A public parking push for local businesses
Pizzoli Square, one of many public parking spots Slavin says could help businesses. Photo by Brandy Muz
Pizzoli Square, one of many public parking spots Slavin says could help businesses. Photo by Brandy Muz
Parking shortages remain a challenge for many businesses in Wareham, and one resident is proposing a change to address it.
Former Select Board member and current Finance Committee member Alan Slavin has introduced a proposal that would allow restaurants on parts of Main Street and Onset Avenue to count nearby public parking spaces toward their required minimum parking.
Under the proposal, businesses in designated areas could use public parking spaces located within three-eighths of a mile, or 1980 feet, to meet zoning requirements.
Current bylaws require businesses that cannot provide enough parking on-site to rely on nearby off-site lots. Those spaces must be within 350 feet of the building and not be separated by a wide roadway.
Employee parking may be located farther away. In all cases, businesses must have written permission from the property owner to use those spaces.
The proposed change would apply to portions of Onset Village, Wareham Village and Narrows Road. Slavin said if passed, the proposal opening new businesses easier or reuse existing buildings in areas where space for parking is limited.
"Miss Lisa's restaurant— it has no legal rights to use and claim Pizzoli's Square parking. El Mariachi? They have nothing," Slavin.
The new space would allow shared public parking to help satisfy zoning requirements, easing a barrier for business development. Slavin also added that disability compliant spaces would not be impacted if the petition passes, and that the proposal would cost nothing to the town.
One of Slavin's biggest goals is helping restaurants build additions.
"If they want to expand their property this would allow them to. The extra parking spaces would help them qualify as far as the parking requirements go," he said.
The proposal will go in front of the community at the annual Spring Town Meeting Monday, April 27 at 7 p.m. in the Wareham High School Auditorium, 7 Viking Drive.
