Q&A with … Margo Fenn of the Cape Cod Commission
Compared with 10 years ago, is support for the Cape Cod Commission greater or less?
Fenn: It is difficult to generalize about support for the commission because it varies from town to town over time. When there are controversies, they usually arise in relation to a specific development proposal. I think that, over time, town officials have come to see the commission as
a valuable resource in helping them to address important issues such as water quality, transportation and affordable housing.
How are you addressing growing concern that the cost in both money and time to develop commercial property is too onerous because of commission regulations and procedures?
Fenn: I think this perception is exaggerated. The commission reviews only large-scale
commercial developments, that is, buildings more than 10,000 square feet or outdoor
commercial uses more than an acre in size. Thus, much of the business activity on the Cape doesn’t encounter the Cape Cod Commission at all.
For those projects that do require our review, I would encourage business owners to sit down with our staff early in the process. That is, before filing their permit applications, if possible, so we can help them understand the process and shape the project to avoid problems and move quickly through the review.
Will the 10,000-square-foot threshold requiring Cape Cod Commission approval be increased
in coming years?
Fenn: The commission currently is considering modifying our review thresholds to allow for higher ones within designated growth centers and possibly lower ones in congested road corridors and sensitive natural resource areas. The idea here is to make it easier to build in the right places and discourage further sprawl.
There is growing consensus that local governments should have regulatory authority to
approve development within specific village center footprints. Do you see this occurring?
Fenn: We have recently put in place a process for designation of Growth Incentive Zones, which
give towns the opportunity to identify areas for higher-density development, plan for the
infrastructure needed to support that density and allow modified thresholds for commission
review. The town of Barnstable is actively pursuing this idea for downtown Hyannis and the town
of Dennis is also considering it for Dennisport.
What incentives can be developed to encourage development within downtowns to accommodate apartments?
Fenn: Local zoning can encourage two- and three-story development in downtowns by allowing for mixed uses, creating provisions for shared parking and modifying height restrictions. Places like Harwichport, Dennisport and downtown Hyannis are attracting new investment by creating more flexible regulations.
How do you address the criticism that the commission is anti-business?
Fenn: If you look at our track record, you will see that the commission approves the vast majority of the projects that come before it. But it is our job to make sure that new development fits into the fragile environment of the Cape by meeting the performance standards of the Regional Policy Plan. Protecting the Cape’s character and environment is good for the health of the Cape’s economy. Tourism, retirement and attracting clean industry all depend on maintaining the Cape’s
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