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City manager updates council on zoning timing, HHS study, police accreditation and temporary Mount Auburn paving
Summary
City Manager told the council that zoning work (including ADU public engagement) will advance in 2025, the HHS study will be posted imminently, the police department was reaccredited Oct. 30 and a temporary paving course on Mount Auburn Street will begin Dec. 2 to improve safety over the winter.
At the Nov. 26 meeting, Watertown’s City Manager provided several administrative updates and a schedule for forthcoming policy work.
On zoning, he said Watertown Square zoning and MBTA Communities–compliant zoning were recently completed and staff will next pursue a broader zoning-code review. The Affordable Housing Trust and an initiative called Watertown Community Conversations will lead a community engagement process on accessory dwelling units beginning in February 2025; staff aim to craft possible regulatory amendments in the first half of 2025.
The manager also said the final HHS (Human & Health Services) study is expected ‘‘momentarily’’ from the consultant and will be posted online and referred to committee for presentation and questions.
He announced the police department was reaccredited Oct. 30 by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission, noting the process requires meeting 274 mandatory standards and many optional standards. The manager congratulated Lieutenant Kevin McManus and Chief Hanrahan for their work on accreditation.
Finally, anticipating winter conditions, the manager said Newport Construction will lay a temporary leveling paving course on the entire length of Mount Auburn Street between the Cambridge line and Arlington Street to provide a safer, smoother surface until the larger Mount Auburn project resumes in spring. Work is expected to start Dec. 2 and neighbors will be notified.
Councilors welcomed the updates, requested additional detail on ADU timing and consultant scope, and asked staff for project timelines on road and zoning work.
