Reviewing the Regional Policy Plan 

The Cape Cod Commission has launched its review of the 2018 Regional Policy Plan (RPP), a document that provides regional planning policies and objectives to guide development and protect the region’s resources. As part of this comprehensive review, the Commission hosted a series of public hearings to gather input on potential updates, ensuring the RPP continues to address the region’s evolving challenges and priorities. 

The Regional Policy Plan serves as a blueprint for Cape Cod's future, outlining strategies to direct growth to appropriate locations, protect natural resources, and promote economic resilience. Since the first edition in 1991, the RPP has undergone several updates, including major revisions in 2009 and 2018. The current review offers a chance to assess the impact of the significant changes in the region over the last five years, and ensure the Cape’s unique challenges—housing, climate change, infrastructure, water quality and economic sustainability, among others—are effectively addressed and reflected in regional policies and goals. 

The Region's Evolving Challenges 

In 2018, the RPP underwent a comprehensive rewrite, focusing on context-sensitive planning and design, with the continued goal of balancing resource protection and economic progress. Key challenges identified at the time remain critical today, but some, such as those related to housing, intensified following the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Housing affordability and availability has reached a crisis point. In June 2018, the median sales price for a single-family home on Cape Cod was around $438,000, with roughly 2,000 homes available for sale. In June 2024, the median sales price has doubled to over $800,000, with less than 700 homes on the market. The required household income to afford a median-priced home at today’s prices exceeds $200,000 – more than double the region’s median household income.  

Infrastructure needs have also grown more urgent. In addition to the need to replace the aging Bourne and Sagamore bridges, there are 127 additional bridges on Cape Cod that are aging and in need of attention. As sea levels rise, over 700 miles of roads on the Cape are projected to be isolated by the year 2100, putting additional strain on the region’s transportation network and its ability to remain resilient in the face of climate change. 

Water quality and the protection and provision of open space must continue to be prioritized. As we work to address housing, infrastructure, and other challenges associated with our built environment, we must remain committed to protecting and restoring natural resources. With 86% of the region’s land area already developed or protected, redevelopment and reuse of the existing built environment is essential to addressing Cape Cod’s evolving and pressing needs.  

Informing the Next RPP Update 

The Commission has been actively working on a variety of plans that will inform the next iteration of the RPP. These include the first-ever Cape Cod Climate Action Plan, a Regional Housing Strategy, and a newly completed Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). Each of these plans provides a framework for tackling some of the Cape’s most critical issues, from housing and infrastructure to climate resiliency and economic stability. 

Water quality, both coastal and freshwater, also remains a top priority. In recent years, Cape towns have ramped up efforts to address wastewater challenges, initiating projects funded in part by the Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund. Additionally, the region’s 890 freshwater ponds are now being addressed through the Cape Cod Freshwater Initiative, which has generated data and information that will help guide this and future updates to the RPP. 

What's Next? 

As the review process moves forward, the Cape Cod Commission will continue to engage local and regional stakeholders. Public hearings, focus groups, and surveys will be conducted to gather feedback on the key issues facing the region today. These insights will help shape amendments to the RPP, ensuring it remains a living document that can guide the Cape’s development while safeguarding its natural and cultural resources. 

The updated RPP will be presented to the Cape Cod Commission for approval, followed by review by the Assembly of Delegates and the Barnstable County Commissioners. 

Cape Cod’s future depends on deliberate planning that balances growth with the preservation of the region’s unique environment. To learn more, follow the process, and stay engaged, please visit: https://capecodcommission.org/our-work/rpp-update.