Residents of East Watertown Street Plead for Town to Plow their Road

Residents of a small road in East Watertown got caught in limbo by the new policy for plowing of private roads.

Upland Road Extension, a dead end road off Upland Road that runs parallel to Mt. Auburn Street, did not get completely plowed after storm over the weekend, residents complained. 

The town started a new policy of plowing only private ways that meet certain criteria, including having space to plow and those that are treated like public roads (no signs saying "private property" or "resident parking only." (See the private roads policy here.)

The ordinance also says the private ways will not get plowed curb to curb, like public streets. Instead, it will be just enough to allow fire and other emergency vehicles access to the properties on the street. 

A resident said that Upland Road Extension is a public road, and should be treated that way. She noted that the street and sewers are taken care of by the town and police enforce no parking signs on the street.

Town Councilor Angeline Kounelis, whose district includes Upland Road Extension, appealed to the town for help. 

Steve Magoon, director of Economic Development and Planning, wrote back to her saying that the issue of whether the street is public or private will be reviewed. Before that happens, the town will remove the snow from the recent storms, and added "it would be appropriate for the Town to try to keep the Way clear as best we can, understanding the limitations of this narrow passageway."