The Issues page includes information about key issues and projects in Watertown. I invite you to comment on any item you find interesting.

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Some good news for a small business in Watertown whose taxable personal property is valued at $10,000. The Committee on Budget Fiscal Oversight has recommended that the full City Council pass a local option that exempts 118 small businesses from personal property tax. This would reduce the total taxable personal property accounts from 444 to 326 and their value from $318,149,790 to $317,276,918. There would be $20,146 less in tax dollars from the 118 small businesses. This amount will be spread over the personal property tax of the remaining 326 accounts.  Some of those present at the meeting wondered why the figure of $10,000 was selected rather than a higher figure.  Earl Smith, our Assessor, explained that the local option created by the Commonwealth limits the exemption to $10,000.  Finally, Greg Reibman from the Charles River Regional Chamber reminded the Committee and the public that the decision to approve the local option is not without consequences since the amount exempted for the 118 small businesses would be paid for by the 326 businesses.  The Committee’s recommendation will go to the full Council for a discussion and vote in the near future.

Update on Climate Action Plan and Three Ordinances in the Making The Committee on Climate and Energy, which I chair and includes my colleagues Councilors Bays and Airasian, met on January 18 to get an update on the implementation of the City’s Climate and Energy Plan (Plan)  The Plan is organized around 5 Plan Elements – Buildings and Energy, Transportation and Mobility, Infrastructure and Waste Management, Natural Resources, and Public Health and Community Preparedness.  For each Element there are a series of goals, strategies, and actions. There are also a number of Cross Strategies that cut across one or more of an Element’s goals.  You can see the Plan in detail here. At the January 18 meeting the Committee learned that of the 34 Actions proposed for Year One, 32 are under way and 3 have been completed. Also, there are 28 Actions proposed for Year Two. Twelve are underway.  Here are the completed Actions:  1) Create an overarching Resilient Watertown Outreach and Education Campaign. 2) Adopt the state’s net-zero energy standards as soon as permissible. 3) Create convenient and free organics recycling program. Also there is an excellent review of the progress toward the goals of the Infrastructure and Waste Management Element by Anya Pforzheimer, our Recycling and Sustainability Coordinator, that begins on slide 13 of the presentation to the Committee that you can find here.  It was noted that one of the most challenging Plan Elements is the Buildings and Energy Element and that the resignation of the Energy Advocate has affected the progress to achieve its goals.  Personally I believe that more staff is needed if the Climate and Energy Plan deadlines are to be met.  I advocated for this in my 2025 Budget Guideline and hope that the City Manager will consider adding additional staff who would focus primarily on the implementation of the Plan with Laurel Schwab, our Senior Environmental Planner and Environmental Planner, Katie Swan.  Three Ordinances in the Making 1) Building Emission Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO).  For more than a year Silos Fyler, our Energy Manager, has convened a working group including members of Watertown’s Environment and Energy Efficiency Committee to develop a BERDO that would work best for Watertown.  A BERDO would “require owners of large properties to annually measure and disclose energy usage to the City of Watertown and to achieve Greenhouse Gas Emissions reduction targets consistent with the commitment of the Watertown Climate and Energy Plan”. The working group has diligently reviewed the efforts of surrounding cities and towns and wrestled with key challenges such as what buildings to include and excluded, what data to capture, and how to capture the data  For the layperson the BERDO might be best understood as the following – B = New and Existing Buildings E = Emissions R = Reduction in the Green House Gases D = Disclosure of Energy and Emissions O = City Ordinance The excellent presentation of the forthcoming BERDO legislation by Mr. Fyler can be found here.  2 ) Tree Ordinance.  This Ordinance would restrict the removal of a tree of a certain size without a permit and there would be a limit on the number of trees that could be removed during the development or redevelopment of a property of a specific size. The Committee on Climate and Energy will be meeting on Friday, May 3 at which time, in addition to receiving a general update on the Plan, we will hear a presentation about tree preservation ordinances, though not about the specific ordinance the City staff are drafting.   3) Recycling Ordinance.  The Climate Action Plan does include a recycling ordinance as one of its goals. The Committee on Climate and Energy will ask for a presentation on the “what, why, and how” of recycling ordinances at one of its future meetings, though it will not be a presentation on the specific ordinance the City staff are drafting.  Once the final versions of these three ordinances are formally submitted to the City Council by the Administration they will be assigned to the Committee on Rules and Ordinances for public meetings.

