Organization created to combat Safe Harbor expansion
A proposal could see the two current buildings at the Safe Harbor Onset Bay marina replaced. File photo
Tim Bigelow speaks at the Tuesday, Feb. 3 Select Board meeting. Photo by Brandy Muz
A proposal could see the two current buildings at the Safe Harbor Onset Bay marina replaced. File photo
Tim Bigelow speaks at the Tuesday, Feb. 3 Select Board meeting. Photo by Brandy Muz
Comprised of over 25 households in the Green Street area of Onset, the Marina Oversight Organization is working to spread awareness of a big project coming to Onset Bay.
Two new buildings, including one more than double its current size, could be coming to the Safe Harbor Onset Bay marina. Property owner Safe Harbor Marinas, an organization that owns and runs marinas globally, is proposing to tear down and replace the three buildings currently servicing the 3 Green St. location.
The larger building is used for boat repairs and the other, smaller building currently serves as office space.
Residents who live near the marina voiced their opposition to the project during the Tuesday, Feb. 3 Select Board meeting, raising several concerns regarding the size of the expansion. Tim Bigelow represented the newly formed Marina Oversight Organization.
"We're very concerned that this large organization is going to try and come needle their way through," Bigelow said.
According to Bigelow, he witnessed a man in a pickup truck plowing runoff water into the ocean at Safe Harbor Marina. Only when confronted by Bigelow did the man stop.
"This is the concern that we have," he said. "These people do not care about our town, they do not care about our water. They will do all the necessary things, crossing and checking the boxes, but they aren't going to take care of Wareham."
Anne Haynes said working waterfronts are important to her and the town, but believes the project proposes too many modifications to the site. She noted that the drawings of the current plans say that the town of Wareham will take up "a lot" of the infrastructure costs.
"Safe Harbor should be asked to present more information as soon as possible," Haynes said.
She said she wants the boards to recognize the tight residential neighborhood the marina will be operating in with its new proposed size.
Safe Harbor Marinas is set to appear in front of the Wareham Conservation Commission Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 6 p.m. in room 520 of the Multi-Service Center, 48 Marion Road.
