Watertown Feedback Shapes MAPC’s I-90 Corridor Blueprint

WATERTOWN – On July 31, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) held a public feedback session at CIty Hall in Watertown as part of its I-90 Corridor Development and Resiliency Plan. Covering five corridor communities, the study uses GIS analysis to identify sites for development and preservation with climate impacts in mind.

The draft map lists Watertown Square and the Arsenal Street corridor as priority growth areas, citing transit access and potential for mixed-use development in an already built-out city. On the preservation side, the Commander’s Mansion grounds, Mount Auburn Cemetery, Gore Place, and Oakley Country Club were included.

MAPC Senior Planner Courtney Lewis said including Mount Auburn could allow Watertown to pursue state grants for upkeep, while Director of Strategic Initiatives Eric Hove emphasized that no public money would be spent on private land. Residents questioned Oakley’s placement on the map, pointing to its lack of public access and history, while others noted missing local sites such as Walker Pond and Saltonstall Park. Speakers also urged the agency to better incorporate Indigenous historic lands into its process.

Organizers said the session’s feedback would shape revisions before MAPC finalizes maps and a written report later this year.

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