Our Affordable Housing Trust is Making Progress! The Affordable Housing Trust (AHT), which is composed of six residents with experience in all aspects of affordable housing creation and the City Manager, continues to meet monthly and has recently adopted a strategic plan for 2024 based on Watertown’s five-year Housing Plan (2021-2015).  One of the AHT’s priorities for 2024 include creating a pipeline of housing projects that can be funded by state and federal sources as well as by funding from the Community Preservation Act and from linkage fees.  They are focused on identifying feasible sites and working with affordable housing developers.  I am anxious to see the AHT recommendations that will be 100% affordable developments.  One of the considerations that needs to be addressed is how to manage the zoning restrictions on were housing can be built in Watertown.  While a full review of our zoning is on the City Manager’s priority list, the AHT can begin the process of creating and supporting a zoning amendment that would create an affordable housing overlay in all of Watertown.  The overlay would supersede the original zoning requirements.As I predicted in the last Update, the AHT has reached consensus on drafting and moving forward with an amendment to the Zoning Code that will allow for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) in one and two-family homes in all districts of the City.  A  homeowner will be able to build a small apartment in their residence or in an adjacent building, such as a garage, to their main residence.  ADU can be rented at a significantly lower price than a standard apartment.  They are important tools in the affordable housing toolbox.  The zoning change to allow ADU would be presented to the City Council who would refer the proposal to Planning Board for their review and recommendation which will then be sent back to the City Council.  The Council will hold a public meeting and vote on the zoning amendment. It is unclear what zoning recommendations the consultants for the Watertown Square Area Plan (WSAP) will suggested. (See more on the WSAP below.) However, the AHT is considering its own recommendations for incentives to developers to increase 100% affordable developments or mixed-income developments with 50% affordable units in the Watertown Square area. This is important since the MBTA Communities Act does not require zoning for affordable housing; it only requires zoning that allows for multi-family housing.  Complicating the process is that fact that there are three overlays within the area in the WSAP – Central Business  (CB), Industrial-1 (I-3), and Limited Business (LB), and it is not clear which of these will be affected by what will eventually be considered the Watertown Square area.  The incentives the AHT are considering include higher floor area ratio/height, lower parking ratios, zero setbacks, and minimum lot area per dwelling unit in mixed-used developments. The bottom line – the AHT is taking the leadership in proposing and supporting more affordable units in the yet to be determined Watertown Square area.

They were the visions or should I say hopes of Councilors going back a number of years.  The “they” is the hiring of a community engagement specialist and the creation of a 311 service.  It is wonderful to report that City has hired Kyler Cote as our Community Engagement Specialist and just recently hired Laura Murray as the 311 Service Center Director.  Together with Jeanne Ostroff, our Digital Media Manager, they make up a team working under the direction of the Deputy City Manager, Emily Monea.  Kyler has been busy attending and speaking at community meetings and meeting with folks one-on-one to discuss his role and how he might be helpful. Laura is preparing for a mid-May publicity campaign for 311 with an official rollout on Monday, June 3rd.  Jeanne will continue her work to share the news about various City services though the City’s many social media platforms.  FYI the 311 number will operate from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM and there will be answering machine where residents can leave message at other times.  These messages will be checked first thing each morning.

