Jun 1, 2021
To the Editor:
2021 is the year when Wareham citizens will make multiple key decisions on the character of their town.
These decisions will impact everyday life for the foreseeable future. First came the huge turnout for the NOTOS “No” vote, which clearly communicated that quality of life and environmental health were important.
The Town Meeting and Special Town Meeting scheduled for 11:00 a.m. June 12th at the Decas School will present citizens with another critical decision: How will the continued installation of large scale industrial solar sites in Wareham be handled, or not.
How large should these sites be? (Massachusetts SMART programs limit the size to 50 acres to qualify for tax credits.) Where should these sites be located? How will they impact quality of life, neighborhood, environment, property values? Is there one coming to your backyard?
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.
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