Around Town

Watertown Man Leading Effort to Stop Taxes for Hosting Olympics

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Watertown’s Steve Aylward will be the co-chair for an effort aimed at preventing taxes being charged for Boston to host the 2024 Summer Olympics. On Sunday, the Coalition to Stop Taxes for Olympics announced that Steve Aylward will be the Co-Chairman of Tank Taxes for Olympics ballot initiative. Aylward was Co-Chairman of the ballot initiative for the successful Yes on 1 campaign. “I am pleased that we are building this coalition with Steve Aylward. He is an extremely hard worker and a outstanding advocate for the taxpayers,” said Evan Falchuk, Chairman of Citizens for a Say in the announcement.

Government

Council Subcommittee Working on New Snow Shoveling Rules

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The snows of winter may have melted, but snow shoveling and plowing remains a hot topic with the Town Council. 

On Tuesday, July 7 the Budget and Fiscal Oversight and Public Works subcommittees will meet to discuss a funding source for the enforcement of the current snow ordinances as well as any future changes that may be made to these ordinances. They will also determine how to effectively enforce a possible new residential snow ordinance. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. at Town Hall in the Town Council Chamber.

Development

Design Standards and Guidelines Get Final Approval With Some Dissent

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After more than nine months of work, Watertown’s new Design Standards and Guidelines have been approved, but not without some concerns. Before Watertown began working on the design guidelines and standards, developers only really knew what they could not build on a piece of land, said Assistant Town Manager and Community Development and Planning Director Steve Magoon. The standards and guidelines were one of the recommendations of the town’s Comprehensive Plan, passed last week. They were also the result of a push for something to deal with the development boom in town. The new standards and guidelines will give developers an idea of what the town would like the project to look like, said David Gamble, the town’s consultant in drawing up the standards and guidelines.

Development

Mixed Reactions to Hotel Proposed for Eastside of Watertown

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The Zoning Board of Appeals heard a split view of the hotel proposed to be built on Elm Street, with most of the those opposing the project living on or near the East Watertown street. The five-story hotel which would have more than 100 rooms would go right next to the back of Target in the Watertown Mall. The layout of the hotel on the property has changed so at the building now sits near the street, instead of having a parking lot in front. Also, some of the parking has been put underneath the building. Also part of the project would be removal of contaminated soil from the site, which used to be home to Atlantic Battery Company and had been a hazardous site monitored by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Food

Committee Trying to Iron Out Details to Allow BYOB in Watertown

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Watertown restaurants may be allowed to have bring-your-own alcohol, but first the details must be settled by a joint group of Town Council subcommittees. At a joint meeting of the Rules & Ordinances, Public Safety, and Planning subcommittees on Thursday, steps were taken toward crafting the new ordinance which would allow BYOB. The town has a limited number of liquor licenses – 34 – and it has requested 15 more from the state through a special home rule petition to the State Legislature. Some of these licenses have been earmarked for approved projects, and others have been limited to the business districts in town. Those restaurants falling outside those areas cannot apply for one of the new licenses.

Development

ZBA Approves Major Apartment Complex, Park Must Be Planned

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The major apartment complex with a retail section on Arsenal Street at Irving Street received final approval from the Watertown Zoning Board of Appeals, but a small park remains to be designed with the help of the community. Known as Elan, the project being developed by Greystar will have 282 apartments and more than 10,000 square feet of retail space. The retail will be on the west end of the complex, and face other stores in the next-door apartment/retail complex being constructed by Hanover/Cresset across a shared driveway. Developers made a few changes to the plans approved by the Planning Board in May. The project features a glassed-in bridge connecting the east and west buildings.

Entertainment

Police Teaming With Rec Department for Movie Nights, Street Hockey

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The Watertown Police Department will work with the Recreation Department to put on some fun activities for youngsters and families this summer. 

Two free family movie nights will be held behind the Watertown Police Station. Aimed at elementary school students and their families, the events will be held on Friday, July 17 and Sunday, Aug. 9 from 6:30-10 p.m.

The evening begins with games, face painting, pizza, popcorn and refreshments. The movie begins at 8 p.m.

Parking is available in front of the Police Station. Cops & Rec Street Hockey
On Sundays beginning in July, the police and Recreation Department will host street hockey for girls and boys in grades 2 to 12.

Government

Councilors Gathering Ideas to Battle Opiate Epidemic in Watertown

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The Council’s Human Services Committee wants the town to take steps to battle the increasingly deadly problem of addiction to heroin and other opiates, and plans to put together an action plan with the help of the Police, Health Department, doctors and local addiction and recovery experts. 

Tuesday night, the Human Services Committee held an unfortunately timely meeting, just days after two Watertown residents died from drug overdoses and a third went to hospital for treatment. This brings the death toll from drugs up to eight this year, said Watertown Police Lt. Dan Unsworth, after just one death all of last year. The meeting packed the Lower Hearing Room of Town Hall, and the discussion lasted more than 2-1/2 hours. Follow the exchange of ideas, the subcommittee – Tony Palomba and Aaron Dushku – came up with some recommendations to bring to the full Town Council. The first recommendation was to have all Watertown Police officers carry Narcan – a medication that can reverse the effects of an overdose.