Government

Tax Outlook Better for 2-Family Homes Next Year, Single Families Likely to Rise

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Owners of two-family homes in Watertown got a nasty surprise in their tax bills this year, with the rate jumping nearly 8.5 percent, but the Chairman of the Board of Assessors said they won’t see that same increase next year. Francis Golden appeared before the Town Council for his budget hearing Thursday night and said because prices have leveled, the tax rates will remain much more stable for owners of two-families. “Two-families went through the roof in calendar 2014 but they are flat in 2015,” Golden said, meaning the tax rate should remain stable when the rates are set in the fall. Other types of residential property will have different rates, Golden said. Two-family homes that have been converted into condominiums are classified as condos, not two-families, Golden said.

Government

Town Receives Large Number of Tax Abatement Requests for 2 Family Homes

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The tax rate for two-family homes jumped up this year, and that resulted in a larger than normal number of tax abatement requests to the Town Assessor’s office. 

When the tax rates were set in November 2015, the rates for single family homes dropped 4.85 percent, the rate for two- and three-family homes went up 8.43 percent. Councilor Angeline Kounelis had previously expressed her concern about the large increase in tax rates for two-families and requested information on the abatement requests. Town Assessor Francis Golden said his officer received 61 abatement requests for two-family homes and 56 were approved. The average abatement was $56,229 off the original assessed value, with a couple properties being abated over $100,000, according to Golden’s report. The town was re-evaluated in 2016, and a representative from the Department of Revenue joined Watertown representatives on a tour of the town to look at the neighborhood grades, conditions and boundaries, Golden explained in a letter to the Town Council.

Development

Councilors Interviewing Planning Board Nominee Same Night as Meeting on Arsenal Mall Project

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A Town Council subcommittee will interview a nominee for an opening on the Watertown Planning Board on the same evening that redevelopment of the Arsenal Mall will be discussed across town and the nominee is a familiar face around the mall. 

The Committee on Economic Development and Planning will interview Janet Buck for an opening on the Planning Board. The board will have the final approval of projects in the Regional Mixed Use District, of which the mall makes up a significant portion. Buck currently serves on the town’s Stormwater Advisory Committee. She is also volunteer coordinator for HATCH, the Watertown Free Public Library’s makerspace that uses space in the Arsenal Project (formerly the Arsenal Mall). The interview will take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18 at 6 p.m. in the Town Council Office on the second floor of Town Hall.

Government

Residents Concerned About How Possible Zoning Changes Would Impact Their Homes

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More than 100 residents came out Thursday night to hear about the Residential Design Guidelines, which many said they had only recently heard about. Town Council President Mark Sideris said he would make sure people are aware of proposed changes when they come out. The meeting was held by a resident’s group, Concerned Watertown Homeowners, which formed in response to the guidelines working their way through the town government. (See the town’s Residential Design Guideline webpage here.)

The Residential Design Guidelines were first proposed by a group of residents concerned by smaller homes are being torn down and replaced with much larger homes, often two-family homes. They worried about changing the character of Watertown’s neighborhoods.

Government

Council Statement: Senior Center Won’t Close; Some Worried About Center’s Focus

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No one can pin down where it came from, but rumors have flown recently that the Watertown Senior Center would be closing. Town Council President Mark Sideris made it clear Tuesday night that the center will not close. The Council’s Human Services subcommittee held a meeting in late March to gather information about what people want from the senior center and what qualities they want to see in the new executive director. The meeting ruffled some feathers, however, and some felt that there was an effort to change the mission of the Senior Center. Tuesday night, the report from the meeting was presented.

Government

Public Forum on Transportation in Watertown Coming Up

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The Watertown Public Transit Task Force, in collaboration with the Town Council Transportation Committee and the Watertown Department of Community Development and Planning, presents a public forum on transportation planning for Watertown. The Watertown Transportation Planning Public Forum will be held Thursday, June 16, 2016, from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. at the Watertown Savings Bank Room at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St. in Watertown. Modeled after WPTTF’s very successful public program on Transportation Management Associations (TMA) held last year, the impetus for this June planning forum is the growing interest among residents for comprehensive transportation planning for Watertown. The program will include presentations on the ABCs of municipal transportation planning, examples of transportation planning taking place in nearby communities, transportation-related initiatives in Watertown and a round table Q&A.

Government

Several Trees Along Arsenal Street Slated to be Removed

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A hearing will be held this week about a string of trees along Arsenal Street that are on the list to be removed. Most of trees are on the north side of the street, and stretch between Lexus of Watertown and the new apartment complex being built on Arsenal Street. According to the Watertown Tree Warden Chris Hayward’s announcement, seven honeylocust trees at 222 Arsenal Street are scheduled to be removed to make way for the proposed bikeway. Another tree on the other side, at 191 Arsenal Street, is also slated to be removed to accommodate widening of the roadway. The Tree Warden will hold hearing will be held on Thursday, May 12 at 11:30 a.m. in the Lower Hearing Room of Town Hall, 149 Main St.