Watertown Square Area Plan
MOST RECENT UPDATES
The Joint Zoning Hearing with City Council and Planning Board will begin on October 16!
The Joint Public Hearing with the City Council and Planning Board to begin on October 16, 2024 in the Watertown Free Public Library at 6:30pm.
Find the Zoom link, online broadcast, and outreach email to submit public comment in the Hearing’s Agenda. You can access all of the relevant documents associated with the Joint Hearing by visiting here.
In the case that the Joint Public Hearing that is beginning on October 16, 2024 gets continued to a future date, the City of Watertown has prepared additional dates for those to be extended to. Below are the dates held:
October 16, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Placeholders in the case that the Hearing is continued
October 24, 2024 at 6:00 PM
October 29, 2024 at 6:00 PM
October 30, 2024 at 6:00 PM
November 14 or November 19 -- Date still to be determined and finalized.
The above dates have been updated from those previously released after further consideration and discussion. The Joint Hearing start date remains the same on October 16, 2024.
The Watertown Square Area Plan was endorsed by the City Council and Planning Board on July 16, 2024. Access the finalized plan above!
Find materials and videos from past events and Hearings!
Charrette Presentation Summary Videos
Summary videos of our Final Charrette Presentation, November 30, 2023, from project consultants Jeff Speck and Tim Love discussing a vision of a thriving downtown and two leading design scenarios currently under consideration.
WHY ARE WE MAKING A NEW PLAN FOR WATERTOWN SQUARE?
To create lively public spaces
To create street design that promotes safe walking, biking and public transit usage
To ensure that small businesses can thrive
To promote shared public-private open spaces that are activated and expanded, with more access to the Charles River
To create expanded housing options
To explore more opportunities for public art
To reuse, enhance, or preserve the Square’s most significant historic structures
To make the Square a destination for residents and visitors alike, with attractions for community members to visit and spend time
An overview in chart form of the timeline of creating the Watertown Square Area Plan
What will we be working on?
Existing Conditions Analysis
Identifying travel paths and desire lines, synthesizing takeaways from the previous plans such as Watertown’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and Walkable Watertown
Public Engagement Plan
Stakeholder engagement, Polis Online Survey, Design Charrette event
Urban Design & Redevelopment Scenarios
Potential development opportunities, public realm recommendations (street reconfiguration/road diet), urban realm design
Transportation and Parking
Detailed conceptual plan for redesigned street right-of-ways, implementation timeline, high level peer review
Rezoning
Development of a tiered zoning approach, MBTA Communities analysis, public engagement via webinar and WCATV
An image of Watertown Square with labels identifying important locations for the plan. The labeled areas are displayed below.
1. View facing Watertown Square intersection
2. View of Charles River from Greenway path
3. View of automobile dominated stretch of Arsenal Street
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a charrette?
A charrette is a collaborative planning process during which an interdisciplinary team of planners, designers, transportation experts, city officials, residents, business owners, other interested people, and most importantly you, work together to create a shared design vision of a particular area.
How can I stay updated on the project?
Sign up for updates, announcements, and more here.
I have a question or concern about this project. Who can I reach out to?
You can reach out to the project team at team@watertownsquareimprovements.com or email Watertown City Planning at planning@watertown-ma.gov.
You can also submit a comment here.
resources
Watch the Recordings of the Hearings
Joint Hearing Resources and Materials
Public Comment Submissions for Joint Hearing on 6/13/24, 6/27/24, and 7/16/2024
Materials from the April 4, 2024 Public Forum
Materials from the February 29, 2024 Public Meeting
Materials from the November 2023 Charrette Series
Kitchen Table Conversation (KTC) Resources
Presentation from Kick-off Event on October 17, 2023
Background Information