Watertown Square Area Plan Moving Forward! Once again there was a great turnout for the second community meeting about the Watertown Square Area Plan (WSAP) on Thursday, February 29 with well over 225 residents present.  The presentation, which can be found here, included three main components – a review of two reconfigurations of Watertown Square, a discussion of housing options in relations to the MBTA Communities Act, and guidelines for the design of buildings. Please note that more information on the February 29 meeting, the November 2023 charrette, the extensive efforts to gather community input, and much more can be found on the Watertown Square Area Plan website. Two Redesigns of Watertown Square.  The presentation by the consultant team, headed by Utile, focused on two possible redesigns of Watertown Square dubbed the “Four Corners” and “Mini Main Street”.  Both configurations reduced the number of lanes into the square to four lanes.  The Four Corners rendition has Main, Arsenal, Galen, and Mt. Auburn Streets converging in the Square with Charles River Road veering off to the right to enter Arsenal Street. The Mini Main Street configuration is a bit more complicated. Riverside Road would converge into Arsenal Street while Charles River Road, Mt. Auburn and Arsenal Streets would meet in the Square. In this model Main Street meets with Arsenal Street above the Square going west and vehicles can go from Main Street around the Delta to pick up Galen Street.  Both versions envision increased retail space, parking on both sides of Main Street, and the creation of a three-story parking garage at the site of the public parking lot behind CVS. The poll taken by those present via a phone app showed a majority in favor of the Mini Main Street rendition.  Housing Options.  There were two options presented regarding additional housing and the zoning changes required by the MBTA Communities Act that could create 1,701* units of multi-family housing.  The first was to confine additional housing within the immediate Watertown Square area.  This could produce approximately 930 more units than the 1,170 units.  The second option would allow housing in the complete catchment area of the WSAP.  (You can see the complete catchment area for the WSPA by going to the website noted above.)  This could produce 4,620 more units than the 1,170.  Both options recommended that 5.5 story buildings be built closest to the Square, with 4.5 story buildings built further out, and 3.5 story buildings built at the end of the Square. A poll showed a slight majority for the second option. Personally, I think the second option would be best. Zoning.  The zoning changes required by the MBTA Communities Act would allow all development to be built “by right” which means that developers can receive a permit to build if they follow the existing zoning code. There is no requirement for the developer to obtain a special permit.  However, developers could be asked to go in front of the Planning Board for a site plan review where design guidelines addressing such items as height, setback from the street, parking requirements, etc. would be discussed and recommended.  Alternatively, certain design guidelines could be written into our Zoning Code which would require the developer to abide by the guidelines.     What’s Next?  The final community meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 4 at 6:30 PM at 66 GALEN STREET.  (Please note that this is a new location as previous meetings will held at 65 Pleasant Street.) This will be followed by a written report from the consultants, including zoning recommendations that meet the requirements of the MBTA Communities Act.  Then the recommendations go to the City Council and if, as expected, there are recommendations to change our Zoning Code they will be sent to the Planning Board for a public hearing and then the Planning Board’s recommendations go to the City Council for review and a final decision.  This is expected to happen in May and June. NOTE:  This is a very brief overview.  I recommend that you spend a bit of time reviewing the materials on the WSAP website including listening to the recording of the two meeting community meetings.  Again, the website is https://watertownsquareimprovements.com/.  The more time you can devote to this effort the more prepared you will be for the April meeting and the more input you will have to the future of Watertown Square! *This figure is based on the calculations made when one applies the required zoning changes of the MBTA Communities Act to Watertown.  You can read the Act here.

It does not get a lot of notice, like the operating budget does, but the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget is an important part of the City’s spending.  Traditionally the City Council approves a five-year CIP.  For example the Council just approved 54 recommendations for the period FY 2025 to FY 2029.  The majority of the projects are funded through borrowing, though there are some funded by tax revenue and some from loans via the Water/Sewer Enterprise Fund. The CIP includes funding for major renovations to parks, upgrades to energy systems, purchases of public works vehicles, renovations to the Middle School, studies for future construction projects, and much more.  Most of the borrowing is carried over 1 – 5 years. Some projects are scheduled to begin in FY 2025 and others in as far out as FY 2029.  Megan Langan, our Auditor, estimates that, exclusive of the borrowing for Building for the Future school projects, in FY 2025 the City will spend $14,787,539 on capital projects and debt service.   Of particular note, this year the City is receiving $309,948 as our local share of Fair Share Amendment transportation fund.  These funds would most likely be added to the City’s Chapter 90 account which is for street and sidewalk repairs.  Watertown Faces Climate Change, a working group of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment, wrote to the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Oversight asking that these funds be dedicated to “creating effective and long-lasting improvements that will help us meet our climate goals”.  They recommend spending on bus lanes on Arsenal Street, protected bike lanes, bus priority signalization, and other items.  Most importantly they wanted funding that would accelerate the transition of City-owned gas-powered vehicles to electric vehicles in order for the City to contribute to the specific goal in the Climate and Energy Plan that 80% of the vehicles in Watertown would be electric by 2050.  (Full disclosure: I wrote a short letter in support of these recommendations.)  The Budget and Fiscal Oversight Committee recommended that the issue be referred to the Committee on Public Works for policy guidance.

