Recently the Cape Cod Commission received the results of a new study that examines the relationship between commercial developments and needed housing on Cape Cod. The "Barnstable County Nexus Study" provides important information for the coming update of the Regional Policy Plan (RPP), the land use policy that reflects the priorities of Cape Cod's citizens and guides development in the region.

At this time, Barnstable County has taken no action on the recommendations of the nexus study, and the Cape Cod Commission urges citizens and officials to review the study carefully. (It can be found on the Commission's Web site at www.capecodcommission.org/housing/CCCNexusStudy.pdf.) The author of the study, a reputable Massachusetts consulting firm specializing in housing, economic development, and tourism, offers sobering data and food-for-thought about the impact of the types and wages of jobs that have resulted from the six million square feet of commercial development that has occurred on the Cape since 1990. In his presentation of the study, Consultant John Ryan stressed: "Everyone has a role here in the solution."

Making housing affordable for area employees is a critical ingredient in the economic success of the region. Three elements will hold the key to the Cape's success in this regard: money, zoning, and infrastructure. Significant amounts of private and public funds are needed to construct new housing and convert existing facilities. Local zoning changes will be necessary; in some communities, they are already under way. And coordinated efforts between state, regional, and local governments to advance infrastructure plans, particularly for wastewater management, are in full swing.

The community's views on ways to address the need for housing that our workforce can afford are welcome at the Cape Cod Commission at any time, but most especially during the RPP update process. Over the coming months, the Commission will organize a variety of outreach efforts, including meetings with area selectmen, business groups, developers, environmental organizations, and the public to gather input and help shape the plan's development policies. Our goal is a plan that continues to reflect the concerns of citizens and balances the protection of resources with the creation of affordable housing and other needs. We encourage your participation. Remember, everyone has a role here.