Barnstable VisioningNotes_2022-0328
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BARNSTABLE LOCAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN—VISIONING WORKSHOPS
FEBRUARY 28 AND MARCH 1, 2023
MEETING SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
The Town of Barnstable held two Visioning Workshops for the Local Comprehensive Plan (LCP) project
on February 28 and March 1, 2023. The first workshop was held virtually. About thirty-five participants
attended, not including Town staff and facilitators from the consultant team for the project. The second
was held in person at the Barnstable Adult Community Center. Food and childcare were provided. About
thirty-three participants attended. The format of the two workshops was the same except that the in-
person meeting concluded with an extra half-hour exercise to synthesize and prioritize the meeting’s
results. Both meetings were planned and facilitated by the Town’s consultants for Phase 1 of the Local
Comprehensive Plan—Dodson & Flinker, Barrett Planning Group, and Horsley Witten—in collaboration
with staff from Barnstable’s Planning and Development Department.
The workshops were designed to identify key elements of a consensus-based vision statement for
Barnstable. The workshops began with a brief presentation that introduced the main themes from
community input thus far in the LCP process, shared highlights of Barnstable’s existing conditions,
explained the purpose of visioning, and showed the vison from Barnstable’s 2010 LCP. Most of the time
during the two meetings was spent in small group discussions. Participants discussed community
priorities for the coming decade, community values that underly those priorities, and big ideas for a
vision that could inform the Local Comprehensive plan’s goals and actions and guide the Town’s
implementation over the coming decade.
This document begins with the key outcomes of the meetings: the lists of community priorities, values,
and vision elements that resulted from each meeting. For the first meeting, lists are organized by group.
For the second meeting, the results from all groups are presented together prioritized based on votes
received during a final dotting exercise. The lists are followed by full notes from each meeting.
Participants at the March 1 meeting. Left: listening to the report out. Right: voting on
elements for the vision—community priorities, community values and big ideas
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COMMUNITY PRIORITIES, COMMUNITY VALUES, AND VISION ELEMENTS
COMPILED FROM MEETING RESULTS
Priorities
Priorities (Group 1, 2/28/23)
•Water Quality
•Open Space and Environment
•Housing—for all types of people
•Green community—reducing greenhouse gas emissions, sustainability, waste management, etc.
•Redevelopment vs. development: improve the unattractive parts of Barnstable (Route 28 and
132); preserve the attractive parts.
Priorities (Group 2, 2/28/23)
•Protect the environment as basis for economy and quality of life.
•Enhance Social services
•Public Transportation
•Take advantage of historic resources – more than just quaintness and charm
•Economy that serves people – allows people to live here
•People that work here need to be able to live here
•Include underrepresented voices in the process
Priorities (Group 3, 2/28/23)
•Climate change
•Human services and taking care of the people that live in Barnstable
•Community character
•Transportation infrastructure
•Neighborhood life
•Need to think through some of the major future changes as to what are the impacts so the Town
can be ready to respond to the impacts
Priorities (Group 4, 2/28/23)
•Protecting water quality & environmental resources
•Better use of, and access to, technology
•Preserve diverse character of each unique village
•Plan and maintain infrastructure
•Preserving open space
•Determining when we reach our limits on growth
•Green aspects of Town, including open spaces, and alternative transportation
•Need to measure progress, build in performance standards.
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Priorities (Results of Synthesis Exercise from 3/1/23 Meeting)
Theme Idea Votes
Environment Protecting wildlife--essential wildlife corridors 5
Environmental Resources 5
Protect—Protect environment and water quality vs Climate change 2
Protect environmental resources and trees 7
Resilience in face of climate change/ coastal resilience 3 22
Water quality Water Quality 12
Environment/Water Quality 6
Water Quality underlies everything. It's what we sell. 3 21
Housing Housing 8
Affordable housing 1
Housing--Housing in the right places. Redevelopment. 2
Housing diversity 6 17
Character/
preservation
Maintaining community character of the villages 6
Preserve--Historic preservation and diverse community 7 13
Transportation/
access
Public transportation 4
Access-bikes, beach access, public transportation 5 9
Community
connections
Creating community connections 0
Opportunities to form community connections 5
Places to meet and talk, make connections, places for teens/youth 2 7
Safety/health &
human services
Improving safety in Hyannis 2
Safety--reduce traffic, safe from crime, health and human services 1
Human services 4
Take care of residents all year-equity and families 0
4
Theme Idea Votes
Public education and services for homeless. What are services? What
is available?