City Council and City Government News and Two Shout Outs! Noise Ordinance Update At the most recent City Council meeting the noise ordinance was referred to the Committee on Rules and Ordinances.  As you may recall in 2020 the Council rejected an ordinance that was developed to update the City’s 1986 noise ordinance.  Wanting to see a noise ordinance passed during this legislative term, I worked with our new City Council Policy Analyst Doug Newman in 2023 and 2024 to revise and streamline the failed ordinance and to make it easier to implement.  This was an effort to address the concerns raised by colleagues who voted against the original ordinance and to use information from Doug’s research. I plan to present the ordinance to the Committee on Rules and Ordinances when they meet. I want to take this opportunity to thank Doug for his help in crafting a revised ordinance.   Important Meeting of the Committee on Climate and Energy As mentioned above the Committee on Climate and Energy will meet on Friday, May 4 at 5:30 PM to continue the discussion of the progress made in implementing the Climate and Energy Plan. We will also hear a presentation on the “what, why, and how” of tree preservation ordinances. Short-Term Rental Ordinance On Wednesday, March 13, the Planning Board approved a recommendation that the Short-Term Rental Ordinance and related Regulations be passed by the City Council.  This means that sometime soon the City Council will review the recommendations and hold a public hearing and vote to accept, amend, or reject the Board’s recommendation that the Zoning Code be amended to allow for short-term rentals. Please visit the City’s website to check the agenda of upcoming City Council meetings.  There is both strong opposition to the Ordinance as well as support from those folks who presently operate short-term rentals on platforms such as Air B&B. Rodent Control Plan and Community Outreach Effort The Committee on Human Services is planning to hold a meeting in mid-April or late-April to discuss the latest implementation of the City’s Rodent Control Plan, here, and to hear about the Health Department’s plans for a major community outreach and education effort regarding rodent control.  Please check the City’s website in April.  Discussion on Status of Opioid Litigation Settlements At the Tuesday, March 12 City Council meeting a referral was made to the Committee on Human Services for a discussion on the status of the opioid litigation settlements.  The City is scheduled to receive nearly $752,700 from two opioid settlements spread out over a number of years.  At this point, the City has received only $56,643.  Latest on the Health and Human Services Study The Health and Human Services Study survey closed on March 1.  The next step is for the Health Management Associates to draft findings to be presented for community feedback in May or June and present a report and final recommendations in the summer.  While it is impossible at this point to know whether the recommendations will require funding, it is conceivable that some of the funds from the opioid settlements could be used for prevention, treatment, and recovery services related to substance use disorders.   Major Transportation Grant Application Submitted Zeke Mermell, our new Transportation Planner, and Sophia Gailmore, the Director of Watertown TMA, have teamed up to submit a major grant proposal to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.  The grant is for $944,216 to “introduce an electric, on-demand public transit program to provide crucial first/last mile connections and to increase accessibility through shared rides”.  Fingers crossed that the City will be selected to receive the grant.  City Manager Recommends 9 Residents to Service on the New Human Rights Commission City Manger Proakis presented the City Council the names of nine residents to serve on the new Human Rights Commission.  There were originally 27 individuals interviewed by the Resident Advisory Committee who asked each of the candidates the same questions.  In presenting the names for approval Mr. Proakis emphasized the diversity of the group and the range of experience and knowledge that they represent.  Council President Sideris asked for three volunteers from the Council to serve on an ad-hoc committee to interview the candidates. City Hires Chief Financial Officer City Manager Proakis has hired Mr. Ari Sky as the City’s first Chief Financial Officer.  Mr. Sky will oversee the Assessing, Procurement, and Treasurer/Collector Departments.  We wish Mr. Sky the very best in his new role.  I believe that with this hire the City Manager has completed the hiring of his senior staff and department heads. Blue Ribbon Commission and Permanent Summer Hours for City Employees The Committee on Personnel and City Organization presented its recommendations to the City Council on Tuesday, March 12 to establish a Blue Ribbon Commission to study and make recommendations on salaries for City Councilors.  The Committee’s recommendations covered the duties of the Blue Ribbon Commission, the required skills and characteristics of the Commission’s members, the size of the Commission (7), the initial screening of candidates, and the final interview by Council President Sideris.  The Council approved the Committee’s recommendations.   Also on Tuesday, the Committee on Personnel and City Organization was given a referral to hold meetings on a recommendation by the City Manager to make permanent the present summer hours for city employees. The summer hours are 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 8:30 am to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, and 8:30 am to 12:30 pm on Friday.  Council President Sideris noted that this is a significant change and requested that the Committee prioritize efforts to involve the community in their meetings.  City Departments on the Move to the Parker Street Annex You may recall the City purchased the Parker School building for nearly $11 millions in order to have the space to adequately and safely house the growing number of City employees.  Within the last few months and after some minor renovations the IT Department, the Health Department, and the Public Buildings Department have moved into the Annex. This has freed up space at City Hall and made it possible for departments that were busting at the seams to move to larger space.  After major renovations estimated to cost at least $2 million and to be completed by the fall of 2024, the Department Community Development and Planning will occupy the second floor of the Annex.  Shout Out to the Public Arts and Culture Committee The Public Arts and Culture Committee, with the assistance of Liz Helfer, our Public Arts and Cultural Planner, is one of the most active volunteer committees in the City.  Please take a moment to visit the Public Arts and Culture website to check out the number of projects it sponsors and the organizations it collaborates with.  Two projects I would like to highlight are YardArt2024 which is happening throughout the month of April and the first PorchFest which is scheduled for May 18.  To learn how to get involved in YardArt2024visit here and to learn more about PorchFest read the article in Watertown News here.  Also, keep an eye out for an Arts and Culture Newsletter! Shout Out to Charlie Breitrose, Dan Hogan, and Maya Shwayder Together, Charlie from Watertown News, Dan from WCATV and Maya, an independent journalist, produced an amazing series on food insecurity in Watertown.  To view the Roundtable on Food Insecurity visit WCATV here. You can also read about the Roundtable and find links to the 6 extensive articles in the series here.

