Arsenal Project

New RMUD Zoning That Will Transform the Area Around the Malls is Approved

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After months of debate and revisions, the Town Council and Planning Board approved new zoning on Wednesday that will vastly change the east end of Arsenal Street, near the two malls. 

The Regional Mixed Use District, or RMUD, will change the area from one zoned for heavy industry to a place where a mix of retail, residential and office will be allowed. This opens the way for a major overhaul of the former Arsenal Mall. The plan was approved unanimously by the Planning Board, but the Town Council split 7-2, with Angeline Kounelis and Michael Dattoli voting against the plan. Kounelis said she could support the zoning changes for the Arsenal Project, having seen proposal made by Boylston Properties, the owner of the mall. She said she could not support the zoning changes for the rest of the area, not knowing what is coming.

Election 2016

Watertown Candidates Find Success in Races for State Committee

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Super Tuesday was good for Watertown candidates. Four won their election to represent their party’s state committee, including two with contested races. Watertown Democrat Steve Owens won his race against Boston’s David Kazis with nearly 63 percent of the vote. Owens won 14,163 to 8,362. Republican Steve Aylward of Watertown received 65 percent of the vote and defeated Neil Edward St.

Election 2016

See Who Watertown Backed in the Massachusetts Presidential Primary

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Watertown residents favored Bernie Sanders by a small margin in the Democratic primary, and heavily backed Donald Trump on the Republican side in Tuesday’s Massachusetts Presidential Primary. Sanders won 8 of 12 precincts and came out ahead of Hillary Clinton in Watertown, 4,422 to 4,338 in the unofficial results from Tuesday’s election.  Martin O’Malley received 24 votes and Roque de la Fuente got 14 votes. Trump received 1,223 votes, or 49 percent of the GOP ballots. Marco Rubio narrowly beat John Kasich – 460 to 458 – for the second most votes in town.

Government

Gov. Baker Names Head of Watertown Addiction Recovery Center to State Board

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Watertown’s efforts to end addiction and fight the opioid crisis have been noticed at the state level, and one of the local leaders has been appointed by Gov. Charlie Baker to serve on a state board. 

What had been scheduled to be a regular meeting of the Watertown Access to Treatment, Education and Resources Task Force (WATERtown) turned into a celebration of member Woody Giessmann’s new position. Gov. Baker came to the Watertown Free Public Library to swear in Giessmann to his seat on the Massachusetts Board of Registration and Medicine. Giessmann was a member of the Del Fuegos, and is in long term recovery. He is founder and CEO of Right Turn, an outpatient treatment center for those seeking to recover from addiction located in Watertown. “I judge myself not by what I have, but what I am willing to give,” Giessmann said.

Development

Concerned Homeowners Host Meeting on Proposed Changes to Residential Property

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Concerned Watertown Homeowners Association invites the public to a meeting about proposed changes to the town’s zoning that would impact one and two family homes. 

The group sent out the following announcement:

All are welcome to attend our public meeting on Thursday March 3rd and learn more about The potential Watertown Residential Design Guidelines and how they can effect YOU the Watertown home owner! March 3 at 7 p.m. – Public Meeting of Watertown Concerned Homeowner’s Association at the Watertown Public Libary, Savings Bank Room – 123 Main Street

For more information about our association and the Watertown Residential Design Guidelines check out our website watertownpropertyrights.org.

Government

LETTER: East End Councilor Reacts to Decision on Film on Watertown Shootout

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First and foremost, no resident of Watertown should ever be made to feel that an issue or event is allowed to “fly under the radar;” a statement that has been echoed on numerous occasions these past couple of weeks specific to this matter. In my opinion, four residents of one street does not constitute neighborhood involvement without broader notification. Especially, when we speak of an event of a very sensitive nature that impacted the entire East End of Watertown, community-at-large and surrounding cities and towns. For the record, a designee of Town Manager Michael Driscoll, Steve Magoon, Assistant Town Manager and Director of Community Development and Planning was present at the Feb. 12, 2016 meeting.

Elections

See When Watertown Democrats Will Elect Delegates to State Convention

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Democrats in Watertown will be holding a caucus in the Watertown Savings Bank Room of the Watertown Free Public Library on Sunday, March 13 at 2 p.m. to elect 23 delegates and four alternates to the 2016 Massachusetts Democratic Convention, where Democrats from across the commonwealth will gather to meet fellow activists and hear from elected officials. The convention will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. “This year’s caucuses are an opportunity to renew our commitment to the grassroots and elect Democrats up and down the ballot in 2016,” said Massachusetts Democratic Party Chairman, Senator Tom McGee. “Together we will be ready to take on the challenges that lay ahead.” The caucus is open to all registered Democrats in Watertown and the Democratic Party warmly welcomes first-time participants.

Government

Town Looking for Routes for Community Path Through Watertown Square

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Bicyclists and runners already enjoy using parts of the Community Path, but they do not link up in one key area – Watertown Square. The Town Council’s Public Works subcommittee is exploring ways to create a link between the path that runs along Arsenal Street (and links to the path behind Target) and the one that goes through Saltonstall Park and extends to Waverley Avenue. East of Mt. Auburn Street
On the eastern end, from Irving Street to Mt. Auburn Street, there are a couple of options, said Councilor Aaron Dushku at last week’s Town Council Meeting.