Watertown Square Zoning Meetings to Begin Oct. 16, See New Dates & Agenda

The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The City Council and Planning Board Joint Hearings to discuss the Watertown Square Area Plan zoning amendment will begin on October 16, 2024 in the Watertown Free Public Library. NEW placeholder dates have been set in the case the Public Hearing is continued. Please see the updated dates below! When is the Joint Public Hearing on Zoning? October 16, 2024 at 6:30 PM in the Watertown Public Library at 123 Main Street.

LETTER: A Plan to Spur Affordable Housing in Watertown Square

Throughout the Watertown Square planning process, one concern was raised above all others: the urgent need for more affordable housing. We heard this again and again, in public remarks and written testimony, from residents across the political and socioeconomic spectrum. We have been calling for improvements to the Plan’s approach to affordable housing since the spring. With the unanimous passage of the Watertown Square Area Plan and the release of a draft zoning proposal from our city planners, Watertown’s elected officials now have an opportunity to address the primary concern of its residents. They have a directive to implement policies that can effectively and rapidly generate new affordable housing.

What’s Next in the Watertown Square Plan? See When the Next Meeting Will Take Place

The City of Watertown provided the following announcement:

The next steps of the Watertown Square Area Plan implementation will be to discuss and approve zoning amendments. A zoning amendment is a proposed change to the zoning requirements and map, without having to completely rewrite the zoning code. To approve new zoning, the City will hold a Joint Public Hearing with the City Council and Planning Board to discuss the proposed zoning, hear public comment, and approve new zoning amendments. The above map is the proposed zoning map from the final endorsed Watertown Square Area Plan. 

When does this next step begin? The first step will be to complete something called a “first reading.”

Residents Share Their Desires for Watertown Square with City’s Economic Development Planner

Residents on a tour of Watertown Square shared their vision for the area with Watertown’s Senior Planner for Economic Development Erin Rathe. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Two members of the City of Watertown staff who will be designing the new Watertown Square led a group of more than a dozen people on a walk through the area to get an idea of what residents want to see in the center of town. The walk, held on Sept. 5, was part of Live Well Watertown’s Walk N Talk series, and was led by Erin Rathe, the City’s Senior Planner for Economic Development. Joining her was the Director of Community Design, Erika Oliver Jerram.

Walk Around Watertown Square and Give Feedback on Plans to Redesign the Area

Cars driving through Watertown Square. (Photo by Mark Pickering)

The City of Watertown provided the following information:

City Walk with Erin Rathe, Senior Planner, Thursday, Sept. 5, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Meetup at Saltonstall Park’s red brick plaza, next to City Hall, 149 Main Street. Join Erin Rathe, Senior Planner for Economic Development, for a walk around Watertown Square! Starting from City Hall, we’ll stop at several places along the way to look around and imagine what changes the newly-adopted Watertown Square Plan could bring.

Final Watertown Square Area Plan is Out Now, See More Here

The City of Watertown released the final version of the Watertown Square Area Plan, which was endorsed by the City Council and Planning Board. Read the full version, which includes all the amendments and additions added during the July 16 public hearing by clicking here, and see some of the highlights in the announcement provided by the City, below. The Watertown City Council and Planning Board held three Public Hearings between June and July to discuss the Area Plan. After discussions among themselves and hearing from the public, the Council and Planning Board officially endorsed the Plan on July 16, 2024. 

What is in this Plan Document? Click Here to Read the Plan

Much of this Plan Document remains unchanged from the initial draft released on May 30, 2024.

Watertown Square Plan Approved by Council & Planning Board; Zoning & Design to Occur This Fall

City Manager George Proakis addresses the City Council and Planning Board at the Watertown Square Area Plan hearing on July 16. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

After three meetings, and nearly 10 hours of discussion and public comment, the City Council and Planning Board approved the Watertown Square Area Plan on Tuesday night. The plan was amended by the Council, but retained the major goals of the version first discussed by the boards at the first meeting on June 13: a by-right housing unit capacity of 3,133; and the Four Corners reconfiguration of the Watertown Square roadways, which removes Charles River Road from the intersection. The details of the zoning and design to make the plan a reality will take place this fall, including some public meetings. During the public comment period, multiple people suggested the vote be postponed, and/or that the City should only allow for the minimum housing capacity required by the state, 1,701.

LETTER: Open Letter to the Council on the Watertown Square Area Plan

To: Watertown City CouncilorsFrom: Linda ScottSubject: Response to Councilor Gannon’s comments on Watertown’s History on June 27, 2024ATTN: Please include this letter in the record and read at the July 16th Joint Hearing

Dear John,

I am sending this to all of the City Councilors, but I’m addressing it to you, since I am responding to the comments that you made about the history of Watertown at the June 27 Joint Meeting of the City Council and the Planning Board. Your comments gave me food for thought. I thought about how circular the path of Watertown has been … large, broken down factories replaced with office space. That gave way to Bio Tech labs. It’s been a pattern in Watertown’s history to go all-in on one thing.