0
7
Smart planning Smart planning--"new old villages" 7 7
Government
Transparency &
Communication
Transparency and Communication, awareness 2
Proactive communication and transparence from town government 4
6
Values
Values (Group 1, 2/28/23)
• Care for the environment
• Human health
• Opportunities for everyone
• Care for others
Values (Group 2, 2/28/23)
• Built systems should serve community systems and natural systems
• Balance between people and the environment is critical
• Focus on interconnectedness of people and the environment. They are not separate—we exist
in the environment
• Make decisions based on long-term sustainability
• Planning needs to include all communities, all stakeholders
• Focus on supporting small, local businesses
• Support local creators
• Support young people and families
Values (Group 4, 2/28/23)
• Clean
• Sustainable
• Connected
• Stewardship (now and in the future with responsibility to maintain and clean and keep things
connected)
• Balance
5
• Preservation
• Future generations
• Proactive
Values (Results of Synthesis Exercise from 3/1/23 Meeting)
Theme Idea Votes
Character/History The character of the Cape needs to be protected because we value
the slower pace, diverse community, welcoming & connected villages 2 Growth values vs. character values 2 Preserve, honor, connect with community character and history 5 Preserving history, identity 9 Vision of villages, not a big city 4
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Water Quality Water quality—Environmental resources. Housing vs. environment 5 Water quality—underlies the economy. The blue economy 10 Water quality—essential to public health (not just the Cape, but the
world) 4
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Housing Affordable, attainable housing 2 Affordable housing needed for younger generations 2 Different types of housing needed for different needs 5 Sustainable housing for locals: year-round, all ages 6
15
Celebrating
people/ Joyful
Community Diversity of people--celebrating 3 Joyful community 12
15
Value Environment Value the environment--economic driver, drinking water/human
health, recreation & tourism 11
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Collaboration,
Engagement Collaboration and connection 2 Community engagement, involvement by residents 4 Proactive, transparency and collaborative governance and policy 1
8
Balance Regulation Understand resources--what to protect? What is over-regulated?
Enjoy what we have. 1 Access * Regulation 4
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Theme Idea Votes
Balance
5
Care for
Environment Leave it better than we found it 3
Stewardship is the way of sustainability & responsible policy 2
5 Public Health Public health 2
Safety Safe—universal between villages or different? Reflects local
environment 0
Safety & Security affects the economy—merchants on Main Street 0
0 Development
Capacity
Specialized for summer?
Zoning.
Suitable infrastructure
balance environment 0 Holistic approach Care for Barnstable through connected approaches with water,
people, and services 0
Vision
Vision (Group 1, 2/28/23)
•Preserve villages
•Redevelop Route 132 and 28 corridors into walkable mixed-use villages
•Base Town actions on input from residents
Vision (Group 2, 2/28/23)
•Sustainability as the touchstone for the plan
•Building resilience in the face of climate change, sea level rise
•2010 vision was “playing it safe.” This vision should be so clear that it basically frames decisions
clearly: “We can’t do something unless it touches these values.” (Define vlaues)
Vision (Group 3, 2/28/23)
•Housing for all
•Planning for climate change
•Developing policies to guide urban design and connectivity
•Continuing to cultivate community character and preservation
•Consider the inter-related impacts of decisions
•Sustainable year-round education opportunities and economic growth
•Value our beautiful, wondrous community
•And our wish that all our citizens have sustainable and healthy lives
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Vision (Group 4, 2/28/23)
• Balancing resources with prioritization of items – all in agreement that water is high priority and
maybe it should be spelled out
• Metrics to know that we have achieved goals
• Community character, quality of life
• Walkability
• Balance of working together to utilize our resources at both the village level and the Town as a
whole
• Need more of the people power
• Need to attract young families to Barnstable and think about generations and the future. Live
and work and flourish. Not having to struggle as much related to jobs and education
• Transparency in government - COVID taught us a lot and Zoom reaches out to more residents to
encourage more people to get involved
• Improve Downtown Hyannis not just for visitors but for residents to go for everyday needs to
run the house. Revitalize Main Street
• We need to drive towards where the vision is. Not just a laundry list but need to combine into
cohesive vision
Vision (Results of Synthesis Exercise from 3/1/23 Meeting)
Theme Idea Votes
Water Quality Best water quality 10
Water quality needs to be foremost 8
18 Environment Heal the environment 10
Environment 6
Proactive stewardship of the environment while honoring
Barnstable's past and caring for its current 2
18 Education Access to world class public education 11
Community Form community connections, make a difference with your voice 3
Community 0
One community 4
Replace "the town" with "Barnstable's people" 3
10
Housing Affordable housing appropriate for different villages 5
Balance housing with other needs—protecting water quality, limiting
traffic, etc. 4
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Villages Each Village has its own identity-Hyannis is a magnet 5
Villages 3
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Theme Idea Votes
Generations/
History Preserve for future generations 1
Maintain intergenerational connections/links 2
History 2
5
Access to resources Accessibility to all of Cape's resources-services education, healthcare 4 Transportation Be able to travel by means of choosing—bike, walk, swim, transit, car 3
Economy Diverse economy that supports people being able to live in Barnstable 3 Diversity Preserving diversity in age and culture 3
Diversity of people, young people 0
3 Good life Arts, events, nature (Free) 1 Equality Everybody should be able to… 1
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MEETING 1: FEBRUARY 28, 2023 @ 12:00-1:30PM VIA ZOOM
[Bracketed notes or question mark indicates uncertainty about what was said]
Attendees
Consultants (8)
Peter Flinker, Dodson & Flinker
Dillon Sussman, Dodson & Flinker
Jack Sweeney-Taylor, Dodson & Flinker
Judi Barrett, Barrett Planning Group
Alexis Lanzillotta, Barrett Planning Group
Jill Slankas, Barrett Planning Group
Carly Venditti, Barrett Planning Group
Jeff Davis, Horsley Witten
Town (4)
Elizabeth Jenkins, Director of Planning & Development
Kate Maldonado, Assistant Director of Planning & Development
Jim Kupfer, Senior Planner with Planning, Zoning, & Historic Preservation
Kyle Pedicini, Community & Economic Development Planner
Participants (34; 25 during breakouts)
Antonia Stephens (x2)
Avery Revere (Steering Committee - SC)
Betty McAdams
Bob & Alex Frazee
Bob Phear
Denise Toomey
Dorrit Kingsbury
Ellen N
Felicia Penn (SC)
Frances Parks
Gordon Starr (Town Councilor)
James Salwyn Henning
Jaqui
Jennifer Loughran
Jennifer Phillips
Jennifer Williams
Joan Richards
John Ale
John Crow
Kathleen DeHertogh
Ken
Lindsey Counsell (SC)
Marigold W
Mary Longacre
Paul Phalan
Paul Nichols
Raquel Rodriquez
Robin B
Steve Valk
Susan Rohrbach
Thomas Bauer
Trish Conti
1518****858
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Breakout Group Discussions
Group 1 – Facilitator: Dillon Sussman
Summary
Priorities
•Water Quality
•Open Space and Environment
•Housing—for all types of people
•Green Community
•Redevelopment vs. development: improve the unattractive parts of Barnstable (Route 28 and
132); preserve the attractive parts.
