Development

Councilors Say They Hear Resident Concerns, But Pass Galen Street Zoning

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The Town Council Chamber was filled with residents there to hear about the decision on rezoning parcels along Galen Street. Developers are interested in building biotech lab buildings on the site south of the Charles River. Residents concerned about the impact of a proposal to change the zoning for properties along Galen Street jammed the Town Council Chamber Tuesday night. The change paves the way for a biotech lab project to be built on east side of Galen Street on property that includes for the former Colonial Buick GMC dealership. After hearing from the public during public forum, and then having a 1.5 hour discussion of their own, Town Councilors voted 8-1 to approve the zoning change requested by the owners/developers of the property.

Development

Councilor Explains Her Decision to Delay Vote on Galen Street Zoning; Info Meeting Planned

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The proposal for properties on Galen Street if requested zoning changes go through. Last week, Town Councilor Lisa Feltner decided to invoke a rule that delays the vote of the Town Council until the next meeting. The issue being considered was the rezoning of some parcels along Galen Street requested by a developer. Below you can read her letter explaining her decision. Feltner also announced that she has booked space at the Watertown Library on Wednesday night to meet with residents, and hear their concerns about the proposal.

Affordable Housing

Watertown Given Protection from 40B Projects by Using Little Used Method

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The Town of Watertown has some protection from having dense residential projects allowed under the Chapter 40B law after being certified by the state that the Town meets a rarely used qualification. Under Chapter 40B, communities in Massachusetts have to meet certain level of affordable housing or else they must allow the construction of housing projects with 25 percent affordable housing. Watertown currently requires 15 percent of units to be affordable new apartment complexes. To qualify to avoid a Chapter 40B project, communities can get “Safe Harbor” by having 10 percent or more of its housing units sold or rented at affordable rates. Some communities have met that criteria, but Watertown does not (it has just over 7 percent).

Development

Large 40B Apartment Complex Proposed for Sterritt Lumber Site

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An illustration of the 40B apartment complex proposed for 148 Waltham St., the former Sterritt Lumber site. Developers proposing to build a 40B apartment complex on the site of the former Sterritt Lumber location will host a community meeting on the project. The community meeting will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 from 7-9 p.m. in the Lecture Hall at Watertown High School, 50 Columbia St. The project is proposed for the Sterritt Lumber site at 148 Waltham St.

164-166 Main St.

Five Story Apartment Building Approved on Main Street in Watertown

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A view of 164-166 Main Street, a five story apartment building with a commercial space on the ground floor. A new building will be added to Watertown’s skyline near Watertown Square after the Zoning Board of Appeals approved a five story apartment building on Main Street. The approval of the project at 164-166 Main Street was made Wednesday night. The site used to be occupied by a convenience store (Store 24 then Tedeschi’s and briefly 7-Eleven) and sits across from Town Hall. The building will have four stories with 34 apartments, on top of a garage and commercial or office space.

Development

Second Meeting Planned for 85 Walnut St. Project, Discussion Will Include Traffic Report

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An overhead illustration of the proposed redevelopment of the Doble Engineering site at 85 Walnut St. in Watertown. The second Community Meeting will be held for a project proposed on Walnut Street, which would create space for a life science building, a garage and a public park. The project would redevelop the former Doble Engineering site, 85 Walnut St., and put up a four story, 213,500 sq. ft.

Around Town

See Which Issues Concerned People Most in the 2019 Watertown News Poll

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Traffic and transportation is the biggest concern, according to the unscientific Watertown News poll given at the 2019 Faire on the Square. Traffic and transportation are the biggest concern, according to a poll of attendees of the 2019 Watertown Faire on the Square, followed closely by development. At the 20th Faire on the Square, 25 people took the Watertown News Poll asking people about “what concerns you most in Watertown today?” People could check as many of the five categories as they wish, and could write in their own issue. The categories were: Schools, Development, Traffic/Transportation, Heroin/Opioids and Property Taxes.

Development

Developers Discussing Self Storage Facility Proposed in East Watertown

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An illustration of the proposed self-storage facility planned for 19 Coolidge Hill Road, at the corner of Arlington Street. The developers proposing to build a self-storage facility that would overlook Arlington Street will discuss their plans at a community meeting. The project is planned for 19 Coolidge Hill Road, and the meeting will be held at the property at that location on Oct. 9, 2019 at 6:30 p.m.

Developers, 19 Coolidge Hill LLC, submitted information to the Watertown Planning Department. The plans show five levels of self storage in a building that would be 53 feet tall, and the building footprint is 14,946 sq.