Sustainable Watertown December news: RMUD; Dog Park; vigil for refugees; Rally for jobs, justice, climate

1 view
Skip to first unread message

Barbara

unread,
Dec 1, 2015, 2:59:13 PM12/1/15
to News Park Watertown Dog
Hope this isn’t a duplicate. 
Dear Sustainable Watertown Neighborhood Groups and friends,

Quick notes:  Vigil in support of Refugees, Saturday December 5, 11AM. Watertown Square.
Jobs, Justice, Climate: Rally to Defend New England’s Future, Dec 12, 1PM, Boston Common

Your advocacy skills are needed twice this week.  Tuesday Dec 1, Special Town Council Meeting, RMUD Zoning  
Wednesday Dec. 2, Dog Park.

The easy one first: to help the Dog Park Task Force convince the Conservation Commission and Recreation Department that the plan for an off leash dog park at Filipello is shoehorned in without meeting the criteria for a state of the art dog park. The entrance to the soccer fields and ball courts has been set aside by the CC and Recreation Dept for only “passive” activities rather than “active” ones like an all season dog park. The Dog Park Task Force is a Sustainable Watertown group and has asked for your support. The Recreation Department has custody and care of Filipello. The park designer works for the Town. The Conservation Commission has to pass on parklands. Please write to your Councilors and Town Manager c/o jh...@watertown-ma.gov; to the Recreation Dept, pcen...@watertown-ma.gov; and to the Conservation Commission c/o Chris Hayward,chay...@watertown-ma.gov. And please attend the Conservation Commission meeting WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2,  7:30 in the Lower Hearing Room. There is a Recreation Dept Open Forum the first Tuesday of each month, Dec 1 from 7-8, but it is more important that you attend the Special Council Meeting this month noted below. Here is the proposed map:  NB: the basketball courts are used as the town snow dump in winter. The “potential dog park” is on the existing roadway to the existing fence by the usable property line and another road will be built on the other side.

NOW, the second time your advocacy skills are needed is to tackle the RMUD, Regional Mixed Use Districtproposed by Boylston Properties for an area that is now zoned I-1and I-3. Please see the map below and the links to the staff report and the document. 
The district stretches from School Street along Arsenal and the bike and ped route including the Watertown Mall to the houses on Elm Street and stops. [I don’t think the land of the denied hotel at 80 Elm St is included.] Then it goes half way up Coolidge Ave to the apartment buildings, but only on the side with the Mt Auburn Club. On the side between Arsenal Street and the river, it runs from the AthenaHealth property over to Harvard Vanguard (the building will stay), the Arsenal Project (Arsenal Mall), and Miller Ale House with parking structure. 
•The Planning Board approved the plan with a 100-foot buffer. It now goes to the Town Council for approval, since changes to the zoning code are voted on by our elected reps on the Council. The next step would be to send a proposed Master Plan to the Council for each major property. Then buildings could be developed with a Special Permit from the Planning Board for each. But, the new District zoning will lay out the parameters of what is possible. Because it is so complicated, there are a number of people who think that further deliberations should be held, all questions answered, and any research completed after the new Council is seated in January.
•A point of contention is the 100-foot green buffer from Greenough Blvd next to the river which creates a buildable property line. Mr McQuillan, principal partner of Boylston Properties has said he would fight this green 100-foot buffer addition to the RMUD. There are several caretakers of the river and parkland. Who do we count on for the best protection?
•There are some other very important issues, like an FAR of 2.0 (Floor Area Ratio) which could allow a great deal of density and tall buildings. 3 million square feet at Arsenal Project alone. It is a complicated set of issues that require a great deal of familiarity and study. The buffer laws allow exemptions for existing buildings partially in a buffer zone. This means that the Miller Ale House and parking structure in their entirety could be built out to at least twenty stories if the present FAR is maintained. The heights of buildings and their number are all determined by the ratio of coverage and height of buildings (not including parking). How do we best protect our river and the green space around it? It is a regional plan. How does the Town of Watertown fare?
•Traffic remains a major issue on Arsenal Street, and one that has not been fully addressed. Sustainable Watertown thinks that Watertown must hire a Transportation Planner immediately to work in the Planning Office to create a town-wide traffic plan. Time to tell your Councilors.
•In the letter attached from the Watertown News, Jon Bockian makes the point among many good ones that we have to discern what could be built there, but also anticipate designs and uses that might be proposed that we would not want. The impact will last for generations. http://www.watertownmanews.com/2015/11/25/letter-resident-feels-council-is-moving-too-fast-with-new-rmud-zoning/  Very important. 
•There are additional issues of heights of new buildings next to historic old ones. It is a Historic District, but certain of the old buildings could be removed since they are not designated in preservation categories. Set backs from parkland are also a factor. There are opportunities, but also difficulties. Regardless of your position on higher density and height, we have to get it right this time. Rushing through details and problems before the holidays seems self-defeating. 
Many residents are concerned that they and the Town Council need time to gather information, understand it, and deliberate on the merits. There have been developer meetings and Planning Board hearings. Now, the Town Council and a broader public will have to deliberate. There are many issues and they are difficult, even for resident professionals who have given their expertise to the discussions. Continuing the process after the new Council is seated makes sense.

We hope that you will study the maps and read the proposal and Jon’s letter, which will give you information for formulating your opinions. Please attend the SPECIAL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING this TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, AT 6:30, TOWN HALL. Please sign in at the beginning and prepare to speak, even if it is one sentence with a concern. We have to be focussed in our presentations. If you cannot attend, please write to the entire Council c/o jh...@watertown-ma.gov. Even if you do write, come prepared to say a few words. Your activism and participation are key to a good process.


   There are other maps now showing buffers, but they are not on line yet.
   You may also Google Watertown and find a broader map with the buildings on it. It would be wonderful to have these large developments connected to Watertown instead of islands set apart. We hope for lively new commercial and residential areas, but ones that relate to the rest of town and our existing community and mostly local, independent businesses. Transportation Planning for the Town is overdue. The Arsenal complex was allowed by the river a century and a half ago. Parking has overtaken us. At least the uses today are lower impact. Now we have to protect and treasure our natural resources the best we can.
   Ideas, suggestions in...@sustainablewatertown.org
     Thanks for all you do,
   Sustainable Watertown

Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages