Marina proposed for old Greer Lumber site on Main Street

A 16-slip marina is being proposed for the old Greer Lumber site at 59 Main St., right next to Besse Park.

In addition to the marina, the developer — Danny Warren, who purchased the property in May 2020 for $1 million — has other plans for the land. 

Bob Rogers of GAF Engineering, who represented Warren at the March 3 Conservation Commission meeting, was vague about the developer’s intentions, but said Warren had “really ambitious plans” for two mixed-use buildings. 

He added that the development would move the site away from its past as a working waterfront, although he said exact plans have not yet been made.

The waterfront property was cleared in spring 2019. 

Over the prior few decades, the property was often decried as an eyesore due to the old World War II landing vehicles that were scattered around the property alongside three wooden sheds. The site was permitted for a 16-slip marina until 2013.

In April 2019, prior owner Dan Willis, whose father-in-law was the military memorobilia collector, sought to rent the site out as a parking lot to Verilife, the cannabis retailer across the street. Neighbors, including many from the British Landing condominium building that abuts the lot, expressed concerns about safety, traffic, noise and other disruptions to the neighborhood. The proposal was struck down by the Zoning Board of Appeals that June.

At that time, Willis said that he eventually hoped to build a high-end restaurant and marina alongside a facility for marine industry. 

Rogers did briefly mention a restaurant at the Conservation Commission hearing, but Warren’s full plans were left a mystery. 

Too mysterious, in fact, for the Conservation Commission. 

David Pichette, the conservation administrator, recommended that the commission choose not to vote based solely on the information currently in the site plan.

The plan includes a commercial marina on the Wareham River with floating docks along the existing bulkhead and 15 finger piers extending into the river. The longest pier would extend about 48 feet into the river. The docks would rise and fall with the tide.

Pichette said that the plans don’t include amenities necessary for a marina, like parking, stormwater management, a pump-out station or a building. The plans do, however, show water, electrical and sewer work. 

Pichette and Chair Sandy Slavin said they couldn’t fully evaluate the environmental impact of the project by looking at only the details for the marina. 

Rogers said that Warren was looking to get the water-only work approved by the town so it could be forwarded to the state for approval, which takes up to nine months.

Slavin asked if the project could proceed if the board approved only the water-side work without the utilities. Rogers agreed to evaluate whether that would be possible.

The hearing was continued until March 17.