The Cape Cod Commission's review of Developments of Regional Impact (DRIs) seeks to preserve and protect the Cape's historic resources in the face of strong development pressures. The Commission's standards for protection of historic buildings, landscapes, and archaeological resources have guided the preservation of many historic properties within large-scale developments. (See the Minimum Performance Standards in the Historic Preservation section of the Regional Policy Plan.) The standards have also required the re-use and careful alteration of some individual properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (See the Cape Cod Commission Act and National Register Properties.) The Commission works closely with town Historical Commissions and Building Inspectors to ensure that significant historic buildings threatened by demolition or substantial alterations -- and not otherwise protected by local historic districts -- are subject to DRI review. (See Technical Bulletin 96-002: Guidelines for Referral of Historic Structures to the Cape Cod Commission.)
 | Examples: - New commercial development was designed to avoid several barns, silos, and agricultural fields at the historic Roberti Farm in Sandwich, the Cape's last dairy farm. - Archaeological resources at the Willowbend Golf Course site in Mashpee have been protected through Preservation Restrictions. Where development is allowed, special construction methods are required to limit underground disturbance in these areas. - A residential subdivision on open land at the Marconi Station/MCI site in Chatham was designed with heavy roadway buffers to protect the integrity of the historic wireless site. - Additions to a National Register property in Hyannisport, and relocation of an historic barn on site, were designed to accommodate the owner's needs with minimal loss of historic building materials. |
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