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.

Police/Fire

Boston Man Arrested for Alleged Stabbing on Mt. Auburn St.

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The Watertown Police and Middlesex District Attorney’s office announced that an arrest has been made in the stabbing that occurred in Watertown on Tuesday. See the press release below. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Watertown Chief of Police Justin Hanrahan have confirmed that Michael McGhee, 19, of Boston, has been charged following the alleged stabbing that occurred in the area of Mt. Auburn and Boylston Streets in Watertown. On October 22, 2024, at approximately 5:15 p.m., police responded to several 911 calls reporting a disturbance in progress at the bus stop in the area of Mt.

Around Town

People Working Against Hunger in Watertown Honored by Community Foundation

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The honorees at the Watertown Community Foundation’s Celebrate Impact Event. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Hunger is an issue faced by a growing number of Watertown residents. Recently, the Watertown Community Foundation put a spotlight on the work of several groups that have been trying to make sure everyone in town can feed their families and themselves. On Oct. 17, the Community Foundation hosted Celebrate Impact where they honored the people and groups who make up four pillars to feeding those in need in Watertown: food support, 24/7 access, food assistance, and food distribution.

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.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Investigating Stabbing on Mt. Auburn St.

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Watertown Police are investigating a stabbing that occurred on Tuesday that sent one person to the hospital. The WPD sent out the following announcement on Facebook:

At 5 p.m. (Tuesday), the Watertown Police Department responded to a stabbing at the intersection of Mt. Auburn St. and Boylston St. The victim was approached by three males, which led to an altercation during which the victim was stabbed in the lower back.

Around Town

Watertown Restaurants Concerned About Impact of Question 5

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A Vote No on Question 5 T-shirt worn by an employee at Donohue’s Bar & Grill (Contributed Photo)

Local restaurants have spoken out against Question 5 on the State Election ballot, saying that if the ballot measure passes servers and bartenders would make less money, and diners would see higher prices to cover the $15 per hour wages. Employees at Donohue’s Bar & Grill have been wearing T-shirts saying “Protect Tipped Workers: Vote No on Question 5.” Branch Line sent out a letter to customers urging them to vote no on the ballot measure entitled “Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers.” The Watertown Business Coalition and the Charles River Regional Chamber also announced they support voting No on 5. Passage of the ballot measure has been endorsed by Progressive Massachusetts and Progressive Watertown.

Around Town

Watertown Square Zoning Discussion Will Include Accessory Units, Household Definition & Neighborhood Mixed Use Zoning

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(Updated Oct. 29: ADUs are limited to single family properties in districts that allow them by right.)

When the zoning changes proposed to make the Watertown Square Area Plan a reality were presented last week, the City Council and Planning Board didn’t get to dig down on a few areas, including accessory dwelling units (i.e. in-law units), what constitutes a household for residential units, and the new Neighborhood Mixed Use zones. City Council President Mark Sideris said he would like to have more discussions about those areas when the public hearing on the Watertown Square zoning continues on Thursday, Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. in City Hall. Another area that Sideris wanted to have discussion about is what happens when a property falls in two different zones including one of the new Watertown Square zones.