Important vote on the South Shore's future

11/3/2023

We want to update you on the former South Weymouth Air Base, also known as Union Point or Southfield. A critical decision will be made by the Rockland Town Meeting on Tuesday, November 7 at 7:00 P.M.

The new development team (New England Development and Brookfield Properties) has proposed a plan that moves this critical project forward. The plan will not move ahead without rezoning. Weymouth Town Council and Abington Town Meeting, as well as the Southfield Redevelopment Authority, all have already approved the necessary rezoning plan. Now it is up to Rockland Town Meeting to approve it or stop a project that will benefit the entire region-including Rockland.

Only Rockland residents can vote or speak at the meeting, which starts at 7:00 at Rockland High School Auditorium. If you or your employees want to see economic opportunity and growth, we encourage you to attend. Download information about this special town meeting.

Rockland will gain a lot of new money for local services from the project. But, with almost every project there are opponents who see growth and change as something bad.  The new developers have impressive credentials and successful local projects such as Pinehills in Plymouth and University Station in Westwood. Their new zoning proposal plan, connecting runways to greenways, offers more open space, more homes, and more local tax revenue than previous plans. It also includes mixed used for retail and commercial.

The South Shore Chamber of Commerce has long identified the former Base as the most important economic opportunity for the three communities and the surrounding area. The project has a long way to go. Major infrastructure issues have to be addressed. However, the developers and state will not get to that step without having a viable zoning plan in place.

On Tuesday night, only Rockland residents will have a voice in deciding on a successful project, with a top development team that has local roots, or a partially built neighborhood with an uncertain future and lost opportunities. The former Base has been closed for 25 years, this is the right plan, the right team, and maybe the last chance to see a great project.

Please feel free to share with any Rockland residents.

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