Newsroom

So much of our daily lives happen online - connecting with friends and family, paying bills, managing healthcare, completing school or professional work, and staying involved in the community. The Cape Cod Commission is working with several towns in the region to complete digital equity plans to ensure no one feels left behind in this increasingly online world.  Digital equity plans in Bourne, Sandwich, and Orleans are complete, and the Commission is currently collaborating with Barnstable and Falmouth. 

This Regulatory Update provides a status on projects currently under review by the Cape Cod Commission. Visit www.capecodcommission.org/regulatory for a full overview of our Regulatory program and answers to frequently asked questions.   

As stated in the Regional Housing Strategy, Cape Cod needs bold and swift action to address the housing crisis. Completed in May 2024, the strategy provides recommendations for addressing the region's housing supply, affordability, and availability challenges.  

One of the key regional recommendations is establishing a housing land bank and a community land trust. These two potential entities could work together to facilitate swifter acquisition, stewardship, development, and redevelopment of properties to advance attainable and affordable housing.

Schools, shopping, healthcare, access to the Cape Cod Rail Trail and Route 6 – Yarmouth's Station Avenue is a well-traveled roadway traversed by a variety of different users for many different reasons. Its popularity means it is frequently congested, and unfortunately the thoroughfare lacks sufficient bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. To address these and other safety concerns, the Town of Yarmouth is working with the Cape Cod Commission to finalize the recommendations for the Station Avenue corridor study.  

During the development of the Regional Housing Strategy, stakeholders expressed the need to simplify the permitting process, where possible. In response, the Strategy includes recommendations to make permitting for housing development and redevelopment more predictable and streamlined, especially in locally- and regionally-identified suitable locations. One strategy is the creation of a catalog of model housing plans for small-scale housing types, which could be pre-approved or pre-reviewed at the local level—creating a more predictable process that saves both time and money for developers and reflects the priorities of a community as it relates to housing type and design. 

A new study conducted by the Cape Cod Commission focuses on the entrance and exit ramp intersections of the region's highway system, seeking to identify the highest crash intersections to better prioritize improvements and enhance roadway safety. 

As Cape Cod towns work to address challenges related to affordable housing, climate and coastal resiliency, and economic stability, a Local Comprehensive Plan (LCP) can serve as a blueprint for a sustainable future. LCPs help communities navigate change while protecting the Cape's defining character and resources.  

Falmouth Digital Equity Community Workshop
Wednesday, December 11, 2024 from 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Hermann Meeting Room, Falmouth Public Library
300 Main Street, Falmouth, MA 02540

During a meeting held on November 18, 2024, the Cape Cod Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) released the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2025-2029 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Amendment 2 for a 21-day public review and comment period. A copy of the document may be downloaded at www.capecodcommission.org/mpo.  

During a meeting held on October 21, 2024, the Cape Cod Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) released the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2025-2029 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Amendment 1 for a 21-day public review and comment period.