HomeMy Public PortalAbout2021-05-25 Firearms Restrictions in ZoningMichael J. Driscoll
Town Manager
TOWN OF
WATERTOWN
Office of the Town Manager
Administration Building
149 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Phone: 617-97 2-6465
www.watertown-ma.gov
townmgr@watertown-ma. gov
To: Honorable Town Council
From: Michael J. Driscoll, Town Manager
Date: May 20, 2021
RE: Firearms Restrictions in Zoning
Attached please find email correspondence regarding the subject from Steven Magoon, Community
Development & Planning Director/Assistant Town Manager.
I will bring this up under Communications from the Town Manager at the May 25, 2021 Town
Council Meeting and respectfully request the matter be referred to Committee for policy
consideration and guidance by the Honorable Town Council.
cc: Steven Magoon, Community Development & Planning Director/Assistant Town Manager
Gideon Schreiber, AICP, Senior Planner
Michael P. Lawn, Police Chief
Mark R. Reich, Esquire, KP Law
Hand, JoAnna
From: Driscoll, Michael
Sent: Monday, May 17, 2021 6:02 AM
To: Hand, JoAnna
Subject: FW: Request for Information - Firearms restrictions in Zoning
Good morning; please draft correspondence to bring up under Communications from the Town Manager at the
May 25 Town Council meeting.
Thank you.
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
-------- Original message --------
From: "Magoon, Steve" <smagoon@watertown-ma.gov>
Date: 5/12/21 1:41 PM (GMT-05:00)
To: "Driscoll, Michael" <mdriscoll@watertown-ma.gov>, "Sideris, Mark" <msideris@watertown-ma.gov>
Cc: "Schreiber, Gideon" <gschreiber@watertown-ma.gov>, mlawn ps fwd <mlawn@police.watertown-ma.gov>
Subject: FW: Request for Information - Firearms restrictions in Zoning
Mr. Manager, in response to what has been going on in Newton, several Councilors have asked about the regulation of
Gun Shops here in Watertown. Gideon compiled some information, please see below. I understand that the Council
may want to consider an ordinance amendment to address this concern. Perhaps a referral to committee on Economic
Development and Planning for some policy direction would make sense in order to craft an appropriate
amendment? Thanks
Steve Magoon
Assistant Town Manager, Director, Community Development and Planning
Administration Building
149 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Office 617 972-6417
Cell 617 987-1136
From: Schreiber, Gideon <gschreiber@watertown-ma.gov>
Sent: Thursday, May 6, 2021 1:43 PM
To: Magoon, Steve <smagoon@watertown-ma.gov>
Cc: Mena, Michael <mmena@watertown-ma.gov>
Subject: Request for Information - Firearms restrictions in Zoning
Steve,
Please share as appropriate and let me know if there are any further clarifications. In response to several Council
requests in regard to regulations within the Zoning Ordinance restricting the sale of firearms, the Watertown Zoning
Ordinance and Zoning Map regulate where uses can be located. At this time, the ordinance does not call out firearms as
a specific use so based on it being retail in nature, the Town would classify the sale of firearms as a retail use. Retail uses
are allowed in the Business, Industrial, RMUD, and PSCD zoning districts. Here is a link to the Zoning Map:
https://ecode360.com/attachment/WA4234/WA4234-155a%2OZoning%2oMap.pdf and here is a link to the Ordinance:
https://ecode360.com/36825722
The city of Newton recently posted a FAQ document that discusses the regulations of firearms with a lot of relevant
information in regard to State restrictions. I also confirmed with the Police Department that there are no other local
regulations that would further limit location or sale.
City of Newton FAQ on Regulating Firearms:
https://www.newtonma.gov/home/showdocument?id=68410&t=637541937697696703
Regards,
Gideon
Gideon Schreiber, AICP, Senior Planner
Community Development & Planning
Town of Watertown, 149 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472
617.972.6417 then press 1 and then 8
When responding, please be aware that the Massachusetts Secretary of State has determined that most email is public record and therefore cannot be kept
confidential.