Parking problems eased for Warren's Harborview
Danny Warren poses inside Warren's Harborview days after the Zoning Board of Appeals granted the restaurant a special permit for parking. Photo by Erin Darling
Danny Warren poses inside Warren's Harborview days after the Zoning Board of Appeals granted the restaurant a special permit for parking. Photo by Erin Darling
Warren's Harborview has cleared a zoning hurdle in its efforts to become a larger event destination following a Zoning Board of Appeals decision that eases parking-related occupancy restrictions at the Main Street restaurant.
Just two days after Town Meeting voters rejected a proposal to ease parking requirements for local businesses, Warren's Harborview received approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals to accommodate more patrons under the town's zoning regulations.
The board granted the restaurant at 59 Main St. a special permit allowing it to count 15 customers per parking space, rather than the previous ratio of one space for every six customers, according to Director of Planning Joshua Faherty.
The change effectively increases the restaurant's previous permitted occupancy limit of 276 under zoning regulations. But building and fire codes still impose separate occupancy limits. But the easing of parking restrictions would allow Warren's Harborview to host larger events than it was previously allowed.
The restaurant's owner, Danny Warren, spoke in support of the citizen's petition that sparked lively debate at the Oct. 26 Town Meeting. The business then appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals on Oct. 28 with its special permit request. The board approved it unanimously.
"Thank God for the Zoning Board of Appeals," said Warren. "I think they're extremely fair people."
Those in favor of the citizen's petition hoped it would help bring more business to town.
This includes Warren, who said he's made it his mission "to create as many jobs as I can, to do as much as I can to help the town of Wareham."
Opponents criticized changing the town's bylaws prematurely, as officials are currently reworking the zoning code.
Although the Planning Board voted unanimously against the petition, Faherty said the board intends to revisit town parking requirements as part of an ongoing bylaw rewrite. A potential proposal could come before Town Meeting next year, he said.
"We understand that this is an issue that's important to the town," said Faherty.
