Category: Newsletter
The Town of Eastham established a District of Critical Planning Concern (DCPC) in 2017, known as the Eastham Corridor Special District. It covers commercially zoned lands along Route 6 and is in place to protect community character, encourage mixed-use development, enhance the North Eastham economy, improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety and access, minimize traffic conflicts, expand affordable housing opportunities, and reduce stormwater impacts. Updates to the DCPC were recently approved by Eastham voters and the Cape Cod Commission.
A status on projects currently under review by the Cape Cod Commission.
Cape Cod’s groundwater depends on precipitation to recharge. When rainfall is significantly lower than average, as it has been this summer, the region can slip into drought. Additionally, growing plants take up most of the water that falls during spring and summer. Although sunny days are great for beaches and outdoor activities, less rainfall means our aquifer isn’t being replenished.
In early August, Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared that Cape Cod had been upgraded to a Level 2 Significant Drought from Level 1 last month.
This Regulatory Update provides a status on projects currently under review by the Cape Cod Commission. Visit www. capecodcommission.
To help towns proactively address risks associated with severe storms and the growing impacts of climate change, the Cape Cod Commission works closely with local municipalities to develop Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-certified multi-hazard mitigation plans. These plans serve as critical tools for identifying and reducing vulnerability to climate change-induced disasters, improving emergency preparedness, and strengthening resilience across the region.
High-speed internet. Reliable devices. Affordable service. For many Cape Codders, these basic tools for participating in the digital world remain out of reach. As everyday life becomes increasingly dependent on digital access — for work, education, healthcare, and civic engagement — ensuring that every resident can connect affordably and reliably is no longer optional. It is essential.
Cape Cod’s longtime LGBTQ history is deeply intertwined with the region’s artistic and cultural evolution, particularly in Provincetown, which became a haven for LGBTQ individuals in the early 20th century. Drawn by the town’s reputation for inclusiveness and creativity, artists, writers, and performers, including prominent LGBTQ figures like Tennessee Williams and poet Mary Oliver, flourished in the supportive environment.
A status on projects currently under review by the Cape Cod Commission.
The Cape Cod Climate Action Plan encourages the region to support low- and no-carbon transportation alternatives, expand charging infrastructure, and promote programs that increase EV adoption. Since 2020, EV ownership on Cape Cod has nearly tripled, and charging infrastructure continues to grow. The Cape Cod Commission supports this progress through a range of initiatives, including several new programs focused on expanding EV access, improving infrastructure, and promoting equity.
The Cape Cod Commission is developing program frameworks to preserve and expand year-round housing opportunities. This work, undertaken in partnership with Outwith Studio, builds on recommendations outlined in the Cape Cod Regional Housing Strategy and aims to identify practical, effective ways to incentivize and support year-round residents.