Values
•Care for the environment
•Human health
•Opportunities for everyone
•Care for others
Vision
•Preserve villages
•Redevelop Route 132 and 28 corridors into walkable mixed-use villages
•Base Town actions on input from residents
Chronological Notes
Icebreaker
Participant name, which village they live in, and—in just a couple of words—the most important aspect
of Barnstable to preserve or improve in the coming decades
•James Henning, Osterville Resident for 6 years. Preserve quality of live for year-round resident
•Raquel Rodriquez, Marston Mills. Retain young families. Green the town.
•Joan Richards, Centerville. Lack of open space. Continuous development of land, loss of open
space
•Gordon Starr, Barnstable Village, Town Councilor. Water quality, estuaries, aquaculture.
Becoming a more green town.
•Paul, Centerville. Residents that care.
•John Crow, Osterville.
Priorities
•Town being a model for green community. For example, updating building code, installing
electric vehicle charging stations
•Agreed with previous comment and added recycling, bike lanes, bike share, solar energy
systems
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•Connection between water quality and overdevelopment.
•The LCPC does not have to align with CCC guidance
•Don’t need to focus on growth and development. Can focus on Redevelopment
Most Important Priorities/Themes from previous community engagement for this plan
•Water quality. It is the key to visitorship. It is why people come to the Cape.
•We are losing our 30- and 40-year-olds, families. We need affordable housing. How do we make
that happen?
•Redevelopment vs. development. Need housing but not new development
•Many houses have gone from seasonal cottages to year-round residences. Are the septic
systems designed and maintained for that and the number of people living in those houses? The
sewer project will have big impacts
•We should address the problem of unused residences. For example, Toronto taxes unused
homes. We need smaller units for older adults and younger people.
•Quality of life is important. We need to decide how much to build
Values
•Water quality: human health, whole environment
•Housing: enough opportunities for everyone. Workers need housing, balance new housing vs.
existing. Don’t want to change community to be less desirable. Maintaining old-time small
community feel. Development needs to be smart and considerate: redevelop the less well-
designed areas of Barnstable.
Vision
•Put housing in denser developed areas
•Traffic increases with housing
•New housing should be sustainable and environmentally responsible (e.g. LEED certified)
•Be more specific about being a green community
•We are expanding our sewer system. Development should grow near village centers
•Density in small villages is being oppressed on us. Will be big pushback to zoning changes in
villages. Supports redevelopment of 28.
•We have Route 132 in our town. There is lots of charm in the villages, but also lots that isn’t
attractive. Preserve downtown Hyannis, but we also have lots of sprawl.
•We could redevelop Route 132, for example Kmart Plaza. Could be like Mashpee Commons with
housing over stores
•I don’t frequent Main Street Hyannis because I don’t feel safe there due to homelessness,
addiction. We have to deal with Hyannis’s image issues
•We do need to care for people, but we have to do that in a smart way with approaches that
actually work
•Listening to residents is important
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Group 2 – Facilitators: Peter Flinker & Alexis Lanzillotta
Summary
Priorities
• Protect environment as basis for economy and quality of life.
• Enhance Social services
• Public Transportation
• Take advantage of historic resources – more than just quaintness and charm
• Economy that serves people – allows people to live here.
• People that work here need to be able to live here.
• Include underrepresented voices in the process.
Values
• Built systems should serve community systems and natural systems
• Balance between people and the environment is critical.
• Focus on interconnectedness of people and the environment. They are not separate—we exist
in the environment
• Make decisions based on long-term sustainability.
• Planning needs to include all communities, all stakeholders.
• Focus on supporting small, local businesses.
• Support local creators
• Support young people and families.
Focus of the Vision
• Sustainability as the touchstone for the plan
• Building resilience in the face of climate change, sea level rise
• 2010 vision was “playing it safe.” This vision should be so clear that it basically frames decisions
clearly: “We can’t do something unless it touches these values.” (Define vlaues)
Chronological Notes
Icebreaker
Participant name, which village they live in, and—in just a couple of words—the most important aspect
of Barnstable to preserve or improve in the coming decades
• John Ale, Hyannisport
o Most wants to preserve natural environment. That’s why people come here.
o Big issue to face is that Barnstable’s seasonal economy supports retirement vacation
homes, etc. and needs to be sustainable in a way for people who live here.
