Development

Town Council to Consider Special Zoning for Arsenal on the Charles

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On Monday June 8, the Town Council will hold a special meeting to discuss zoning changes proposed for the Arsenal on the Charles complex, owned by athenahealth. The company seeks to make changes to the Arsenal Overlay Development District, which covers the complex. The changes would allow the creation of a master plan to redevelop the Arsenal on the Charles. Among other things it would allow an increase of height of new construction, change parking requirements and modify retail categories to allow limited retail uses within the complex. A more detailed list of the changes proposed to the Arsenal Overlay Development District can be seen on the town website (click here).

Development

Planning Board Has Mixed Views on East Watertown Hotel Proposal

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A proposed hotel on Elm Street failed to get the support of a majority of the Planning Board, but the project will still move on to the Zoning Board for final approval. 
Thursday night the Planning Board heard the proposal for the 104-room hotel at 80 Elm St. – the former Atlantic Battery Company site right behind Target at the Watertown Mall. The hotel is being developed by Elm Hospitality LLC. Owner Cherag Patel said the hotel would not be full service – no restaurant open (just a breakfast area) and no meeting rooms. He could not say which franchise would run the hotel, but said it would be part of the Marriott, Hyatt or Hilton brands. The hotel has undergone some major changes since it was first brought forward at a community meeting in January.

Development

Planning Board Approves Major Apartment Complex on Arsenal Street

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The Planning Board unanimously approved a major apartment complex at the corner of Arsenal and Irving streets. The project has also served as a test case for Watertown’s design standards and guidelines. The complex, called Elan, is being developed by Greystar. It will stretch along Arsenal Street from Irving Street east to another new apartment complex, will have 282 apartments and more than 10,000 square feet of retail space. The retail will sit across a shared driveway from a planned market at the next door property – 202-204 Arsenal St.

Government

Fire Chief: Contract is Biggest Obstacle to Advanced Ambulance Service

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One of the goals of the Watertown Fire Department is to upgrade to advanced life support (ALS) ambulance service, but to do so Fire Chief Mario Orangio said the town will have to settle the contract with the firefighters union. Orangio presented his budget to the Town Council Wednesday night. Watertown has eight certified paramedics in the department. The Fire Department’s budget of $8.8 million includes $95,000 for equipment required to start-up an ALS service ambulance. Currently Watertown uses an outside ambulance service for ALS service, and the Fire Department provides basic life support (BLS) services.

Elections

Tons of Potential Candidates for Watertown’s Town Council, School Races

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This fall’s Watertown Town Election could feature contested race for almost every position on the Town Council and School Committee, and possibly a preliminary election in September. With several hot-button issues in town these days – development, the firefighters contract, and the schools (among others) – dozens of potential candidates have taken out papers to run for town office in the Nov. 3 election. Town Clerk John Flynn said this is the most people he has seen interested in running for office in Watertown for several years. “It’s been a while.

Government

Forum Will Explore Ways to Improve Transportation in Watertown

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Join fellow residents, business owners, developers and civic officials to hear and question a panel of experts on the operations of Transit Management Associations (TMAs)

and learn about the opportunities and challenges for creating Watertown shuttle bus services to supplement the MBTA, according to the announcement from the Watertown Belmont Chamber of Commerce. The meeting will be held on June 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library. Speakers include experienced TMA operators from Charles River TMA, the 128 Business Council TMA, MassCommutes, and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. An initiative of the Watertown Public Transit Task Force, co-sponsored by the Watertown Belmont Chamber of Commerce. For more information go to facebook.com/WPTTF or contact Jon Bockian at jbockian@rcn.com or Megan O’Halloran at megan@wbcc.org.

Environment

Residents, Town Officials Outraged by Hacking of Trees in Watertown

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Trees along Greenough Boulevard in Watertown got a severe pruning or in some cases were cut down completely, a move that has upset residents and town officials alike. 

Last week, residents noticed that the trees on the street that runs along the Charles River had been cut by crews. The trees stand on land owned by the state and overseen by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Residents began contacting DCR officials, state representatives and Town Councilors to ask for the tree trimming to be halted. While they are state owned, the DCR was supposed to alert the Watertown Conservation Commission and the town Tree Warden, Chris Hayward, to let them know about the plan, said Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon. “They are supposed to do that.

Government

See Details of Plans to Redesign Mt. Auburn, Common Streets

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Watertown officials joined transportation engineers Thursday night to present concepts for two major roadway projects that aim to improve safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. The public forum, held during a meeting of the Town Council’s Public Works Committee, provided an update on the Mt. Auburn Street reconstruction project as well as early designs for the Common Street improvement project. Residents were given the opportunity to weigh in on goals of the projects and provide feedback on design concepts. “We are very early in the process of these projects and this is the first of many community meetings we will have,” said Councilor Cecilia Lenk, who chairs the Public Works Committee.