Wareham Village will be expanded

Wareham Village will soon be expanded, beginning new businesses and redevelopment to Main Street and nearby areas.

At the Oct. 26 Town Meeting, voters amended the zoning map and expanded the Wareham Village zoning district onto parts of Main Street, Chapel Street, Sawyer Street and Ladner Lane. This would create more compact, walkable space with mixed-use developments within the district.

The two-thirds majority vote at Town Meeting was the first step of a larger urban renewal plan, which aims to redevelop Main Street and attract new businesses and visitors. Redevelopment of these areas could increase private investment and taxable economic activity, according to a presentation by the Finance Committee. 

Director of Planning Joshua Faherty said the town “really needs” this expansion, and it will create conditions necessary for meaningful downtown revitalization. 

Redevelopment would also allow for more multi-family use, greater density and greater building height and reduced parking requirements, according to Faherty.