Cape Cod Commission
Affordable Housing

BARNSTABLE COUNTY CHAPTER 40B STUDY

Summary of Findings

Data as of September 30, 2008
Web page updated December 2008

Cape Cod Commission Affordable Housing Specialist Paul Ruchinskas has updated an inventory and study of Comprehensive Permit (Chapter 40B) activity throughout Barnstable County as of September 30, 2008. The study shows:

HISTORICAL

• 40% of the Cape's affordable housing units have been produced through the Comprehensive Permit process.

• 57% of the units in the Cape's 40B developments are affordable.

• Of the units produced under 40B, 66.5% have been rental and 33.5% have been ownership.

• The median 40B project size is 18 units; the average size is 26 units.

• Slightly more than half (60 of 112) of the Comprehensive Permit developments built or under construction as of 9/30/08 have occurred in Barnstable, Falmouth, and Sandwich.

RECENT TRENDS: OCTOBER 2001 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2008

• 68% of the 1,466 affordable housing units added to the region's affordable inventory between October 2001 and September 2008 were the result of Chapter 40B developments. Excluding group home units that were allowed to be counted in 2003, 84% of the newly added units were permitted via 40B.

• 50% actual project affordability; 47% if exclude Barnstable accessory units.

• 36 ownership projects (62% of units); 19 rental projects (38% of units).

• Median project size is 20 units; average size is 29 units.

• 49% of all 40B projects in the region have been done since 2001.

The complete report is available as a PDF-formatted document.

For more information on Chapter 40B and related affordable housing issues, contact Paul Ruchinskas at (508) 362-3828.