Watertown

Watertown City Council

Tuesday August 8, 2023

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The order of items in transcripts is the chronological order in which they were taken up. Some Agenda items may have been skipped.

Section 1

The speaker, Elise Loukas, apologizes for not being able to attend the meeting in person due to being quarantined with COVID, but expresses her appreciation for being able to speak on the proposed demolition delay ordinance. She states that she has been on the historical commission for 15 years and has seen the evolution of preservation of older homes. The purpose of the ordinance is to give people who have recently purchased or have properties under contract time to consider options for preserving the building. She believes that a two-year maximum on the demolition delay is necessary because some people are simply waiting out the current delay period. The commission has been judicious in reviewing applications, with only 21% being preferably preserved and 15% being subject to a demolition delay. The proposed ordinance increases the maximum delay to encourage preservation. Larry Field, senior planner for Watertown, will speak to other aspects of the proposed demolition delay ordinance.

Section 2

The town of Watertown is considering a proposed ordinance and regulation that would revise the demolition delay process for historic homes. The Department of Community Development and Planning has been working with the Historical Commission for two years to create this proposal, which includes three major changes: increasing the maximum length of a demolition delay from one to two years, reducing the number of cases that go to public hearings, and addressing the issue of partial demolitions. The proposal has been reviewed by the Economic Development and Planning Committee and KP Law, with some changes incorporated. The town is experiencing a strong housing market, making it appealing for older homes to be demolished and replaced with two-family homes. The proposed changes aim to encourage the preservation of historic buildings. However, some residents have raised concerns about the impact on property rights and the lack of clarity around what qualifies as a historically significant structure. More details and transparency around the process are needed.

Section 3

Many residents of Watertown are expressing their concerns about a proposed new demolition delay ordinance that would extend the current 12-month delay to 24 months. There are concerns about the potential impact on property owners' rights, and some are questioning the need for such a long delay, given that the city has only had 38 cases in the past 20 years. It is also noted that only one other community in Massachusetts has a 24-month demolition delay. Some residents feel that this is a backdoor way to implement residential design standards without proper community input. Others are concerned about the lack of transparency and the potential for abuse of power. There are also questions about the qualifications of the members of the historical commission and the need for a longer delay for renovations or additions that do not significantly alter the historic character of a building. The concern is that this ordinance may create a burden for property owners without a significant benefit to the community. Some residents are requesting that the vote on this matter be postponed for 30 days to allow for more input and understanding from the community.

Section 4

This is a demolition delay ordinance that is focused on protecting homes that are either in the historic district or up for demolition. Thank you. The Watertown Historical Commission is proposing a new demolition delay ordinance that would require a maximum 24-month delay for homeowners looking to demolish their property. Some concerns were raised about the potential impact on renovations and the need for an inventory of historic properties in the town. However, the commission clarified that the ordinance is aimed at protecting homes from being demolished and the longer delay is necessary due to the lack of other protective measures in the town. The commission also explained that the ordinance has been carefully crafted and allows for discretion on a case-by-case basis. Other towns with similar ordinances have different tools in place to protect historic homes, making their shorter delay periods irrelevant. Overall, the commission believes that the ordinance will help preserve the character of the town and prevent the rapid demolition and replacement of homes.

Section 5

The city council held a public hearing on the demolition delay ordinance, which has been in the works for several years. The ordinance aims to provide more detail and specificity in the demolition process, as well as offer an off-ramp for smaller, less historically significant structures. Some residents expressed concern about the potential impact on renovation projects, but the city manager and council members assured them that the ordinance is focused solely on demolition. The council ultimately voted to adopt the ordinance, which also includes enhanced notice and review processes.

Section 6

The speaker, Councilor Palomba, is thanking the historical commission for their work and has a few questions about the proposal. She appreciates the work done by the commission as volunteers and agrees that the proposal's idea of allowing two people to decide whether a building is historically significant is a good one. This could alleviate a lot of cases for the commission and make it easier for developers to demolish buildings. The councilor also suggests an amendment to the proposal to change the time period from 24 months to 18 months. Another councilor asks about the process after a demolition delay is ordered and the speaker clarifies that the staff takes the initiative to reach out to the developer, but often the developer is not interested in exploring options. Another councilor, Piccirilli, explains the three main elements of the proposal - streamlining the process, defining substantial demolition, and changing the demolition delay period from 12 months to 24 months. He also addresses concerns about the impact on renovating houses and clarifies that the proposal is meant to encourage preservation rather than demolition. The councilor also explains the process for determining whether a building is a significant one and the checks and balances in place to prevent unnecessary delays. He also mentions the provision for removing the demolition delay in cases where the building cannot be preserved.

Section 7

The Parks and Recreation Committee met on June 26th and July 17th to discuss various topics. The first meeting was held to interview Dennis Duff for reappointment to the Community Preservation Committee. Duff expressed his interest in continuing to serve on the committee due to his experience and knowledge of the city's history and development. He has been involved in various boards and commissions in Watertown, including the Watertown Redevelopment Authority, and feels confident in making decisions about CPC funding.

Section 8

The city council reviewed and discussed a variety of topics at multiple meetings. They discussed a housing project that was rejected due to its location and lack of public transportation access, but the council member who voted against it said he would support it if it was brought back with improvements. They also discussed appointments for the Community Preservation Committee and a municipal policy analyst. In addition, they reviewed and made changes to the comprehensive plan draft, based on public comments and recommendations. The committee voted to adopt the updated plan with eight recommended changes.

Section 9

0.0 The city manager is seeking the advice and input of the city council for three department head hires: human resources director, chief financial officer, and police chief. These positions are currently in the midst of the hiring process and the city manager wants to ensure they have the council's input before making a decision. The human resources director will be referred to the committee on human services, the chief financial officer to budget and fiscal oversight, and the police chief to public safety.

Section 10

The city council discussed various topics during their meeting, including human resources and personnel, the upcoming swearing-in ceremony for the new fire chief, and the approval of the state budget. The council also announced upcoming events, including the State of the City address and the Watertown Arts Market. Councilor Izzo also mentioned a community meeting for 10 to 30 Manley Way on September 5th.

Section 11

The speaker outlines upcoming agenda items, including interviews for a municipal policy analyst, eminent domain takings, and a meeting with the planning board. The speaker also mentions scheduling a special meeting for these items and informs the audience about potential conflicts with other referrals. The following speaker, Dennis Holland, congratulates the new members of the board and raises concerns about the selection process for new board members and issues related to snow plowing and winter parking bans. The meeting concludes with a motion to adjourn.