FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 3, 2008

For further information, contact:
Sharon Rooney, Chief Planner
Phone: (508) 362-3828
E-mail: srooney@capecodcommission.org
Web: http://www.capecodcommission.org/RPP2008/

BARNSTABLE COUNTY, MA - The Cape Cod Commission, Barnstable County's land use planning and regulatory agency, will host three hearings in June to gather public comment on the proposed 2008 draft of the Cape Cod Regional Policy Plan, a document that guides most Cape Cod Commission actions and sets regional goals and standards for land use and development on Cape Cod for the next five years.

"This version of the Regional Policy Plan is the outgrowth of many of the recommendations made by the 21st Century Task Force on the Cape Cod Commission in late 2006," says Sharon Rooney, the Cape Cod Commission's chief planner. "The proposed document is completely reorganized to focus more strongly on planning and the use of land use vision and resource maps to guide future development."

Compared to the 2002 Regional Policy Plan, the proposed update:

• separates the planning and regulation sections;
• outlines measurable actions for regional planning and technical assistance for the Commission to pursue in the next five years;
• incorporates a regional land use vision map that identifies areas considered suitable for more intensive development and areas with natural and historic resources needing stronger protection;
• includes new regional regulatory review standards and relates future more-flexible development review thresholds to certain areas on the land use map, tied to municipal infrastructure and capital facilities plans;
• gives stronger consideration to economic development and energy-related practices for regional review of proposed developments; and
• incorporates new options for the mitigation of development impacts related to transportation, water resources, open space, and affordable housing.

Rooney will make a presentation describing many of the changes in the draft plan and, with Cape Cod Commission members and staff, will gather public feedback at three hearings as follows:

The public-comment period on the draft plan will remain open through Monday, August 4, 2008. Written comments may be sent by US mail to the Cape Cod Commission, ATTN: Sharon Rooney, P.O. Box 226, Barnstable, MA 02630; by fax to (508) 362-3136; or by e-mail to: srooney@capecodcommission.org

Rooney and other Commission personnel will pursue additional outreach to civic organizations, municipal officials, and others interested in the plan through the public-comment period. At the close of the period, the Commission will have up to 30 days to revise the draft plan before submitting it as a proposed regional ordinance to the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates, the county governmentÕs legislature, which will then hold its own hearings later in the year.

To download the text of the Draft 2008 Regional Policy Plan, visit the Web site: http://www.capecodcommission.org/RPP2008/

###