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ARPA Community Process Completed and Council Approved Allocations The long community process to determine how Watertown will spend approximately $10.7 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 concluded in December when the Council’s Committee on Budget and Fiscal Oversight issued its final recommendations. On December 10 the full City Council approved those recommendations.  The Council approved approximately $4.9 million for Water and Sewer Infrastructure, $4.4 million for Social Services, and $1.4 million for Climate and Energy.  There was one sewer project ($2.5 million) and one water project ($2 million) in the infrastructure category.  In the climate and energy category there was $1 million for the PV Array on the new Watertown High School, $379,454 for new stormwater tree trenches, and $67,500 for a study of city-supported local transit.  It was very exciting to see that the social service projects funded included support for affordable housing, programs addressing food insecurity, funding of an additional Social Service Resource Specialist, expansion of a childcare program, a three-year substance use initiative, and a much needed direct financial assistance program.  Congratulations to the organizations and individuals who received ARPA funding. The funds need to be incumber by the end of 2024, though now that the programs have been approved the money can be release in the coming months, and completely spent by the end of 2026.

Some Predictions About Affordable Housing in 2024 It is always hard to make predictions on what might happen in the future, but I will go out on a limb and suggest a few possibilities related to affordable housing that we might see in 2024.1) I predict that the members of the Affordable Housing Trust (Trust) will bring forth a proposal to change the zoning code to allow for the construction of Affordable Dwelling Units (ADUs) in Watertown.  A  homeowner will be able to build small apartment in their residents or in an adjacent building, such as a garage, to the main residence.  ADUs can be rented at a significantly lower price than a standard apartment.  They are important tools in the affordable housing toolbox.  The zoning change to allow ADUs would be presented to the City Council who will refer the proposal to Planning Board for their review and recommendation which they will send back to the City Council.  The Council will hold a public meeting and vote on the zoning amendment. 2) The Trust has been meeting for quite some time to determine if Watertown can build affordable housing. Meeting in Executive Session, the members have been weighing the pros and cons of parcels in Watertown.  I predict that by the end of the year the Trust will unveil one or more proposals for new affordable housing in Watertown.3) I predict that the Community Preservation Committee will approve funding for the second phase of construction of 5 units of affordable housing for five individuals with handicaps that is being proposed by the Watertown Housing Authority on a site owned by the Authority on Nichols Avenue.4) I anticipate that the Trust will receive linkage fees from another development that has yet to be permitted- the Pleasant Street/Rosedale Road/Action Street project. 5) There will be initial discussions by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Oversight regarding the establishment of a real estate transfer tax which would require the seller of a property over a certain amount to pay a percentage of the sale price which would be earmarked for affordable housing. Governor Healy is supporting a proposal to allow cities and towns to seek a home rule petition that would allow them to establish a tax of .05% to 2% on property sales over $1 million.  6) Going way out on a limb, I am predicting that it will be possible for a developer to purchase the Belmont-Watertown United Methodist Church and the adjacent property and build 35 – 40 units of affordable housing and a community center to be used by local non-profit service, cultural, and arts organizations.7) Finally, this is less a prediction than something that I hope we can put into place. I would like to see the Community Preservation Committee formally decide to allocate the annual 10% of the Community Preservation Fund that must be earmarked for affordable housing to the Affordable Housing Trust.

What’s the 2021 MBTA Communities Law,* What Could It Mean for More Housing Including Affordable Housing  You may have heard about the 2021 MBTA Communities Law if you attended one of the workshops during the three-day charrette on the Watertown Square Area Plan (see the next item) or read articles about communities resisting or embracing the law.  In short, the law requires a community that is served by the MBTA to make changes in its zoning to allow for the development of new housing near public transit.  It does not require that more housing be built, but requires that housing can be built. Communities fall into one of four categories which have different timelines and a different number of units that must be allowed.  Watertown is considered an “adjacent community” which must allow a 10% increase in allowable housing which translate to 1,701 units.  The zoning changes and approval processes must be in place no later than by the end of 2024, though these steps can happen at anytime before the deadline. The designated area for Watertown is the Watertown Square area.  The housing that will be allowed to be built must meet the following criteria – – multi-family homes are allowed to be built, converted or recognized without a special permit, – new housing will be suitable for families with children, – there can be no age restrictions on allowable housing, and – there is a minimum housing density of 15 units per acre of land. It was clear during the discussion of the Law at the three-day charrette that there is significant disagreement among residents about the housing that should be allowed in the Watertown Square area.  Some folks want to limit it as much as possible and others, including those from Housing for All Watertown, would like to see a higher percentage of allowable housing.  As noted in the Watertown Square Area Plan timeline, this issue will be addressed by the consultants in late winter.  * A very special thank you to the folks at Housing for All Watertown (HAW) who produced the informational material I have used to explain the 2021 Law.  Please visit https://www.housingforallwatertown.org/.