• Avery, Barnstable Village
o On LCPC. Grew up in Barnstable, has connection to community.
o Trying to look more broadly than own village to think of needs of whole town.
• Bob and Alex Frazee, Barnstable Village. Also have lived in Centerville, Osterville, Marston Mills
o Bob: Barnstable can find better ways to integrate usefulness of historic resources,
occupied, useful, well-maintained, and appreciated rather than just being relics.
Planning incentives can help so there can be new uses that don’t destroy building but
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keep them functional and part of the community. A lot of requests of the HC relate to
demolitions rather than finding ways to use these buildings. Town needs to find way to
incentivize rehabilitation.
o Alex: Priority should be keeping economy going while all of these other things are
happening.
• Antonia, Director of Hyannis Public Library. Resident of Yarmouth.
• Priority should be social service needs. Hyannis is a hotspot for a lot of needs and activities.
Advocate for more convenient public transportation for those who need to get to services.
Also concerned about water quality. Used to work in Cotuit library where there was a
stormwater retention system put in.
Key Themes from Engagement
Peter puts up slide and asks for responses
• Themes not quite as well rounded as hoped, don’t represent social service needs. Those voices
perhaps have not been accessed through survey.
• Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) needs to be elevated. E.g., for creating more employment
opportunities should include underrepresented entrepreneurs. Also need more transportation.
• Reiterates need for infrastructure to make all of these needs come together and work. Town
needs to be more proactive about where to put things rather than reactive. There are pockets of
places in town appropriate for more density, and others that are not. This is essential for long
term sustainability of the town. Who is proactively looking at where housing should go?
• Built systems are meant to serve the natural and community systems. PEOPLE are the
stakeholders, as is the LAND. The balance between those two is what the build systems are
meant to accommodate.
• Use term other than “charm” to describe the importance of historic preservation. It’s cliché and
doesn’t help the value of historic resources be taken seriously. They have USEFULNESS, as well.
For Sea Captain’s Way, significant national register buildings were demolished, which may have
been necessary but only because of the need to be PROACTIVE. If there had been incentives up
front, etc.
• Size/scale of what is built or preserved should blend in with the existing built environment.
• Points out that can also be tied to demand for luxury buildings.
Two new group members introduced
• Steve, Marston Mills, new resident as of a couple years ago.
o Looking for solutions to summer traffic.
o Otherwise, doesn’t have much to add because new to area.
• Another participant: “As a seasoned Cape Codder, in the summer, you only make right turns.”
Estimates say summer population is 50,000 but maybe 10x that in the summer.
• Marigold, Osterville
o Narrow roads make it feel unsafe to walk. People drive to Osterville to walk in
neighborhood even though there are no sidewalks, large utility trucks driving unsafely.
Roads seem too narrow to even consider sidewalks. Walkability is a big issue.
o Public transit “ok” but there are not enough places to stand safely.
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o Also concerned about septic systems on sandy soil. Major concern for water safety.
o Keep tourism strong, keep people wanting to come back.
o People also need housing to keep that supported, need modern conveniences/needs
met (hard to even get a PCP) and not just focus on quaintness, charm, etc. That does
need to be balanced and is important, but not at the expense of longer term needs.
Group 3 – Facilitators: Carly Venditti & Jill Slankas
Summary
Priorities
• Climate change
• Human services and taking care of the people that live in Barnstable
• Community character
• Transportation infrastructure
• Neighborhood life
• Need to think through some of the major future changes as to what are the impacts so the Town
can be ready to respond to the impacts (for example, changes to the bridge).
Vision
• Housing for all
• Planning for climate change
• Developing policies to guide urban design and connectivity
• Continuing to cultivate community character and preservation
• Consider the inter-related impacts of decisions
• Sustainable year-round education opportunities and economic growth.
• Value our beautiful, wondrous community.
• And our wish that all our citizens have sustainable and healthy lives.
Chronological Notes
Participants (9)
Jill (BPG), Kyle (Barnstable P&D), Felicia P. (LCPC), Susan R. (LCPC), Ellen N.& spouse, Dorrit Kingsbury
(landscape designer), Ken (former City Planner in CA), Jacqui (29 years old, lifelong resident). All are
residents of the Town of Barnstable.
Community Priorities
Is anything missing from Key Themes from Engagement so far?
• Climate change
• Human services
• Community character
• Transportation infrastructure
Which community priorities are most important for the coming decades? Why?
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• Neighborhood life, residents living next to each other; that dynamic changes with AirBNBs, etc.
• Human services and taking care of the people that live in Barnstable
• New bridge is of concern; 4 lanes in each direction; what’s going to happen when we fill up the
bridge and widen the funnel to the Cape?
• Don’t like flashy signals that DPW puts up where the goal is pedestrian safety.
Community Vision
Does the 2010 Vision sound generally right?
• It’s boring; Not inspirational
• describes the character of a community that is worth preserving;
• Would like to break this out piece-by-piece;
• Villages have separate things going on;
• Preserving historic resources has to be done but in balance of preparing for climate change and
resilience.
• What will be the fallout of adding lanes to the bridge?
• Need to think through some of the major future changes as to what are the impacts so the Town
can be ready to respond to the impacts.
What has changed since 2010 that the new vision should address?
