The Town of Watertown Engineering Department and Parks and Recreation will be looking at a new location for the indoor recreational facility at Veteran's Memorial Park: Off Park Road, on the far side of the park. The Parks and Recreation Commission voted unanimously to pursue environmental and engineering studies for the location at its Thursday, June 4, regular meeting.The option arose after the discovery of a .68 acre parcel of land adjacent to the park's border on the far east end, which has access to Park Road. The land was deeded to Watertown as part of the Park View Estates' zoning approval. Park View Estates is a two-lot subdivision that was built in July 2006.
The P&Z Commission unanimously approved the merger of this property with Veterans' Memorial Park, with the intentions of using it for the facility, at its regular meeting on Wednesday, June 3.
The original location of the building spurred concerns from residents on the traffic impacts to the Veterans' Memorial Park as well to Nova Scotia Hill Road. Residents not in favor of the building also cited the potential environmental impact on the park, as a corner of the building was planned to encroach on a 100-foot buffer from the border of a wetlands area.
However, the features of this new piece of land need to be investigated and mapped in order to evaluate if the alternative is a real possibility.
As stated in a letter from Town Engineer Charles Berger, notifying Assistant Zoning Enforcement Officer Moosa Rafey of a 30-day extension on the application, "a soil scientist will be reviewing and flagging the wetlands a this location, but it will not be completed prior to the June 11 meeting. We are also awaiting approval from the State to utilize the grant funds to undertake a third party review."
As noted by Mr. Berger during an interview, a wetlands scientist is being sent to identify wetlands between Park Road and powerlines to the west.
Before the addition of the .68 acres to the park, the location along Park Road was considered, but, as indicated by Mr. Berger, "it was discounted because it would impact a wetland area."
However, the new land may provide the space needed to move the facility an acceptable distance from the existing wetlands, if wetlands are indeed located in the area.
"If the wetlands aren't there, this may become a preferable option," said Mr. Berger.
"If they are, we'll go back to the Wetlands Commission and inform them of the impacts for each location and they'll advise us on the best way to move forward.
