Elections

State Rep. Jonathan Hecht Named Environmental Champion

By |

Watertown State Rep. Jonathan

Watertown State Rep. Jonathan Hecht received recognition for his work on environmental issues from two groups. Hecht was named an “Environmental Champion” by the Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund and the Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters (MLEV) and endorsed for re-election for his seat in the 29th Middlesex District. “Our organizations are united in support of the extraordinary commitment to environmental protection made by Jonathan Hecht,” said Chuck Anastas, MLEV board Chairman. “We need his 21st century leadership in the state legislature.”

George Bachrach, president of the ELM Action Fund, said Hecht understands the importance of clean energy technology. “Representative Hecht understands the connection between the environment and the economy,” Bachrach said.

Government

Council Wants to Discuss How to Handle Future Park Projects

By |

With the recent controversy over how the Victory Field Phase 2 renovation was handled, a Town Council subcommittee will discuss whether a new policy should be developed for handling park projects. Last week, the Council voted to create an ad hoc committee to oversee the design of the renovations of the track and tennis court area at Victory Field. Councilor Aaron Dushku said he wanted to consider having a policy for park rehabilitations and enhancements. Councilor Cecilia Lenk said she is not sure such oversight is needed for all projects. “I understand people are frustrated with what happened,” Lenk said.

Environment

Find Out How to Get a Tree from the Town for Your Property

By |

Watertown residents can have a tree planted in front of their home, or even on their property by the town – find out how! Watertown Tree Warden Chris Hayward is preparing for the fall 2014 tree planting season and he is looking for places to put new trees. He has nearly 30 species of all sizes to choose from, including variety of dogwood, cherry, maple and many more trees (see the list here). Hayward will put together a database of requests. “They can say these are the trees I want and I’ll come out and see if it works,” Hayward said.

Government

Find Out About Watertown’s Social Services Resource Program

By |

Watertown officials will celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Social Services Resources Specialist Program, and the public is invited to come and meet the specialist. Danielle DeMoss will talk about what she has accomplished in her year as Watertown’s Social Services Resource Specialist and what issues she plans to take on next. The event will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 29 in the Watertown Savings Bank Room at the Watertown Free Public Library from 5 to 7 p.m.

She will be joined by Town Council President Mark Sideris, State Rep. Jonathan Hecht and representatives from St. Patrick’s Parish, the Watertown Housing Authority, Watertown Public Schools, and the Watertown Boys and Girls Club will share their stories about the program, according to an announcement about the event. Also scheduled to attend the celebration are State Sen. Will Brownsberger, State Rep. John Lawn, Town Council and School Committee members as well as representatives from the Watertown Savings Bank, the Commission on Disabilities, the Helen Wright Robinson Fund, the Watertown Community Foundation, Mt.

Government

Town Council Move Aimed at Increasing Affordable Housing in Watertown

By |

The Town Council voted to approve steps to increase the number of affordable housing units when new developments are built in Watertown. Tuesday night, the council voted 8-1 to increase the requirement of affordable units in complexes from 10 percent to 12.5 percent. The move was made to help Watertown meet the state requirement of having 10 percent of the total housing units in town available at an affordable rate. If a community does not meet the 10 percent requirement under Chapter 40B (sometimes called the anti-snob law), developers could come into town to build projects with 25 percent of the units sold or rented as affordable, and they would not have to comply with the town’s zoning regulations, said Councilor Vincent Piccirilli. To qualify for affordable housing, applicants must make below 80 percent of the Area Median Income.

Development

Design Standards – What They Are, What Residents Want

By |

More than 100 people showed up Wednesday night to find out about Watertown’s new design standards and give input about what they hope to get from them. Design standards and guidelines provide a visual and detailed explanation for how town zoning rules will work. The Town Council approved hiring David Gamble of Gamble Associates to create the new set of standards. During the meeting at Watertown Middle School – Gamble, who is also a Watertown resident – explained what design standards and guidelines can do and what they cannot do. They can:

Improve the character of new developments
Articulate standards of quality
Provide Examples
Represent spatial and dimensional criteria graphically

Gamble also warned they can also go too far, and make all new buildings look the same or be too restrictive.

Around Town

Victory Field Plans Scrapped, Requirement for Project – Grass

By |

The effort to renovate the track area of Victory Field will start again from scratch and Town Council President Mark Sideris gave the group in charge of designing it one directive – it must have natural grass. The plan for Phase 2 of the Victory Field renovation included replacing the grass in the middle of the track with artificial turf. The Town Council asked the architects to make some changes to the plan at the Sept. 23 meeting, but Town Council President Mark Sideris proposed starting the project over at Tuesday night’s Council meeting. The plan had been drawn up by architects from CDM and officials from the Recreation Department. Residents made it clear at two meetings in September, that the majority of the people opposed parts of the project – mostly the artificial turf.

Development

Planning Board Debates Changes to Pleasant Street Zoning

By |

The Planning Board debated whether to set aside certain parts of the Pleasant Street Corridor for commercial and retail projects, or leave it open for any types of development. Last week, the board looked at proposed changes to the Pleasant Street Corridor zoning. The special zoning area was created seven years ago to encourage redevelopment of former industrial properties on the West End of Watertown. Most of the projects that have resulted have been large residential ones, some of which were criticized for being too tall and too close to Pleasant Street. The Town Council asked for changes to the zoning to encourage other kinds of projects.