• Technology;
• The application for short-term rentals, AirBnB’s, etc;
• Also affects higher wage jobs and the economy
What do you want Barnstable to be like in 10 or 20 years? Try to describe what it looks and feels like.
Who lives here? What is the economy like? What brings people together? How is the environment doing?
• Dealing with the effects of climate change are going to lead to some very difficult decisions
about what to let go or what to reinforce.
• In terms of development, there is not much land to build upon; look into redevelopment.
How have the villages changed or stayed the same? What has changed about open spaces, housing,
transportation?
• More access to transportation; more options on the Cape; easier access to Boston, so people
could still live in Barnstable but work elsewhere.
• Need to address human services.
• Have some kind of school/college that would bring students to the Cape and allow them to live
and work thereafter.
• Mixed income housing-- not only in Hyannis but in all the villages.
What challenging decisions might the community face in the coming decades? What should the vision
say to provide guidance to future decisions?
• Housing decisions on how the Town moves forward and how villages are going to be effective
with the need for more housing.
Are there issues or topics that the vision should explicitly address or even set a policy direction for? What
should it say?
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• Wish the vision statement would clearly say that the Town represents the people and not the
developers.
Are there principles or values that could be included in the vision to help keep the town on the right track
– to provide direction as the town works through competing priorities or perspectives?
• Better overall urban design/planning; street trees, planning for connection between residential
areas, open space, to downtown Hyannis, etc. Thinks Cotuit urban design is pretty good.
What would the vision need to say to inspire you?
• Housing, economic development, climate change, urban design, human services, community
character
Prepare for Report Out-Synthesize and Summarize
What are the big ideas that the vision should have?
• Housing for all
• Planning for climate change
• Developing policies to guide urban design and connectivity
• Continuing to cultivate community character and preservation
• Consider the inter-related impacts of decisions
• Sustainable year-round education opportunities and economic growth
• Value our beautiful, wondrous community
• And our wish that all our citizens have sustainable and healthy lives
Report Out
• Climate change
• Coming decades
o Neighborhood life: How people live next to each other (AirBnBs, STR)
o Environment & climate change
o Redevelopment
o Transportation
o Human services
o Higher education and job training
o Mixed-income housing
• Vision should help people get what we need
• Boring – but
• Change since 2010
o Technology
o New economy – who will be working
• Vision: focused around people
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Group 4 – Facilitator: Jeff Davis. Notes: Kate Moldonado
Summary
Priorities
• Protecting water quality & environmental resources
• Better use of, and access to, technology
• Preserve diverse character of each unique village
• Plan and maintain infrastructure
• Preserving open space
• Determining when we reach our limits on growth
• Green aspects of Town, including open spaces, and alternative transportation
• Need to measure progress, build in performance standards.
Values
• Clean
• Sustainable
• Connected
• Stewardship (now and in the future with responsibility to maintain and clean and keep things
connected)
• Balance
• Preservation
• Future generations
• Proactive
Vision
• Balancing resources with prioritization of items – all in agreement that water is high priority and
maybe it should be spelled out
• Metrics to know that we have achieved goals
• Community character, quality of life
• Walkability
• Balance of working together to utilize our resources at both the village level and the Town as a
whole
• Need more of the people power
• Need to attract young families to Barnstable and think about generations and the future. Live
and work and flourish. Not having to struggle as much related to jobs and education.
• Transparency in government - COVID taught us a lot and Zoom reaches out to more residents to
encourage more people to get involved
• Improve Downtown Hyannis not just for visitors but for residents to go for everyday needs to
run the house. Revitalize Main Street.
• We need to drive towards where the vision is. Not just a laundry list but need to combine into
cohesive vision.
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Chronological Notes
Icebreaker
Participant name, which village they live in, and—in just a couple of words—the most important aspect
of Barnstable to preserve or improve in the coming decades
• Jennifer Phillips, Cummaquid. Preserving open space particularly privately owned open space
(provide incentive) and rebalance historic preservation with sustainable energy like solar panels
• Lindsay Counsell, Centerville, LCPC member. Protect our natural resources. Cape Cod is very
fragile place, have lived here for long time and have seen impact of development, when do we
reach our limits for growth and what roadway improvements can we make
• Jennifer Williams - Osterville, LCPC member. Loves history and all of our resources, we are all
connected by the water, here for our community who support our villages and our Town and
preservation of our resources
• Paul Nichols, Hyannis, built house year ago, live part-time in Hyannis, vacationed for 40+ years.
Importance of connectivity of harbor to Main Street and preserve and make more connected
• Frances Parks, Cotuit, LCPC member, grew up in Cotuit and attended Barnstable schools,
Barnstable Historic and Prudential Committee. Concerned about growth, we can’t build more
houses and have more people, concerned about waterways and our drinking water
• Thomas Bauer, Hyannisport. Green aspects: parks, beaches, recreation, recycling and traffic and
safety, bike lanes
Key Themes from Engagement
Highest priorities
• Protecting water quality & environmental resources. We also need to look at what measures we
will use to measure sub items within these categories to measure how you succeed moving
forward. This is a 10 year plan, but it should be a 12-15 year plan. Need to measure progress,
build in performance standards.
• Protecting water quality. Add technology. Maybe foster opportunity for community connections
• Protecting water quality & environmental resources which bring people to the Cape. Also
technology – Comcast has no competition and is inferior. Might not be able to solve that but we
could weigh in on it.
