 a tragedy occurred in our community, something I hope we never go through again,” Kounelis said. “It is a morning that many of us will never forget.” She proposed that the Town honor Toscano for making the “ultimate sacrifice” of giving his life in the line of duty by creating a permanent memorial.