Zoning Board Approves Mall Pathway Modifications

Zoning Board · Meeting of June 24, 2026

Watertown's Zoning Board of Appeals approved a revised landscaping and pathway plan for the Watertown Mall, closing out conditions from an April permit. Project manager Nick O'Connor of National Development, which closed on the mall in October 2025, presented new crosswalks, landscape islands and an ADA stone-dust pathway near Best Buy, alongside bike racks split roughly 18 to 20 spaces for customers and four to six for employees. Member Gerard likened an unconnected south-of-Best-Buy walkway to a "bridge to nowhere," while Director of Planning and Zoning Gideon Schreiber reminded the board the request was "about an approval for the interior connection," not a full-site redesign.

The board voted 4-0 to approve the modification, with Member Ferris recused; it had separately adopted revised Rules of Practice and Procedure, 5-0, and deferred officer nominations to July due to Chair Santucci-Razi's absence. A letter from City Councilor Lisa Feldner urging a pathway to the rear of Target was entered into the record but not acted upon.

In the full story:

• Roll Call, Recusal and Minutes
• Rules of Practice and Procedure
• Officer Nominations Deferred
• 550 Arsenal Street: Watertown Mall Site Plan Modification
• Adjournment
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 1,995 words

Source: the Zoning Board meeting of June 24, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.