Sharon Voters Pave Way For Route 1 Landscaping Business

A general retail and wholesale landscaping business could open at an undeveloped Route 1 site after Sharon voters paved the way Monday night.

By a two-thirds majority, voters at the fall special town meeting amended Sharon's zoning bylaws to allow "general retail and wholesale landscaping equipment, supply and service" businesses in the town's light industrial zoning district.

The request was proposed by Martha Raider, an owner of 6.7 acres at 675 General Edwards Highway, which is Route 1.

About 4.5 acres are buildable, said Nancy Wluka, a representing the owners. The site also is about 1,000 feet away from electricity and water connections, she said. A map of the area was on a town meeting handout.

Several landscaping businesses have expressed interest in the site, although no purchase-and-sale agreements have been reached, Wluka told voters in the auditorium.

Landscaping is "in many cases less intense than what is allowed there by right," she said.

"We believe that this is a simple change in the Sharon zoning bylaws," she said.