Selectmen light way for Makepeace solar field

Sep 29, 2010

The Board of Selectmen Tuesday waived its right of first refusal to purchase a parcel of A.D. Makepeace land located in the Rosebrook Park development, which makes way for the company to construct a solar field.

Because Makepeace is changing the land's zoning from agricultural to commercial industrial use, the town is granted the option to purchase the parcel, which is located behind the medical office building currently under construction off of Route 28 and Interstate-95.

The solar field will not visually impact neighbors due to its positioning behind the office building and the fact that it is surrounded by cranberry bogs, said Richard Serkey, an attorney representing Makepeace.

"This property is rather landlocked," Selectmen Chair Jane Donahue said of the 5.58-acre parcel, adding that she wasn't sure what the town would be able to do with it.

The town will receive an increase in property taxes on the land once it is switched to a commercial industrial use.

Makepeace will now proceed with negotiations with a company that is proposing to lease the land and build solar panels, Serkey said. The project will generate enough energy to power approximately 110 homes.

 

In other town business:

  • The Selectmen granted the Wareham Fire Department permission to hold a fire truck parade from Besse Park to the Main Street fire station on Sunday, Oct. 3 beginning at 11 a.m.
  • The Selectmen granted licenses that will allow two new businesses to open. Fat Paulie's Pizza and Cafe will be located at 189 Main St. in Wareham, the former location of  and Victorian Cafe will open at 3 West Central Ave. in Onset.
  • The Selectmen created the Pay As You Throw Study Committee to investigate the feasibility for establishing "Pay As You Throw" trash pickup program to increase recycling.  In a pay-as-you-throw system, residents are typically charged for each bag of trash they dispose (usually, trash collectors will only pick up specially marked bags, which residents must purchase), giving them an incentive to recycle and reduce their trash. The committee will also explore other possible methods to increase recycling in town.