Local Comprehensive Plan

Implementation Committee

May 1, 2001

DRM Lunch Room

Present: Anne Howard, Mindy Baransky, Ted Malone, and Rex Peterson

Absent: Sally Brophy

Staff: Judith Oset, DRM Director and Permit Coordinator

Affordable Housing Issues

Judith Oset discussed some of the problems the Town is having with past applications for affordable units done in conjunction with market. The two major issues are that deed restrictions are not required by any certain time and there is no mechanism for income verification. There is also no requirement for when the affordable units must be built. In theory, the developer may build all of the market units before completing any that are affordable. Judith is working with the Housing Partnership and Town Counsel to come up with regulations and other solutions to these problems. She will report back to LCPIC.

Town Meeting Articles

The group reviewed many of the articles that were passed at Town Meeting. The majority of the articles passed in accordance with the recommendations of LCPIC. However, the article to transfer responsibility for outdoor seating and entertainment from the ZBA to the Licensing Board did not pass. The Wetlands By-law for the Conservation Commission did pass. The money to update the Zoning By-laws was also approved.

Length of Town Meeting

Rex said that he had asked a reporter from the Cape Cod Times why Provincetown’s Town Meeting lasted longer than others on the Cape. He said that it was the amount of debate that is allowed on the articles. Anne suggested that the report from the Planning Board might be distributed earlier participants are better prepared and have a better understanding of the articles.

Ted suggested revamping the way the budget is reviewed. He said that in Eastham, each line item is numbered, and the moderator reads through the list. If voters have questions, those particular line items are set aside for further discussion or explanation. He also wondered if it would be a good idea to have a running tally on the amount of money that had been appropriated. That way, voters would have a better understanding of the “cost” of the their votes. Mindy agreed, and suggested that the process should be run more like a business where you list all that you need to accomplish, the cost and then you prioritize.

Ted also suggested that if the meeting is to last several nights, we might meet two nights this week, two nights next week, etc. until the business is finished. It seems unreasonable to ask people to give up five consecutive nights of their lives. Mindy also observed that attendance is many times based on “special interests” like the Library of school, and that those voters have no concern for the Town as a whole.

Zoning By-law update

Anne said that the funding for the update would not be available until the FY’02 budget takes affect in July. The Planning Board is working on a list of proposed changes and a timeframe for the rewrite to take place. She suggested a joint meeting of the Planning Board and the LCPIC. She will also provide the LCPIC with minutes from the Planning Board’s discussion. LCPIC will also be concerned with whether or not the proposed changes are consistent with the LC P and RPP.

Mindy said that the Planning Board is more by-law driven, and our focus should be more by-laws that will help implement the goals of the LCP. Another area to consider is when zoning relief is required to accomplish a goal.

Anne asked if we should seek input from the ZBA. After all, they are the board that works most closely with the by-law and they administer it. That makes them uniquely qualified to point out some of the problem areas. Mindy suggested also asking Warren Alexander, Building Commissioner, and Roger Dias, Building Inspector, for their input. Anne said that would b e Judith’s call. She noted that Warren was good about responding in writing.

Ted suggested looking at some other sources for creative or innovative zoning solutions and ideas. He suggested the web site for the Congress for the New Urbanism. Rex will also bring some examples of zoning by-laws that are at least in a logical order and well organized. We also might review the model by-laws from the Cape Cod Commission.

Work Sessions with other committees

Ted suggested scheduling more work sessions with other committees. The LCPIC still needs to contact the Conservation Commission, the Board of Health, the Historical Commission, the Open Space Committee, the Harbor Committee and the Building Committee. In addition, we want to hold a follow up meeting with the Housing Partnership. Mindy suggested distributing the action matrix and a letter asking the boards to schedule time on their agendas to meet with us. Ted suggested asking the boards to schedule a short work session before their regular meetings to meet with LCPIC.

The LCPIC will review the matrix and come up with a preliminary list of what committees might take responsibility for different actions. We will discuss the lists at our meeting on May 15.

Respectfully submitted,

Rex Peterson