BARNSTABLE LOCAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

What is a Local Comprehensive Plan?: The Barnstable Local Comprehensive Plan (LCP) is the official documentation and statement of the Town's land use and development policy. It is an update of "Guide to Decision Making, Final Report March 28, 1983 by Loranzo, White & Associates and Kaufman Communications, which delineated goals and policies for the Town of Barnstable. It is intended to be consistent with the Cape Cod Commission's Regional Plan in accordance with Section 9 of the Cape Cod Commission Act. Goals set forth in the Plan are "long range aspirations" (p.1-6, Town of Barnstable Comprehensive Plan, 1998)

Procedural History: In May 1992, the Town of Barnstable entered into an agreement with the Cape Cod Commission to develop a Local Comprehensive Plan. Most of the plan was drafted by the Town's Planning Department and was completed in draft form in July 1995. Several public meetings resulted in an amendment to the Plan in May 1996. The Plan was reviewed by the Cape Cod Commission and as a consequence to Commission concerns the Town prepared a town wide build out analysis. The final draft of the LCP was presented to the Barnstable Town Council on September 18, 1997. Further amendments were made to the Plan by the Council and the Plan was approved by the Council on September 25, 1997. The Commission reviewed the Plan for consistency with the Commission's Regional Policy Plan (adopted 1991). The Plan was certified by the Commission in February 1998.

Plan Overview: The LCP contains a set of Village Vision Plans (one for each of the seven Villages of Barnstable) and eight sections compiled for the following issues: land use and growth management; natural resources; economic development; community facilities and services; affordable housing; open space and recreation; historic preservation and community character; health and human services.

Use of the Plan: The Goals, Strategies and Policies of the LCP may be used to defend or promote Town policies or positions. A decision based on the LCP is more defensible than one that contradicts the LCP. (p.1-7, Town of Barnstable Comprehensive Plan, 1998). The LCP of 1998 was used in a lawsuit to defend the marine use zoning of Freezer Point and defeated an effort by a local developer to build affordable housing on Barnstable Harbor.

The LCP allows the Town to enter into Development Agreements with landowners as a way of individually refining projects to the advantage of the landowner and the Town. It also enables the Town to adopt impact fees which would allow the Town to assess a developer for costs directly attributable to the proposed development. Barnstable has considered using these options but has not yet adopted either.

What Now?: Although the LCP was supposed to be reviewed an updated every five years, the Planning Division is only now undertaking a review and redraft of the Plan. A Committee appointed by the Barnstable Civic Association made some preliminary revisions based on a public meeting held last spring (2004). Jackie Etsten is a Barnstable Town Planner assigned to work with the Village Association in drafting the Barnstable Village Plan.

Why is the LCP important: There are proposed changes in the Village that will impact its character. Developer Stuart Bornstein has proposed an eighteen unit condominium development and park area on Freezer Point. An Exit 6 ½ has been proposed. An affordable housing complex of 135 units is being built in the Industrial Park. The Town Council is considering additional zoning changes for the Industrial Park and Route 132.

Get involved! Your input is requested. Please review the proposed Barnstable Village Plan and feel free to contact me regarding your concerns and comments. A hard copy of the Proposed Plan is located at the Sturgis Library, Barnstable Village.

*PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK TO REVIEW THE PROPOSED BARNSTABLE VILLAGE SECTION OF THE REVISED LOCAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN