Opponents to Onset marina expansion pack conservation meeting

Homeowners neighboring the Safe Harbor Marina in Onset continue to raise concerns about a proposed expansion to the property.  

Safe Harbor Marina, located at 3 Green St, is looking to tear down and replace two buildings currently servicing the marina. The larger of the two is used for boat repairs and the other for office space. 

The property owner of Safe Harbor Marinas is a Dallas, Texas based organization that owns and runs marinas globally and was purchased by the private equity firm Blackstone. Blackstone acquired the business for $5.65 billion in April 2025.

Safe Harbor Marinas purchased the property from Brewer Yacht Yard in 2017.

The project went in front of the Wareham Conservation Committee once more Wednesday, Feb. 18. The meeting drew a crowd from the Marina Oversight Organization, a group of residents working to spread awareness of the possible issues the project imposes on the area. 

Topics discussed during the meeting included stormwater management and a claim of water pollution from Safe Harbor Marina plows. The crowd was urged to only bring new issues to the board and those who represent the marina.

According to Marine Service Director for Merrill Engineers and Land Surveyors, Tom Pozerski, who is representing the marina, Safe Harbor Marinas will be working with the town of Wareham to deal with stormwater drainage infrastructure. 

Gray and Maple Streets — located along the marina — have existing problems with stormwater drainage and flooding, something Pozerski said he is working with the town on getting fixed. The town will need access to the marina to properly fix the issues.

There has not been a time frame given for when Municipal Maintenance Department — which oversees the towns' highways, trees, parks, cemeteries and buildings — will begin this project, according to Pozerski. 

Member of the Conservation Commission, Paulajean O'Neill,raised concerns to Safe Harbor Marinas for an incident involving a plow on their site pushing water runoff into the ocean. O'Neill said a video of the activity was sent to the commission.

"I'm just uneasy about this project," O'Neill said, acknowledging the large audience in attendance opposing the project.

"It seems like there's evidence and indication that things are not done properly there, and people who live there are concerned," she said. 

According to Conservation Agent Christine Santos, there will be a violation filed against Safe Harbor Marinas for the plow incident with further details to come. Attorney for Safe Harbor Marinas, Steve Guard, said it was unfair for people to "paint the entire company," for one instance. 

Manager of Safe Harbor Marinas, Jacqueline Mello, said she believed the situation was just a one-off mistake made by new staffers. 

"We have quite a bit of new staff that is in hire. I'm happy to address issues as they come about. If that instance was brought to myself I would have addressed it immediately," Mello said. 

Member of the Marina Oversight Organization, Tim Bigelow, was vocal about his involvement in filming the driver. Bigelow said he believes the plow driver pushing snow into Onset Bay is not an isolated incident. 

"I'm sure you could get a number of people to come up here and tell you how not one-off it is," Bigelow said. 

Bigelow and members of his organization have attended numerous Conservation Commission and Select Board meetings to voice concerns including environmental impacts and disturbances to the neighborhood. 

The hearing will be continued to Wednesday, March 18, for further discussion at 6 p.m. in room 520 of the Multi-Service Center, 48 Marion Road. The meeting will discuss planned financing of the project and federal environmental compliance.

The project has yet to go in front of town boards like the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals and cannot begin until approved.