• Protecting water quality & environmental resources and preserve diverse character of each
unique village. Tourist and traffic oppose each other.
• Protecting water quality & environmental resources and equally important to preserve
community character of each unique village
• Obviously, water and also infrastructure. We should not wait until there is an emergency. It
should be maintained.
What are the community values underlying those priorities:
• Clean
• Sustainable
• Connected
• Stewardship (now and future with responsibility to maintain and clean and keep things
connected)
• Balance
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• Preservation
• Future generations
• Proactive
2010 Barnstable Vision
How do you feel about the 2010 vision?
• It is a little general for this period in time for the Town. With the help of people like historic we
have met goals, but we still need to balance growth with infrastructure (roads, water, and
management of stormwater). Needs to be based on on-the-ground data today. Balancing
growth and infrastructure.
• Telecommunication needs to evolve to next level for public and private for connectivity,
technology
• Would like to see the Town, particularly the schools, spend more time educating students about
their Town. The history of the Town is important and if you want well-rounded students this
should be stressed. We need to concentrate on protecting our resources particularly water and
waterways, which are in terrible shape. That is the most important task. The last time we did an
LCPC, each village provided their contribution and that was better than one meeting as a Town.
Vision plan is nice for some people, but it is not necessary. I don’t think that people are drawn
into the vision statement – it is the least important part of the plan. Find it superfluous.
• Community character, qualify of life and growth. Need some intentionality about managing our
automobiles, maybe work with state to lower and regularize speed on 6A. Provide spaces where
you can get out of your car and walk, but there’s no place to put the car. Connectivity and
mobility. Increase walkability.
• So many interrelated issues. 2010 vision is broad, general, flat need more of the people power –
small business that thrive, quality of life and what resources people need. We are in a different
place post-pandemic and desire more aspirational call to action. The people.
• Agree with everything thus far. Vision statement is usual broad statement and it is hard to put
all values into one sentence or so. We need to drive towards where the vision is. Not just a
laundry list but need to combine into cohesive vision.
What challenging decisions might the community face?
• Seeing right now with building of high-rise condominiums and golf course on west end to be
filled with housing and both are concerning decisions which will impact traffic and not sure if
“work-force” housing will actually serve the work-force and we will continue to be in housing
crisis. Impact of development in the future. Depend less on Town government and work among
villages. Provide plan to the Town.
• Abutting neighbors are elderly and some people who have green space are considering selling it
because they cannot afford to live here and do not want to move. How do limited incomes
impact this? Aging population. We care about preserving water and green space but people are
finding it more difficult to sustain their pieces of green space as they are feeling the economic
pinch. Older people and harsher economy. Concern about the bridges.
• Completing the water resources management plan and we need a town-wide plan that takes in
all of the villages and we need to determine how to fund that. Everyone should be able to
benefit from it and help to share the cost. There is benefit in community-wide effort – DEP has
new Title 5 regulations
20
• Health care issues with aging population – waiting lists are high. Need to have resources here on
Cape Cod. Need to attract young families to Barnstable and think about generations and the
future. Live and work and flourish. Not having to struggle as much related to jobs and education.
• How will we balance resources and what should be prioritized.
Synthesis
• Balancing resources with prioritization of items – all in agreement that water is high priority and
maybe it should be spelled out
• Metrics to know that we have achieved goals
• Balance of working together to utilize our resources at both the village level and the Town as a
whole
• Transparency in government - COVID taught us a lot and Zoom reaches out to more residents to
encourage more people to get involved
• Improve Downtown Hyannis not just for visitors but for residents to go for everyday needs to
run the house. Revitalize Main Street.
Report Out – Key Words
• Connected, sustainable, balanced, proactive
Final Comments
Ken
• Vision needs to be succinct, clear, and encouraging
• We have too many ideas, need to skim down
Marigold
• Until we see people of color on this zoom call, won’t be equitable
21
MEETING 2: MARCH 1, 2023 @ 5:00-7:00PM AT BARNSTABLE ADULT
COMMUNITY CENTER
[Bracketed notes or question mark indicates uncertainty about what was said]
Total Attendance
Consultants (5)
Peter Flinker, Dodson & Flinker
Dillon Sussman, Dodson & Flinker
Jack Sweeney-Taylor, Dodson & Flinker
Carly Venditti, Barrett Planning Group
Jeff Davis, Horsley Witten
Town (4)
Elizabeth Jenkins, Director of Planning & Development
Kate Maldonado, Assistant Director of Planning & Development
Jim Kupfer, Senior Planner with Planning, Zoning, & Historic Preservation
Kyle Pedicini, Community & Economic Development Planner
Amy Harwood, Marketing & Outreach Manager
Participants (from sign in sheets)
We apologize in advance for any misspellings. We have abbreviated or some shortened last names when
the handwriting was unclear.
