Government

Planning Board Sends Recommends Zoning Amendments to City Council; Hearing Continues Nov. 14

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The zoning map recommended by the Planning Board on October 30, 2024. The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The Zoning Hearing is set to continue on November 14, 2024, at 6 PM with the City Council in the City Council Chamber at 149 Main Street. You can access the agenda, and you can join this hybrid meeting online by using this zoom link. What is the City Council Discussing at the Hearing? The Planning Board unanimously voted to recommend a package of zoning amendments to the City Council on October 30, 2024.

Government

Residents Wanted to Serve on Watertown Board of Health

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The City seeks people with backgrounds in public health, medical or a related field to apply to serve on the Watertown Board of Health. See the announcement below. City Manager George J. Proakis is seeking Watertown residents interested in serving on the Board of Health. Interested applicants should complete and submit a Universal Application. The Board of Health fulfills its duties under MGL 111, 26-33 and other sections including enforcement of the state Sanitary and Environmental Codes, reporting diseases dangerous to the public health, and enforcement of other applicable state and local laws and regulations.

Government

See How Watertown Voted for President, Senate & on Ballot Questions in 2024

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Charlie Breitrose

Watertown voters came out to vote in large numbers, both on election day and during the early voting and mail-in period. Two-thirds of Watertown’s 26,418 voters cast their ballots in the 2024 State Election, according to the unofficial Watertown Election results sent out by the Watertown City Clerk’s Office. Nearly 60 percent of the 17,542 votes in the election were cast during the early voting period or sent in mail-in ballots, said City Clerk Noelle Gilligan. About 200 to 300 people voted each of the day during the 14 day early voting period. A total of 3,250 residents came to City Hall to vote during the early voting period, Gilligan said, while 7,203 mail-in ballots were sent in.

Government

Tweaks to Watertown Square Zoning Map Discussed by Planning Board, Council

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The City Council and Planning Board got down to the details of the proposed new Zoning Map for the Watertown Square Area on Tuesday night, suggesting some changes to the proposal including allowing taller buildings in some spots, more modest ones in others, and keeping the Delta “green.” The third night of hearings included an extended discussion of the zoning map by the Planning Board, as well as continuation of questions from the City Council and some public comments. The City Council finished their question time, but the Planning Board will continue its hearing Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m in City Hall with remote participation (Click here for the agenda and links). They will make a recommendation that will be considered by the City Council at its hearing on Nov.

Government

Affordable Housing, Galen Street Among Watertown Square Zoning Topics Debated by Council & Planning Board

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The City Council and Planning Board got a chance to dig into the details of some key areas of the proposed Watertown Square Zoning, including affordable housing incentives, the zoning on Galen Street, the definition of a family and a household, and Accessory Dwelling Units. The joint hearing held at City Hall lasted more than three hours on Thursday night. This was the second hearing on the proposed zoning changes. The first one was held on Oct. 16 when the zoning was introduced by the City’s Department of Community Development and Planning, and a third one will be held Tuesday.

Government

Council’s Decision on Future of Watertown Middle School Will Impact FY26 Budget

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Watertown Middle School

Watertown has three new or renovated elementary schools and in 2026 the new high school will open, but Watertown Middle School has not been significantly changed since the 1990s. The City has multiple options for how to renovate the school on Waverley Avenue, City Manager George Proakis said, but one of the more compelling ones is time sensitive. Proakis posed the question of how to deal with the Middle School, and several others, to the City Council during his Fiscal Year 2026 Preliminary Budget presentation because he said it could impact how the budget is created. The preliminary budget figure for the City is $214,668,761, and currently there is a shortfall of $335,895 to reach that number, Proakis said. The deficit will be made up either with additional revenues or cutting the overall budget.

Government

Discussion of What’s Going on With the Legislature in Watertown

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Massachusetts State House

The following announcement was provided by Progressive Watertown:

WBUR characterized the end of the 2023-2024 MA legislative session as “a showcase of dysfunctional governance that was [as] demoralizing as it was infuriating to witness.” “Deeply broken” was a headline in the Boston Globe. Activists are boiling over with frustration! What’s going on? Why does the MA legislature pass so few bills? Why couldn’t MA pass a climate bill after the hottest summer on record?