The Watertown Engineering Department, which is overseeing the project, intends to investigate an alternative location on the far side of Veterans Memorial Park, near Park Road. Currently, investigations are being made at the new location by wetlands scientist to determine and confirm the existing wetlands.

Town Engineer Chuck Berger commented on the status of the investigations.

"We've completed the wetlands flagging and hired some soil scientists," said Mr. Berger. "We have begun to survey and completed enough so that we could come up with a conceptual design."

Mr. Berger noted that difficult weather delayed some survey work, including impacts to the upland review area, which is a 100-foot buffer from the edge of identified wetlands. While the survey of the 100-foot buffer area has not been completed, Mr. Berger said the facility will impinge upon the wetlands area.

In spite of this, Mr. Berger described the location as favorable.

"The building and a substantial amount of parking can be placed without directly impacting the wetlands," said Mr. Berger.

The detention pond to handle water runoff from the facility and paved areas was also not included in the conceptual plan presented on July 9, but Mr. Berger noted that there will "definitely be further planning and analysis," and that "the location is still subject to design details."

This new location had undergone consideration before, but was discounted due to the amount of nearby wetlands. However, recent deeding of .68 acres to Watertown, in the approval of Park View Estates subdivision, may make the area a viable alternative.

The extra land allows the facility to avoid wetlands impacts while gaining easier access to utility connections. The only disadvantage noted by town officials is possible difficulties with a concession stand, due to the facility being isolated from more active areas of the park. Concession stand revenues are intended to subsidize the costs of the facility's maintenance and operations.

Despite the new location, residents continued to oppose the facility, due to concerns over wetland impacts and increased traffic from placing the facility in the central area of the park. They claimed the new location would suffer from the same problems as the old location.

In past meetings, a group of residents have repeatedly aired their concerns over the traffic increases to Veteran's Memorial Park, noting the line of cars which occurs during large events.

A resubmitted application is expected this fall.