Walter Ralston Regina Ralston Gordon Starr Brian Hughes
Bob Shulte Anne Shulte David Gorrill Peter Cross
Cheryl Powell Betsy Young Paul Cusack Rusty Gage
Francoise Rocher Kris Clark Tess Prite Sue Carrr
Ken Alsman Elaine P Michellle Lenore Lyons
Kim McGuire Betty Kudtke Phyllis W Mara Belmear
Cyntha L Martha C Dan Bello Kate Bello
Joseph Taccogna Tom Odjakjian Wayne K. Melody Masi
Roberta Elizabeth Mauch
22
Notes from Synthesis Exercise
Community Priorities
Theme Idea Votes
Environment Protecting wildlife--essential wildlife corridors 5
Environmental Resources 5
Protect--Protect environment and water quality vs Climate change 2
Protect environmental resources and trees 7
Resilience in face of climate change/ coastal resilience 3
22
Water quality Water Quality 12
Environment/Water Quality 6
Water Quality underlies everything. It's what we sell. 3 21
Housing Housing 8
Affordable housing 1
Housing--Housing in the right places. Redevelopment 2
Housing diversity 6 17
Character/
preservation
Maintaining community character of the villages 6
Preserve--Historic preservation and diverse community 7
13
Transportation/
access
Public transportation 4
Access-bikes, beach access, public transportation 5 9
Community
connections
Creating community connections 0
Opportunities to form community connections 5
Places to meet and talk, make connections, places for teens/youth 2
7
23
Theme Idea Votes
Safety/health &
human services
Improving safety in Hyannis 2
Safety--reduce traffic, safe from crime, health and human services 1
Human services 4
Take care of residents all year-equity and families 0
Public education and services for homeless. What are services? What
is available?
0
7
Smart planning Smart planning--"new old villages" 7 7
Government
Transparency &
Communication
Transparency and Communication, awareness 2
Proactive communication and transparence from town government 4
6
Community Values
Theme Idea Votes
Character/History The character of the Cape needs to be protected because we value
the slower pace, diverse community, welcoming and connected
villages 2 Growth values vs. character values 2 Preserve, honor, connect with community character and history 5 Preserving history, identity 9 Vision of villages, not a big city 4
22
Water Quality Water quality—Environmental resources. Housing vs. environment 5 Water quality—underlies the economy. The blue economy 10 Water quality—essential to public health (not just the Cape, but the
world) 4
19 Housing Affordable, attainable housing 2 Affordable housing needed for younger generations 2 Different types of housing needed for different needs 5 Sustainable housing for locals: year-round, all ages 6
15
24
Theme Idea Votes
Celebrating
people/ Joyful
Community Diversity of people--celebrating 3 Joyful community 12
15 Value Environment Value the environment--economic driver, drinking water/human
health, recreation & tourism 11
11
Collaboration,
Engagement Collaboration and connection 2 Community engagement, involvement by residents 4 Proactive, transparency and collaborative governance and policy 1
8
Balance Regulation Understand resources--what to protect? What is over-regulated?
Enjoy what we have. 1 Access * Regulation
Balance 4
5
Care for
Environment Leave it better than we found it 3 Stewardship is the way of sustainability & responsible policy 2
5
Public Health Public health 2
Safety Safe—universal between villages or different? Reflects local
environment 0 Safety & Security affects the economy—merchants on Main Street 0
0 Development
Capacity
Specialized for summer?
Zoning.
Suitable infrastructure
balance environment 0 Holistic approach Care for Barnstable through connected approaches with water,
people, and services 0
Vision-Big Ideas
Theme Idea Votes
Water Quality Best water quality 10
Water quality needs to be foremost 8
25
Theme Idea Votes
18 Environment Heal the environment 10
Environment 6
Proactive stewardship of the environment while honoring
Barnstable's past and caring for its current 2
18 Education Access to world class public education 11
Community Form community connections, make a difference with your voice 3
Community 0
One community 4
Replace "the town" with "Barnstable's people" 3
10
Housing Affordable housing appropriate for different villages 5
Balance housing with other needs-protecting water quality, limiting
traffic, etc. 4
9
Villages Each Village has its own identity-Hyannis is a magnet 5
Villages 3
8 Generations/
History Preserve for future generations 1
Maintain intergenerational connections/links 2
History 2
5
Cape’s resources Accessibility to all of Cape's resources-services education, healthcare 4 Transportation Be able to travel by means of choosing—bike, walk, swim, transit, car 3
Diverse Economy Diverse economy that supports people being able to live in Barnstable 3 Diverse People Preserving diversity in age and culture 3
Diversity of people, young people 0
3
Good life Arts, events, nature (Free) 1 Equality Everybody should be able to… 1
Breakout Group Discussions—Additional Notes
Note: The March 1 workshop was focused on summarizing and synthesizing key ideas. The key ideas that
arose from break out groups are captured in the tables above. Additional notes are presented below.
26
Group 1 – Facilitator: Carly Venditti
• Community Character—connected by the sea (water). Values that help connected economy,
tourism, and housing
• Preserve for future generations
• Proactive for the people
• Honoring and building on history
• Inspirational: flourishing, vibrant, connected, thriving, committed
• What does it mean to balance?
• Managing growth using redevelopment techniques to ensure sustainability
• Better stewards
• Sustainability: all of the water infrastructure and waste is connected across systems
• Is there a carrying capacity?
• “Sustainability’—generating more of what Barnstable uses in Barnstable. And using less:
responsible, recycle
• Value—Redevelopment in the right place
• Caring for Barnstable—the future of the earth and populations
• Clean water to maintain high quality of life
• Did this vision statement benefit the town? It was aspirational and realistic
Group 2 – Facilitator: Peter Flinker
Icebreaker
Participant name, which village they live in, and—in just a couple of words—the most important aspect
of Barnstable to preserve or improve in the coming decades
• Sue – Walkability is important – dogs on the beach are a problem.