Watertown Square Area Plan Under Way! Community involvement in the discussion of how Watertown Square and the surrounding area can be reinvented took a big step forward with a three-day charrette from November 28 to November 30.  The turnout for the presentations and group discussions was impressive.  More than 275 residents participated in the charrette. One of the consultant team noted that the turnout was greater, per capita, than any project he has ever worked on!  It is not possible to review all of the presentations and subsequent discussions from the three days here.  Rather below are links to the key components.  I hope you will take the time to open the links to get a sense of what took place and what specific designs for Watertown Square the consultants will be working with in the coming months. Recorded presentations from all three days of the charrette, thanks to WCATV. We encourage you to watch the recording of the final night’s presentation on Closing Scenarios.The final night’s presentation included the leading two design scenarios under consideration. (You can also download the full slide deck from the final night.)Also, here is a link to the project’s website, https://watertownsquareimprovements.com.  There you will be able to review the detailed Polis Report based on a resident survey and the results of the 20 Kitchen Table Conversations, both of which took place prior to the charrette.  Also take a look at the timeline for the Plan. Below are some key components of what is an aggressive timeline.  Finally, the next community meeting will be on Thursday, February 29 at 6:30 PM location TBD. Mid-December – End of February – refine urban design – public realm recommendations – rezoning – comprehensive traffic and parking plan – MBTA Communities compliance March and April – graphic presentation of the key recommendations – produce written report – public forum May and June – presentation to the Planning Board – presentation to the City CouncilAs I have mentioned before, this is a very important project that will address all aspects of the our downtown and surrounding area, including public spaces, housing, transportation and sustainability, and have a lasting effect on the City.  I urge everyone who is concerned about the future of Watertown to get involved.  The timeline is tight so get on board now!

What Developments Have Been Approved and What are in the PipelineAs I did in the last Update I offered a status report on a few of the key developments in Watertown that are still in the review/approval process at the Planning Board or the Zoning Board of Appeal or have been approved and are moving forward.  It is also worthwhile to repeat a few general points. Most large developments require a special permit (there are 4 major criteria for the SP) and a site plan review (there are 10 major criteria for a (SPR).  A project in the Regional Mixed Used District (RMUD) needs only to go to the PB, most other projects need to go through both the PB and the ZBA.  Also, a reminder that if you are interested in following the progress of a development, you should sign up for the monthly reports from the Department of Community Development and Planning.  Here is the link to the reports from January to December 2023. You can click on the Case # for the project to find related documents, summaries of community meetings, etc.  1) Arsenal Way – on November 29, the ZBA approved this proposal to “allow a portion of the exiting parking to be replaced with a 5 to 6 level parking garage which will support the parking needs of the existing office/lab R&D building on the site and the proposal Watertown Mail Transformation Project”. It is outside the RUMD and needed approval by the BP and the ZBA.  There was community opposition to the project because of it size and the fact the it would require vehicles to cross the Community Path.  2) Manley Way – this project calls for the “repurposing of an existing structure to laboratory/R&D/non-nuisance manufacturing”.  There is some concern about the project design and whether it will impact the recently purchased Walker’s Pond. The review of the proposal has been continued until the 2/14/24 Planning Board meeting. 3) Pleasant Street/Rosedale Road/Acton Street – this is proposed life-science campus that includes a four-story building with below-grade parking, a two story retail building, and six-floors of above ground parking.  There has been significant opposition to the project because of the size of the buildings and that it is adjacent to a residential neighborhood.  The developers have made some accommodations since it was first proposed and will be presenting again to the Planning Board on 1/10/24. UPDATE: The Planning Board approved the project on a 4 -1 vote.  Here is a link to the description of the proceeding from Watertown News.  4) Main Street/Cross Street/Pleasant Street – after making substantial changes in the design, including the removal of the top floor, increasing the height of the commercial space on the ground floor, expanding the available square footage for commercial space, enlarging the public pedestrian path, reducing the number of in-door parking spaces, and increasing mitigation projects, the Zoning Board of Appeals approved the project.  The members of the ZBA were particularly pleased with the changes the developers made since its previous meeting.   5) Arsenal Street – the massive redevelopment of the Watertown Mall on Arsenal Street, coined as the “Watertown Mall Transformation” received approval by the Planning Board for a Master Plan Special Permit.  This is a significant step forward for Alexandria Real Estate.  Since the project is in the RUMD, only the Planning Board needed to approve the plans for 8 buildings for laboratory/R&D, retail, office, housing and commercial use with supporting structured and surface parking.  It is very important to know that while the developer has received a Master Plan Special Permit, each building on the site must receive approval by the Planning Board.  I suspect there will continue to be significant community involvement with the project as residents want to see the climate-related initiatives implemented and others would like to see more than the 88 units of housing that is proposed.NOTE ABOUT ALEXANDRIA REAL ESATE (ARE) – Watertown may have dodged the bullet since ARE has recently sold two sites, one in Newton and one in Boston, that were schedule to be life science developments.  Both properties were sold at half the price ARE had originally paid.

