Chloe Shelford May 20, 2021
The Smithers Laboratory, which has operated out of a location next door to the Decas School since 2002, has expressed interest in purchasing the school after it closes, officials reported at the May 20 Redevelopment Authority Meeting.
The lab is requesting a zoning change at the June 12 Town Meeting that would allow the company to begin testing cannabis at its current location, which is less than 500 feet from the school.
And they may be expanding further.
The Decas School is set to close in January 2022, once students have moved to the new school being built on Minot Avenue.
A variety of uses have been floated for the old school. Calls to convert the building to senior housing seem unlikely to go forward, as the Redevelopment Authority, Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District, and senior housing developer Pennrose have agreed the site is not well-suited for that use.
Chloe Shelford May 3, 2021
The Wareham Redevelopment Authority voted at their April 29 meeting to ask that the rezoning of Wareham Village be directed to further study at the May 8 Town Meeting.
The rezoning has been in the works since summer 2020, and was spearheaded by the Wareham Redevelopment Authority member Richard Swenson.
The changes are meant to foster redevelopment of the village while preserving its character and encouraging small business uses through mixed-use zoning.
Mixed use zoning allows a variety of uses, including retail, residential, office, entertainment, and culture to fit together in a single environment. Outdoor space including plazas and parks are also incorporated.
Chloe Shelford May 3, 2021
The Slum and Blight Studies of Wareham Village and Onset have been approved by the state, reported Town Planner Ken Buckland at the April 39 Wareham Redevelopment Meeting.
“Until you have a slum and blight study, you can’t start the redevelopment plan,” explained Town Administrator Derek Sullivan. “Without a redevelopment plan, you can’t start taking properties or any other actions.”
Sullivan said the process of funding, executing, and waiting for state approval of the plan, the study has been in the works for about four years.
The approval of the study also means that the town will be eligible for new grants.