HomeMy Public PortalAboutSnow and Ice Removal on Private WaysTOWN OF WATERTOWN
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
124 ORCHARD STREET
WATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS 02472
Tel: 617-972-6420
Fax: 617-972-6402
CHANGES IN SNOW PLOWING OPERATIONS
ON PRIVATE WAYS
Residents of Private Ways
In accordance with Town Council Resolution R-2 013-63 Dated September 10, 2013 states the Public
Works Department may impose regulations plus snow and ice removal from Private Ways strictly for the
purpose of public safety and public access. For a private way to be eligible for plowing by the Public
Works Department the below listed criteria must be met:
Criteria
1. The private way and accessed properties may not be under single ownership, including a master
deed as a condominium complex.
2. The private way may not provide access exclusively to non-residential properties.
3. The private way shall not be within a commercial parking lot.
4. The private way shall be open to the public and shall not have any signs which say private
property, resident -only parking, no trespassing, or the like, with the exception of a municipal
street sign designating it as a private way.
5. The private way must be paved witli a miniinuni width of 12 feet.
6. The private way must be maintained in good repair, as determined by the DPW, of all time 'r)y
the responsible owners or abutters.
Public Works Snow and Ice Procedure for Private Ways
1. Private ways shall be plowed once during the course of a given storm and again at the end of a
storm prior to the close of Public Works snow plowing operations.
2. Private ways shall not be cleared curb to curb / edge to edge. The plowing of private ways shall
be done solely for the purpose of public safety equipment access.
3. Private ways shall not be plowed to 100% clear surface or clear to black pavement, as the
purpose is to maintain access for public safety equipment.
4. The Public Works Department may not plow any private way if there is a motor vehicle parked
on the way or if any other type of obstruction is present. It is the responsibility of responsible
owners or abutters to keep,the roadway clear of vehicles to allow safe operation of public works
vehicles.
5. Deicing of private ways will be addressed in the same manner as described above in Public
Works Snow & Ice Procedures for Private Ways -1 through 4.
6. The Public Works Department shall not provide any type of snow removal work or any
repositioning of snow prior to, during or after any snow event.
7. Private ways shall have sufficient capacity to store snow on the private way from the snow
plowing operation, and snow may be plowed by the Public Works Department onto abutting
properties.
8. Due to the fact that many private ways are narrow dead -ends, the Public Works Department
cannot take any responsibility for moving snow that is plowed in front of any driveway or
parking area. The purpose of this program is to provide snow removal for public safety vehicle
access, and the removal of snow from parking areas is the responsibility of the property owners
or abutters.
Parking Restrictions
The Town of Watertown winter parking ban or a snow emergency parking ban shall not be enforced by
the Town of Watertown on private ways; however, it shall be the responsibility of the responsible
owners or abutters to insure that adequate passage for public safety and Public Works vehicles is
maintained at all times on the private way.
Snow Storage
Under Watertown Ordinance 96.25, no snow shall be plowed onto or deposited on a public way,
therefore, the owners or abutters of a private way shall be required to provide adequate storage for
cnnw hln%,jpri tram the private way. which may inciude sluraRe of snow on the abutting properties.
Opting Out
A petition signed by 50% or more of property owners or abutters on a private way, whose property
access is on the private way, will be considered by the Public Works Department for exclusion from
municipal snow and ice removal.
The Town administration, the Town Council and the Department of Public Works have held a number of
meetings and deliberations on the issues surrounding snow plowing on private ways and have finalized
the passage of the above referenced Town Council Resolution in an effort to provide public safety access
to the private ways.
Attached is a list of Off Street winter parking locations.