It is only January 2024 but we are half way through FY24 and the process for creating the FY25 budget is all ready well underway.  In the last Update I mentioned that the first step in the process was the presentation of a preliminary budget for FY25 (July1, 2024 to June 30, 2025) by the City Manager in October.  More recently the second step in the process which is creating of the City Council’s budget guidelines has also been completed.  This is an important process that requires individuals Councilors to learn what residents are thinking about and how City funds can be saved and spent.  The process includes the proforma approval of standard guidelines that have been in place for years as well as the presentation of previous guideline that were not funded or implemented and new savings and spending guidelines from the Councilors.  These are reviewed, evaluated, rejected, amended, and eventually approved by the three members of the Council’s Committee on Budget and Fiscal Oversight. The Committee then requests that each councilor rank the savings and spending guidelines. The rankings are then discussed and approved by the full City Council.  The City Manager uses the rankings, though he is not required to consider them, when he creates his final budget that he presents in May. The review of the Councilors’ proposed guidelines is a critical step in the process.  This happens at Committee meetings where the City Manager is present.  As mentioned the three committee members can reject, amend, or accept a proposal, and some times they recommend that a proposal be referred to another Council committee for a policy discussion.  There might be disagreements between the three member Committee and individual Councilors who are suggesting guidelines.  For example I proposed the creation of a new department of Climate and Energy and/or increasing the staff to address the work on the Climate and Energy Plan that is presently being done by staff at the Department of Community Development and Planning. (It should be noted that I did not propose this on a whim, but was responding to residents who felt without additional staff many of the goals of the Climate and Energy Plan will not be met in a timely fashion.)  The Committee rejected the first half of the proposed guideline saying the organization of City departments is the responsibility of the City Manager.  I do not dispute this, but felt that a suggestion for a new department is something the Manager could consider when creating his final budget.  They also determine that my request that the City Manager consider additional staff was more appropriately placed under a general guideline that departments develop budgets that prioritize the implementation of the Climate and Energy Plan.  The difference in what I proposed and what the Committee chose to do is more than semantics.  The proposal for additional staff stands alone and at the end of the day it is the City Manager who will decide if the guideline has merit.  There were 17 suggested budget guidelines that the Councilors were asked to review and rank.  The City Manager most likely will focus on the top ranked guidelines when creating his budget, though he may find that some of the lower ranked guidelines are compatible to his overall budget goals.  The rankings are not on the website yet, but here are a few of the top ones and a few of the guidelines I ranked high. Some of the high ranking guidelines (not in any particular order): 1) Continue to work with the Public Schools on a multi-year educational budget, sticking with the 3.5% annual increase. 2) Continue to support the Building for the Future Initiative and the building of the new high school. 3) Support the Implementation of the Comprehensive Plan and the Watertown Square Area Plan. 4) Monitor and assess resources for the 311 service. 5) Encourage all departments to prioritize implementation of the Climate and Energy Plan. My priority guidelines: 4 and 5 above. – Monitor and assess resources for the City-wide rodent control plan. – Support resources to fund the newly formed Human Rights Commission. – Provide additional resources for cultural events and public art. – Work with WMTA to locate funding for permanent local transit program in Watertown. – Funding of the recommendations of the Community Health and Human Services Assessment. My Approach to Ranking Budget Guidelines Folks ask me why I do not give a high score for, let’s say, #2 or #3 above.  For me I see it is a given that these type of guidelines will be supported by the City Manager.  Will he not underwrite the recommendations of the Comprehensive Plan or the Watertown Square Area Plan after we have spent so much money and staff time on developing them?  Will he suddenly not budget for the complete funding of the new high school?  He does not need to see these type of guidelines ranked high, since he knows the majority of Councilors already support them as does he based on his preliminary budget. I focus my support on guidelines that are not regularly included in the annual guidelines and that may be new or address a situation that is not readily apparent.

