Government

Public Sees Visions for Renovation Coolidge Square, Weighs In on Project

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Town officials invited the public to come give its ideas for how to redesign and improve Mt. Auburn Street in the area of Coolidge Avenue, while making the area more efficient for motor vehicles, buses, bicycles and pedestrians. Currently, the street has two lanes of traffic in each direction and parking on both sides of the street, but no dedicated bike lanes. Some ideas for changing the street include cutting the number of lanes of traffic to one each way with left turn lanes at intersections, adding bike lanes and making sidewalks wider in some places to allow easier crossings for pedestrians. Planning for all modes of transportation is known as Complete Streets.

Government

State Sen. Brownsberger Hosting Series of Town Halls, Including in Watertown

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State Senator Will Brownsberger – whose district includes Watertown – will host a series of town halls throughout his district in February, his office announced. These events are free and open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend to share their thoughts on current events and legislative priorities.Allston/Brighton: Thursday, February 8 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Presentation School, New Balance Community Room | 640 Washington Street, Brighton

Watertown: Saturday, February 10 from 12 – 2 p.m.
Watertown Free Public Library, Savings Bank Room | 123 Main Street, Watertown

Belmont: Saturday, February 10 from 3 – 5 p.m.
Beech Street Center | 266 Beech Street, Belmont

Fenway: Sunday, February 11 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Fenway Community Center | 1282 Boylston Street, Boston

West Fens/Northeastern: Sunday, February 11 from 5 – 7 p.m.
Emerald Necklace Conservancy | 125 Fenway, Boston

Back Bay: Monday, February 12 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
First Church Boston | 66 Marlborough Street, Boston

Allston/Brighton: Tuesday, February 13 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
All-Bright Community Center | 1285-B Commonwealth Avenue, Boston

Coolidge Square

UPDATED: See the Concept for Redesigning Mt. Auburn St. in Coolidge Square, Give Input Tuesday

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{Updated Jan. 29, 2018 at 10:45 a.m. The plans previously posted are out of date, and maps will be available to review at the meeting on Jan. 30.} 

The Department of Public Works will host an open house on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018 to discuss the plans to change the layout of Mt. Auburn Street in Coolidge Square. 

The project is part of the greater effort to redesign Mt.

Government

Schools, Streets Make Up Big Part of Watertown’s 5 Year Capital Plan

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The town would spend nearly $450 million on building projects and equipment under the recommended five-year Capital Improvement Plan. The plan is nearly $80 million higher than the five-year plan for 2018-22, due in part to upcoming school building projects.Town Manager Michael Driscoll presented the conceptual Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for Fiscal Years 2019-23 Tuesday night. The plan will be considered by the Council’s Budget & Fiscal Oversight Committee as it considers the budget for Fiscal Year 2019, which begins June 30, 2018. The Building for the Future school renovation or rebuilding projects makes up a large portion of the plan. The plan has $283.7 million set aside in total, with $125.1 million for the three elementary schools and $158.6 million for the high school project.

Councilor Bays

LETTER: 13-Year-Old Boy Disappointed With Councilor Bays Kneeling During Pledge of Allegiance

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Editor,

Just to introduce myself, my name is Antonio Molle, I am a 13- year old lifelong resident of Watertown. I am writing to express my extreme disappointment and frustration in Town Councilor Caroline Bays for taking a knee during the pledge of allegiance at the recent town council inauguration. An elected official is expected to set a good example for all citizens, especially our town’s youngest citizens. Being proud of our country means being a good role model. Before long, some Watertown students will be kneeing during the pledge of allegiance at the beginning of each school day.

Government

Town Councilors, School Committee Members Get Subcommittee Assignments

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With the new term starting for the Town Council and School Committee, both boards elected their officers and announced committee assignments during their first meeting in January. The Town Council unanimously approved District C Councilor Vincent Piccirilli to another term as Vice President at the Jan. 9 meeting. On Jan. 8, the School Committee voted to appoint John Portz to another two years as Chairman.

Development

Planning Board Scrutinizes Pleasant Street Project, Sends it Back for Redesign

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The proposed project on a thin strip of land at 385-393 Pleasant Street ran into problems at the Watertown Planning Board, when board members had problems with the density of the project and particularly with how close some of the new buildings would be to houses behind the project. 

The Planning Board voted last week to continue the discussion of the project at the intersection of Pleasant and Rosedale Road, which proposes to have 58 apartments, townhouses and 11,500 sq. ft. of commercial space. The design team for the developers – Amstel Heritage Watertown LLC – already appeared before the Planning Board in November and brought back an altered plan that removed one of the townhouse buildings on the east end of the site. The unites were moved on top of the existing warehouse building on the west side of the project.

Government

Planning Board Recommends Moratorium on Recreational Marijuana in Watertown

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The Planning Board voted unanimously Wednesday to recommend that the Town Council adopt a 12-month moratorium on recreational marijuana facilities in Watertown. The state ballot question to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana passed more than a year ago, but the town has not adopted any policy on recreational marijuana facilities, said Watertown Senior Planner Gideon Schreiber. “We have been waiting for the state to come out with their guidance and they still haven’t come out with their guidance,” Schreiber said. Watertown allows medical marijuana facilities in industrial zones, and the town has approved a medical marijuana facility to go on Elm Street. To go to a medical marijuana facility in Massachusetts, people must have a state medical marijuana ID card, only available with a prescription from a doctor. Recreational marijuana facilities would be open to anyone 21 or older.