Development

Councilors Say They Hear Resident Concerns, But Pass Galen Street Zoning

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The Town Council Chamber was filled with residents there to hear about the decision on rezoning parcels along Galen Street. Developers are interested in building biotech lab buildings on the site south of the Charles River. Residents concerned about the impact of a proposal to change the zoning for properties along Galen Street jammed the Town Council Chamber Tuesday night. The change paves the way for a biotech lab project to be built on east side of Galen Street on property that includes for the former Colonial Buick GMC dealership. After hearing from the public during public forum, and then having a 1.5 hour discussion of their own, Town Councilors voted 8-1 to approve the zoning change requested by the owners/developers of the property.

Around Town

High-Tech Lights on Watertown Square Trees Allow for More Colorful Display

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The new lights on the trees on the Watertown Square Delta can change colors and display patterns. The lights on the trees in Watertown Square have gone high tech, and will be lit for more than just the holidays. Residents may have noticed the lights around the trees on the Watertown Delta shine not only brighter, but in different colors. This is the result of the new light system installed by the Department of Public Works, said Jesse Myott, the DPW’s Director of Administration and Finance. For years, the lights on the trees in the Watertown Delta were all white.

Around Town

Residents Invited to Meeting on Redesign of Watertown Square

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Watertown Square. Find out about plans to redesign Watertown Square at a public meeting on Dec. 3. Organizers sent out the following information:

Join Us for a Public Meeting

When:         Tuesday, December 3                      Open House, 6:30 to 7:00 p.m.                      Presentation and Q&A, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.Where:        Perkins School for the Blind                      Grousbeck Center                      55 Beechwood Avenue, Watertown                      Parking available in lot off Beechwood Ave.; follow signs for event parking

The Town of Watertown is redesigning Watertown Square to improve mobility and safety for all users (including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and vehicles). At this public meeting, the project team will present three conceptual plans (of the original six shared at the Open House in July 2018) for further discussion and analysis. We will also review the potential benefits of each alternative.

Around Town

See Photos from the 2019 Watertown Faire on the Square

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The sun shines down on the 2019 Faire on the Square, held behind Watertown’s Town Hall on Saturday. Hundreds of people joined the festivities at Watertown’s Faire on the Square on Saturday. Under sunny skies, the 2019 Faire on the Square featured entertainment from singers, acrobats and dance troupes. Dancers perform at Saturday’s Faire on the Square. Kids had plenty of activities, with several inflatable play structures, pony rides, face painting and clowns.

Around Town

See the Recommendations of the Watertown Parking Plan

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A parking consultant recommends replacing Watertown’s current parking meters with “smart” meters that offer a range of payment options. This is one of many recommendations in the Watertown Parking Management Plan. Town officials recently released the final version of the Watertown Parking Management Plan, which included 10 recommendations, including adding high tech meters, adding meters in some places, removing them in others, and having different priced depending on the demand. The recommendations were developed by Stantec, the consultant hired by the town to look at parking in Watertown’s major commercial districts: Watertown Square and Coolidge Square. They also held public meetings to hear from residents and workers.

Coolidge Square

Give Your Opinion on Changes to Parking in Watertown at Upcoming Meeting

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The public is invited to give input on Watertown’s Parking Management plan for Watertown Square and Coolidge Square which was presented earlier this year. The Watertown Planning Department provided the following information:

The Town seeks public input on draft parking strategies, presented at a public meeting on May 7. Please join the Town and project team at the Watertown Parking Management Plan Draft Strategies Public Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 7, from 7-8:30 p.m., at the Watertown Public Library (Watertown Savings Bank Room). Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., to review key findings from Watertown and Coolidge Squares’ parking data collection, public engagement survey and January open houses. In January, the public had the opportunity to provide input at two public open houses to review parking supply and utilization data, share parking concerns, and give the Town ideas on how to improve parking management in Watertown Square and Coolidge Square.

Entertainment

Author Talking About How Watertown Square has Changed Through the Years

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Hear about how Watertown Square has changed over the decades in an author talk sponsored by the Historical Society of Watertown. WHEN: Thurs., March 21, 2019

EVENT: “Watertown Square through Time” with Cara Marcus Presented by: Historical Society of Watertown

Cara Marcus will do a game show style presentation of her new book, “Watertown Square through Time.” How well do you know Watertown? — its streets, buildings, events and famous people? Find out. Come to the Community Room of the Watertown Police Department Headquarters, at 552 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472 on Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. Free and open to the public.

Around Town

What Parking Technologies, Improvements Do You Want in Watertown? Let the Town Know

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If you have you been frustrated by not being able to find parking in Watertown Square or Coolidge Square, found a broken meter, or not been able to find the hours when you have to pay to park — well, Town officials want to hear from you. Watertown officials recently hosted a pair of open houses to talk to residents and people who work in Town about the parking situation in Watertown’s two main business districts. There are many parking spaces in these areas, with more than 1,500 in Watertown Square and nearly 1,400 in Coolidge Square. The majority are off-street spaces. Town officials do not just want to replace the aging parking meters, but to come up with a parking plan.