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Planning Assistance

As of January 4, 2007

 

The Cape Cod Commission's planning department helps towns and organizations across the region with their planning projects. Staff can assist with bylaw development, grant applications, and the interpretation of state planning initiatives, regulations, or legislation. For example:

Model Bylaws and Regulations
In 2002, the Cape Cod Commission prepared 12 model bylaws for use by Cape towns to help them adopt regulations and avoid efforts to reinvent proven approaches to land use management. The model bylaws include five traditional methods of regulation in Massachusetts: zoning, subdivision control, health, wetlands, and general police power bylaws and ordinances. Although the model bylaws are not intended for adoption without specific tailoring for each community, they can serve as starting points.

Siting Personal Wireless Services Facilities
In 1997, the Commission developed a siting criteria and a model bylaw for Cape towns to plan for and regulate the siting and design of wireless telecommunications facilities. The document outlines the key factors that towns must consider in planning for these facilities, including the legal requirements of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, technical aspects of wireless technologies, public safety issues, and local regulatory mechanisms. It is intended to be a primer for the towns to help them understand industry needs and identify locations for these facilities that are suitable and consistent with community values.

Cape Cod Land Bank and Community Preservation Act
In 1998, the Massachusetts Legislature enacted the Cape Cod Open Space Land Acquisition Program (also known as the Cape Cod Land Bank) for the purposes of acquiring land and interests in land to protect public drinking water supplies and open space and conservation land, and to create walking and bicycle trails and recreational areas. The Act required approval of the voters in each of the Cape's 15 towns through a ballot referendum in November 1998, which passed in every town.

The Community Preservation Act, passed by the state legislature in September 2000, allows towns to adopt up to a three-percent surcharge on local property taxes to fund historic preservation, open space protection, and affordable housing. A local committee is established to review requests for funding and recommend how funds should be allocated.

In 2005, 13 of the 15 towns on Cape Cod voted to convert the Cape Cod Land Bank Act in their towns to the Massachusetts Community Preservation Act, thereby ending the Cape Cod Land Bank. Two, the towns of Chatham and Provincetown, having previously adopted the Community Preservation Act in addition to the Cape Cod Land Bank, have both preservation programs in place. The Commission worked with other local and state agencies to support town Land Bank committees and now town Community Preservation Act committees by forming a "roundtable" that meets monthly to share information and techniques and sponsor workshops.

Note: Planning assistance provided by other departments is described throughout the Cape Cod Commission's Web site. Check the Affordable Housing, Coastal/Marine Resources, Geographic Information System, Historic Preservation, Natural Resources, Transportation, and Water Resources department sites for related links.