Commission wins APA award for Orleans project

The Massachusetts Chapter of the American Planning Association (http://www.apa-ma.org/) recently awarded the Cape Cod Commission and Town of Orleans the 2015 Planning Project Award for the Route 6A Orleans RESET Plan. The project was celebrated alongside the individuals and agencies who also won awards for outstanding planning work and distinguished leadership and service.

In September 2014, the Orleans Planning Board requested that the Cape Cod Commission complete an assessment of the Route 6A corridor between the Brewster and Eastham town lines. This two-mile section of roadway is a state-designated highway and consists of the majority of the Orleans commercially zoned properties, as well as a number of historic properties. The goal of the project was to provide guidance to the Town on ways that future land use along the corridor might be altered to maintain the character of the community and provide opportunities for greater economic vitality.

The planning project reflected a comprehensive assessment of the corridor, particularly examining the interrelationship between transportation, land use, zoning, and economic development issues. The report was created in a graphic, user-friendly format to increase the likelihood that local officials, boards, and committees would be able to use it as a launch pad for revitalization efforts in the Town.

Implementation efforts are already underway to undertake aspects of the report’s recommendations, including a comprehensive parking needs assessment, additional transportation analysis along the corridor, and potential re-zoning of select areas to allow greater density and multi-family housing.

A copy of the report is available here: http://www.capecodcommission.org/resources/initiatives/OrleansRESET_FinalREPORTWeb.pdf