HomeMy Public PortalAbout16-02-08 EDP Committee Report on RMUD for January 23 2016Town of Watertown
Town Council Committee on Economic Development and Planning
Meeting: January 23, 2016
Report: February 8, 2016
The Committee met Saturday January 23, 2016 at 2:00 pm in the Watertown Savings Bank Room at the
Watertown Free Public Library to make recommendations to the full Town Council on the proposed
Regional Mixed -Use (RMUD) zoning ordinance text amendment. This was a continuation of the December
15, 2015 meeting.
Attending were: Committee members Susan Falkoff, Chair, Kenneth Woodland, Vice Chair, and Vincent
Piccirilli, Secretary; Senior Planner Gideon Schreiber; Town Council President Mark Sideris, Councilors
Michael Dattoli, Aaron Dushku, Angeline Kounelis, Anthony Palomba; and approximately 30 members of
the public.
The Committee continued where it left off reviewing the document from December 15, 2015 (which is
attached to the report of that meeting). For each item, committee members were given an opportunity to
ask questions, followed by comments from the public, discussion by committee members and a vote. The
votes were as follows (underlining indicates the changes from the previous document):
1. Review the boundaries of the proposed RMUD:
Based on comments received from the public since the last meeting, the Committee was asked to look at
scaling back the boundaries to include only the parcels south of Arsenal St. The staff recommended that the
boundaries remain as shown in the Comprehensive Plan.
Voted 3-0 to keep the boundaries as shown in the December 1, 2015 proposal.
2. Attachment page 3: Section 5.18 (a) (2) Intent and Purpose amended by staff to add:
"; Additional density and/or reduced parking space requirements may be appropriate in the District where
consistent with the goal of reducing traffic congestion and improving multi-user transit services and in
compliance with any Transportation Demand Management policy adopted by the Town"
Accepted 3-0 as amended by the committee to change "a" to "any".
3. Attachment page 3: Section 5.18 (a)(3) Intent and Purpose amended by staff:
3) Enhance quality of life, including promoting the development of a high quality public realm:
• which is aesthetically pleasing and consistent with Watertown's Design Guidelines
• that provides a well -articulated pedestrian environment which implements Complete Street
concepts and adopted Complete Streets Policies
• that promotes porous frontages which create connections to surrounding neighborhoods and the
Charles River
• which includes public art.
Accepted 3-0 as written by staff.
4. Attachment page 3: Section 5.18 (a)(7): This was covered in the December 15 meeting, so the Committee
felt no further action is required.
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Committee on Economic Development and Planning, RMUD Report for Meeting January 23, 2016
5. At the request of the public the next item was taken up out of order:
Attachment page 6: Section 5.18 insert new section (g) Affordable Housing:
This is a proposal from the Watertown Housing Partnership to add 15% Affordable Housing in the RMUD,
where the rest of Watertown it is 12.5%.
The Committee felt that this issue is too broad to be considered by just the three members, and needs a
fuller discussion by the entire Council and broader input from the public.
Motion by the Committee Voted 3-0: To refer to the full Town Council the discussion of increasing the
Affordable Housing in the Watertown Zoning Ordinance to 15%.
6. Attachment page 3: Section 5.18 (a) (8) Intent and Purpose amended by staff:
"8) Encourage development that accommodate and promote multi -modal access."
Accepted 3-0 as written by staff.
7. Attachment page 3: Section 5.18.g.2 Application: proposed change to "two or more buildings"
Voted 3-0 to not accept the change and keep original language.
8. Attachment page 4: Section 5.18.g.2.b. Application: amended by staff to add:
"Applications for one or more buildings greater than 79' in height shall include design details for such
building(s) sufficient to enable a decision whether height above 79' is appropriate given the massing of the
proposed building(s) and the location in relation to other buildings, streets and open spaces, including
public open spaces adjacent to the site."
Accepted 3-0 as written by staff.
9. Attachment page 4: Minor Amendments: The Committee felt no action is required for this.
10. Attachment page 4: Section 2.82 Definition proposed by staff:
"SECTION 2.82 TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT PLAN (or TDM Plan)
A set of procedures, policies and practices which, when taken as a whole, are intended to reduce the
number of single occupant vehicle trips traveling to or from a site, and which includes, but not be limited
to, quantifiable goals and a plan for the collection of data to measure achievement of goals."
Accepted 3-0 as amended by the committee to change "includes" to "includes, but not be limited to,".
11. Attachment page 4: Section 5.18 second paragraph: Clarification on infrastructure:
SECTION 5.18 REGIONAL MIXED USE DISTRICT [RMUD]
(second paragraph) As the Town's primary commercial corridor, the eastern portion of Arsenal Street has
some of the largest retailers in the region. With sufficient private and public infrastructure, this area
warrants greater density in light of the size of the geography and its catalytic and transformative potential
for the region. The scale of development in this area merits greater height, massing and signage
requirements for new construction commensurate with its role as a regional attraction and destination.
Accepted 3-0 as written by staff.
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Committee on Economic Development and Planning, RMUD Report for Meeting January 23, 2016
12. Attachment page 4: Section 5.18 new section (h) Circulation proposed by staff:
"5.18 (h) Circulation: Special consideration shall be given to infrastructure and design that will create
direct public bicycle and pedestrian path connections with adjacent public bicycle or pedestrian paths, and
that minimizes continuous linear frontage separating such paths."
Accepted 3-0 as written by staff.
13. Attachment page 4 & 5: Traffic safety and Maintenance fund
Staff explained this is an obsolete part of the zoning ordinance. The Committee felt no action is needed.
14. Attachment page 5: Dushku Comment a) TMA: The Committee felt no action is needed as TMA is
proceeding, and is subject to an upcoming Ad -hoc Transportation Committee Meeting.
15. Attachment page 5: Dushku Comment b) Transit Improvements: The Committee felt a discussion of
town -wide Traffic Demand Management issues should be taken up at the Council level.
Motion by the Committee Voted 3-0: To refer to the Ad -hoc Transportation Committee the discussion of
town -wide Traffic Demand Management issues.
16. Attachment page 5: Dushku Comment c) Reserved parking: Withdrawn. No action.
15. Attachment page 5: Dushku Comments d) & e) Bicycle access: Withdrawn. Part of Complete Streets. No
action.
16. Attachment page 6: Dushku Comments f) & g) Parking: Councilor Falkoff would like staff to provide
feedback on these items for discussion on January 28.
17. Attachment page 6: Dushku Comment h) Paid Commercial Parking: The Committee felt this was
unfeasible. No action taken.
18. Attachment page 6: Dushku Comment Utility Lines: This is subject to ongoing Committee meetings. No
action needed.
19. Attachment page 6: Dushku Comment Signage: Councilor Falkoff would like staff to provide feedback on
this item for discussion on January 28.
Next steps: Councilor Falkoff stated that a new draft document for discussion will be prepared by the DCDP
for the next meeting to be held January 28. Councilors and members of the public are welcome to submit
comments to the DCDP, no later than 8:00 am Tuesday January 26, to be included in the next draft for
discussion.
The meeting adjourned at 4:30 pm
This report prepared by Vincent Piccirilli
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