Upcoming Votes and More on  City Council Initiatives Sidewalk Snow Shoveling Ordinance and Regulations There will be a second reading and vote on the Snow and Ice Removal Ordinance (aka Sidewalk Snow Shoveling Ordinance) during the January 9 City Council meeting.  You can find a copy of the Ordinance here. If you follow this link you will see the minutes of a joint committee meeting.  Following the minutes you will see the Regulations as an attachment.The Council has already approved the Regulations. (I think is a bit unusual to approve regulations before approving an ordinance.)  Please take a look at the January 9 City Council Agenda, that was posted on the City website on Friday, January 5, to see when the Ordinance will be discussed and voted on.  You can anticipate a robust discussion of the Ordinance among the councilors and by the residents attending the meeting. UPDATE: The City Council passed the ordinance on a 6 – 3 vote.  I voted in favor.  Here is a link from Watertown News that describes the discussion and my remarks prior to the vote.  Closed Captioning Ordinance Also during the January 9 City Council meeting there will be a second reading and vote on a Closed Caption Ordinance, The Ordinance would require “any person owning or managing a public facility in the City of Watertown to activate closed captioning on closed captioned television receivers in use in any public area during regular hour.”  The Ordinance does allow for exemptions.  Important Meeting of the Committee on Climate and Energy The Committee on Climate and Energy will meet on Thursday, January 18 to continue the discussion of the progress made in implementing the Climate and Energy Plan (Plan). The  meeting will take place in the City Council Chambers on the 2nd floor of City Hall and it will be a hybrid meeting. In addition to a presentation on the progress toward reaching the Plan’s goals since the Committee met in September, there will be an initial presentation on a Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO). The Committee is also hoping to meet the new members of the Department of Community Development and Planning that will be working on components of the Plan.  Short-Term Rental Ordinance It is likely that the City Council will take up the Short-Term Rental Ordinance and related Regulations at a meeting in the first half of 2024, but possibly sooner.  Please visit the City website to check the agenda of upcoming City Council meetings.  There is both strong opposition to the Ordinance as well as support from those folks who presently operate short-term rentals on platforms such as Air B&B. Noise Ordinance Reconsidered It is also likely that the Noise Ordinance, which was previously rejected by the City Council, will again be referred to a Council committee to hold public meetings and make a recommendation to the full City Council.  Parks and Recreation Updates The Committee on Parks and Recreation will meet in the new year to continue the discussion of the City establishing a Miracle Field, possibly in cooperation with the City of Waltham.  We will also discuss any updates from the City’s communication with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation regarding improvements to and care of Cannalongo Park.

AND A BIT MORE! Community Preservation Projects The proposals for funding from the Community Preservation Committee for 2024 will be present in January and February.  The proposals in the Open Space/Outdoor Recreation category will be presented on Thursday, January 18 at 7:00 PM and the proposals in the Historic Preservation category will be presented on Thursday, February 1 at 7:00 PM.  Both meetings will be via zoom at https://watertown-ma.zoom.us/j/91525442843.  To review the project applications that will be presented visit https://www.watertown-ma.gov/352/Community-Preservation-Committee.  Interested in Serving on the City’s New Human Rights Commission? If you are please submit a letter of interest and your resume as soon as possible to the City Manager at gproakis@watertown-ma.gov.Call for Art – Community Sculpture Walk The Watertown Public Arts and Culture Committee (PACC) is excited to announce the second year of the Community Sculpture Walk.  The Community Sculpture Walk follows the Community Path from the parking lot behind the Watertown Free Public Library to Howard Street. Four sculptures will be selected to join four currently on view. Selected artists will be awarded $2,000 for the two-year loan of their sculpture.  Learn more at https://www.watertown-ma.gov/816/5211/Community-Sculpture-Walk.Edible Plants 2023  Don’t miss the public exhibition of Edible Plants 2023, hosted by the Public Arts & Culture Committee (PACC) and featuring artwork and writing from 20 artists about ten local plants. The show will be on view at the Till Wave Gallery until January 13th with a Closing Reception and readings by several artists from 2-4 P.M. See it next at the Mosesian Center for the Arts January 26 – March 8 with a blowout Closing Reception & Auction of the artwork with presentations by the artists on Thursday, March 7th from 7-9 P.M. Learn more at https://www.watertown-ma.gov/815/Edible-Watertown.Did You Know that the Library Does Home Delivery? The Watertown Free Public Library’s Home Delivery Program brings library materials directly to the homes of Watertown residents who are unable to visit the Library due to physical disability, long-term illness, or age. This service is provided free of charge. Apply for home delivery today by calling 617-972-6431 or completing the form at https://www.watertownlib.org/727/Home-Delivery.