(The original letter was sent to the City Council)
Dear Councilors:
Does everyone understand that Watertown’s Traffic Rules and Orders (TROs) also assist in managing the number of vehicles in our neighborhoods? TROs are used to allow for safe, fair and equitable use of public ways by all Watertown inhabitants and visitors.
Public ways were not intended to be unrestricted, free, public parking lots for the masses. Hence, the two-hour citywide parking restrictions, unless otherwise posted. And, enforcement of the “No All Night Parking” regulation during the winter season.
Do these statements sound familiar?
- “Parking ban a joy or a nuisance, depending on who you ask” 04/09/2004 Watertown Tab and Press (attached)
- “Too many vehicles, not enough driveways” 02/18/1999 Watertown Tab and Press (attached)
Twenty years ago, to address parking concerns; a Citizens’ Committee was formed. Real Estate Agents were also invited to discuss “over-renting” and required notification to prospective tenants of the Town’s winter parking guidelines. Conclusion: continued enforcement of the TROs.
Today’s mixed signals: On one hand; parking requirements are being reduced for new development in Watertown Square (WSQ 1-2-3). Add to the City mix: Accessory Dwelling Units; under-the-radarShortTermRentals; changes to the definition of a Household; encouraged Unbundled Parking and Special Permit requests by mixed-use developers for up to 25% reduction in required parking spaces. Where will all the vehicles park? On neighborhood streets?
On the other hand; on 10/24/2024 a Letter to the Editor was posted on Watertown News by Citizens for Better Parking as follows:
“Let us adopt some common sense and accept the reality that people in the 21st century need to use cars…,”
Yes, the ownership of motor vehicles has increased since the days of our parents. Even though professional planners advise that close proximity to public transportation and bicycle ridership will diminish the reliance on motor vehicles. In my opinion: a fallacy.
One, two-dwelling unit property in the East End can generate over five to six vehicles; plus guests. For the convenience and prosperity of some; public safety is being jeopardized for everyone; 24/7. Coupled with infringement on good neighborhood vibes.
In my opinion: Protect Watertown’s quality of life, and safety. Support enforcement of the “No All Night Parking” regulation during the winter season.Thank you!
Best,
Angie
Angeline Maria B. Kounelis
Retired District A, East End, City Councilor
Why just the winter ? Based on all of your arguments , a year round parking ban should be enforced (that is how the law is currently written on the books)
Reminder comments must be signed with your full name.
Retired Councilor Kounelis always provides needed facts. With her history on the Council and as co-vice president of the East Watertown
Betterment Association and her continued involvement in many city issues, she understands our city well.
The parking issues have existed for a long time and have continued to get worse over the years as we are being pushed to be a city like Cambridge. Our leaders talk out of two sides of their mouths. They say they want to discourage cars with the new residential developments, yet some say we need to provide more parking options for current residents. The goal stated in our Comprehensive Plan is to reduce personal vehicular traffic by 50% by 2050 and want to encourage residents to use our public transit options and ride bicycles.
If we change the winter parking ban, more cars will be here. More landlords are allowing more people to live in their apartments and if they all have cars, that’s a problem. They should notify prospective tenants of what parking is available, if any. It is then up to those tenants to find parking alternatives, not have a car, or not rent the apartment. People have had to move cars around forever if they have stacked parking at their house. If people plan accordingly, that usually works pretty well.
Watertown never planned for a lot of things, one of them being the possibility of families having more than one or two cars. We were always viewed as a sleepy suburb, not a big city, with local industrial and manufacturing jobs, and the housing was built close together with small driveways and in many cases small streets.
People moving in now want to change a myriad of procedures, many for their benefit and not the whole community. If you moved here knowing your housing didn’t have sufficient parking, that’s on you.
We already have people from Belmont and Newton parking on our streets, taking up needed space. Belmont has a year-round parking ban for their streets. Newton has many restrictions also. If we lift the ban there will be more of them in our neighborhoods.
I agree that many people do need cars to get to work in areas not serviced by public transportation. We don’t have enough jobs in Watertown for the average worker and aren’t encouraging them so people can’t walk or ride a bike to work as many did in the past; we just want more density and housing. So people are forced to go elsewhere to work.
Taking a bus or riding a bike is not a viable option for many. That’s when people have to make the best decisions for themselves; if renters need a car and don’t have access to parking, they should make that decision before moving in.
As we continue to build more high end apartments with less parking options, those people will know that in advance and plan accordingly. If they then decide they need a car and don’t want to pay for a space in their building, or one is not available, they will drift out to our neighborhood streets and cause friction in neighborhoods, not what we want.
My street was narrowed with the snow from the storm last night. If that happens on many streets, where are the cars parking in the snowstorm lots going to go after the storm? If they park on both sides now, there is no room for fire trucks or other big trucks. If we restrict parking to one side of streets, that will create a situation where half of the neighborhood cars have parking and others won’t. That wouldn’t create a friendly atmosphere either.
We need to discourage incentivizing people to come here with cars if our city can’t handle them. There are few of us who want to have the situations like Cambridge where all you see is cars parked all the time. The city will have dirtier streets and we won’t even be able to see the small green spaces next to our sidewalks. If we are to become the walking city our leaders want, let’s plan for that.
The police department is already short-staffed and the officers have much more important duties to perform. They don’t need to be spending time writing tickets.
Let your Councilors know that you prefer to keep the winter parking ban in place to avoid any more conflicts in Watertown.
I strongly prefer to have the parking ban changed. It is not reasonable to say to people, if you need to have a car and your landlord or your new home doesn’t have enough parking, then don’t move to Watertown. Most people need a car, usually to get to work, but it may be to drive your children to after school activities or to go visit your parents in another town, or simply because you want to be able to go skiing or swimming. My husband bikes a lot, and I take the bus often, but still need a car when going to many other places.
For me, this is an issue of social equality. I live in a home with plenty of parking with a 2-car garage and long driveway. I am privileged. But not everyone is. And not every resident with a parking issue has the financial means to create parking for their home. Nor do we wish to lose more green spaces and trees as residents jerry-rig paved parking spaces on their lawns.
Recently a neighbor landlord who owns a large, 3 family home tore out a beautiful yard on a hill that had a magnificent willow tree, flowering bushes and greenery, and put in a paved 4-6 car parking lot. Honestly, it’s an eye sore and devastating to lose what was for decades a beautiful Watertown lawn.
Again, I am lucky and privileged with plenty of off-street parking. But this comes down to taking care of our neighbors. Being kind to those that have less. There is a solution that encompasses ensuring public safety by activating snow emergencies during snow events (as opposed to the inefficient current parking ban), and instating year-round, 1-sided parking on the narrow streets of Watertown to allow for ease of EMS vehicle navigation at all times.
Please, I urge the council and Watertown residents to reach across the divide and come to a sensible solution that takes care of all of us. Please put yourself in the shoes of another. The world needs more compassion and kindness. Let’s be that example here in Watertown.
Thank you for your time,
Gretchen Dunoyer
I am sympathetic to both sides of the street parking ban issue. I can see that public safety is jeopardized at some locations, such a school bus stops. There is also a growing need for new Watertown renters to have automobile ownership access. Perhaps a solution might involve lifting the ban on designated street sections abutting rental properties, and keeping the ban on other non-renting property sections.