Government

East Watertown Dog Park Gets Preliminary Approval

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A dog park in East Watertown took a step closer to becoming a reality when the Town Council voted to the include the facility in the new entrance to Filippello Park. The Public Works subcommittee considered three locations, including one at Arsenal Park and one on land owned by the Arsenal Project. They decided to go with the location near Grove Street in Filippello Park (see more details here). East End Councilor Angeline Kounelis said she has some concerns about the location of the dog park in the park. “The Grove Street area of the park is isolated,” Kounelis said.

Government

Town Council Approves Improvements at Church Street Intersection

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The intersection of Church and Palfrey streets will get a new look after the Town Council approved improvements to the intersection which has had more than its share of accidents and near misses. Tuesday, the Council voted to implement the recommendations of World Tech – the town’s traffic engineering consultants – and do it “as soon as possible.” One change will be a raised traffic table, like the ones installed recently near Watertown Middle School on Waverley Avenue. Recommendations include:

Construct a raised intersection with textured pavement
Relocate crosswalks closer to the intersection
Install “Raised Intersection Ahead” warning signs
Conduct limited tree trimming

Residents living near the intersection, about five blocks off Main Street, came to the Public Works subcommittee earlier this year to ask about changes to the intersection because it has become so dangerous. (Click here to see more).

Government

See How Much Watertown Property Taxes Will Rise

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Watertown property owners will see a increase in their property tax bills, but the overall average is bigger than most people’s reality, Town Assessor Francis Golden told the Town Council Tuesday. Residential property taxes will rise on average 6.25 percent, but he said that number includes the new apartment buildings on Pleasant Street and Waltham Street. “The 6.25 increase is the largest since I’ve been here,” Golden said. “The apartments are skewing that, so it is not realistic for most.”

For most people – 97 percent of homeowners – the increase will be around 3.28 percent, Golden said during his tax presentation (click here to see details). The Town Council approved the tax rate, as well as a shift of the tax burden from residential property owner to CIP taxes (Commercial/Industrial and Personal Property).

Around Town

Talk to State Rep. Jonathan Hecht During His Office Hours

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State Rep. Jonathan Hecht will be available to hear from Watertown residents during two upcoming office hour sessions. Hecht will hold office hours on Monday, Dec. 8 from 5-6 p.m. in the Raya Stern room in the Watertown Free Public Library. Constituents are invited to meet with Rep. Hecht to discuss pending legislation or any other issue of concern to them. On Wednesday, Dec.

Government

Town Council Will Prod MBTA About Transportation Improvements

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The Town Council wants to make sure that the MBTA has not forgotten about the transportation problems and needs in Watertown. 

In May, transportation advocates and elected officials invited MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott to town. She came to tour the town and speak with residents about the problems with the 71 and 73 buses, as well as other services – such as the 70 and 57 buses. (Read about her visit here). She talked about ways to make improvements in the short and long term. Along with improvements to the heavily used routes to Harvard Square – the 71 and 73 buses – a group of elected officials, business owners and advocate groups requested a study of improvements to the 70/70A line that operates along Arsenal Street – an area expected to have multiple new large development projects.

Development

Small Piece of Land Has Big Impact on Properties Near Arsenal Street

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A small piece of former railroad property is up for sale and wanted by town officials and a nearby property owner alike. Recently, the town was informed that the pieces of land, which sits next to the end of Phillips Street, was being sold by Pan American Co. The town has the second right of refusal after the state, and the Town Council debated whether to put in their statement if interest in the land. Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon said the town would like to purchase the land and may use it as part of a bicycle and pedestrian path. Right now the land is used by the Webster Trust, which owns the property that includes the Extra Innings baseball facility and other businesses including Imai, Keller, Moore Architects.

Development

Residents Air Concerns with Coolidge Square CVS to Planning Board

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The Planning Board heard from plenty of concerned residents about plans to transform the corner of Mt. Auburn and Arlington streets into a CVS/Pharmacy. The proposed store and parking lot would replace the gas station at the corner, the Elk’s Club and a small office building in Coolidge Square. The project would include a 13,000 square foot store – slightly larger than the one in Watertown Square – and would have an entrance on the corner and another in the back parking lot. It would add landscaping along Arlington Street and in the parking lot.

Around Town

People in Need Have Someone to Turn to in Watertown

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For the past year, people who need help heating their home, finding an affordable place to live or getting some extra food have someone to turn to – Danielle DeMoss. DeMoss has served as Watertown’s Social Services Resource Specialist. The position was approved by the Town Council last year, and has been funded by a town charitable fund and local non-profit groups. Since late October 2013, DeMoss has helped 315 residents and received more than 1,200 phone calls asking for assistance. She works with more than 30 town departments, community organizations and churches.