• Sue – Environment and housing
• Mary – works for the BID in Hyannis. There needs to be an attitude adjustment
• Antonia – library director – 21 years on the Cape as a librarian. Also on Masters Mills Historic
Society. Social services need to be a priority.
• Walter – Hyannis – there has been a major cultural shift driven by the increased cost of housing.
Need to keep the town from turning into the Hamptons.
• Tess – Hyannis – new owners along the coast don’t like people parking to shellfish. You can’t do
these kind of traditional activities everywhere – it’s special and needs to be protected.
• Amy – Town of Barnstable
• Roberta – worried about high-density project planned next to her house. Considers herself a
voice for wildlife and the environmental health of Cape Cod.
For the remainder of the discussion, Peter drafted priorities on sticky notes that were compiled with
others in the final wrap up session. Some issues that were mentioned:
• Improving safety in Hyannis
• Enhancing services
27
• Building community – e.g. the 5000 member of “Cape Cod Females over 50”
• Don’t let commercial areas destroy wildlife – need more bee farms
• Need to build housing to meet the needs of workers – without losing it to investors or making
water quality worse.
• Need to keep the Cape like the Cape
• Can’t preserve it the way it is.
• Don’t grow for its own sake – progress has been the god that’s been worshipped.
• Need to keep in mind safety in disasters.
• What were the arguments made when they enacted the moratoria on housing in the 70s and
80s?
Group 3 – Facilitator: Dillon Sussman
Icebreaker
Participant name, which village they live in, and—in just a couple of words—the most important aspect
of Barnstable to preserve or improve in the coming decades
• Wendy, West Barnstable. Water quality.
• Cynthia, Barnstable Village. Water quality. Implementing the plan; we did this 15 years ago and
most the plan has been done. Some things have gone in the wrong direction.
• Elizabeth, Centerville. Hyannis becomes charming downtown—a big village.
• Mara, Osterville. Water quality. Affordable housing.
• Dave, Centerville. Access in multiple dimensions of community. Access to beaches,
transportation access.
• Betsy, Hyannis. Water quality. Maintain the continuity of families that have been in Barnstable
for generations. We are losing the links to our past when children don’t stay in Barnstable.
Housing and year-round jobs.
• Martha, Osterville. Fix up Hyannis—Mashpee Commons as an example. Clean water.
Priorities
• Missing generational history. Losing people.
• Portland Oregon is an example of what we could be like. People live on small lots but there is a
great community and lots of amenities. We have large lots, but not much else.
• Put density in village centers
• Ideas about housing are changing quickly.
• People are accepting of ideas about housing needs, but not implementation of them
• Invasive species management
Vision
• We shouldn’t emphasize the seven villages. That splits us up.
• The previous vision was vanilla.
• Let’s focus on being the best: cleanest water—let’s build the best sewer system
• Best walking and bicycling access
• People prioritized over cars. Make it a walkable town
28
• Economy-“silicon sandbar,” blue economy. Not just tourism.
• Prioritize diversifying economy—want employment opportunities
• Public education needs more support and focus. Vision: world-class public education
• Robust community consists of
o Water quality
o Diverse economy with ability to afford to live here
o Everybody should be able to…. [afford housing, be able to walk and bike if they choose,
get a world-class education, etc.]
• Vision needs to include all tiers of income
Values
• Water quality: public health
• Investing in the future
• Leaving it better than we found it
• We aspire to leave it better than we found it.
• Fun and happiness
• Joyful community
• Healing
Group 4 – Facilitator: Jeff Davis
• Priorities: Improve urban design (add)
• Priorities: Support for local businesses (add)
• Values: Housing—affordable, attainable, diverse inventory (different types)
• Active year-round
• Diverse populations/cultures
• Lots of volunteer organizations, but need more people to get involved
• Lots of non-profits and the arts
• Strong social ties
• Barnstable cares about its people
• The villages are distinct and help breed community
• Let each village be what it needs/wants to be
• Hyannis—more than just ‘traditional Cape Cod character’
• Young people leaving and can’t return
• Aging population
• Community: year-round, minority, diverse
• Comments on 2010 LCP Vision
o Feels generic
o Villages can be highlighted better
o Be more specific about what Barnstable is: for example, “seaside”
o Add—diverse and welcoming
o Challenges we are facing:
Young people leaving the Cape
Aging population
29
Increase in population
Stress on natural resources
Losing local businesses—big boxes and online shopping
Group 5 – Facilitator: Jack Sweeney-Taylor
Vision
• Key elements from 2010 Vision
o Villages
o Preserving elements for future generations
History
Environment
Community
• Additional points
o Diversity of people, including young people
o Replace “the town” with “Barnstable’s people”
Notes (chronological order)
• Priorities: housing, addictions, mental health
• Response/solutions: Human services; parks & amenities
• We are a diverse community, so we can’t solve problems by doing just one thing; need to
address many issues at once
• Too much “Town” in planning process – need to bring it back to the people
• Feel like we’re driven by developers
• A major limitation to development is the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan
(CWMP)
o A financial burden
• Priorities: power back to the people; villages – what makes us unique
• Two parts to Barnstable: place and people
• How do we involve the people more?
o There used to a long table where people stop & talk
o Barnstable Diversity Fair
• Disconnect in getting people involved
o Lack of trust in town government
o How to get voice heard?
o People don’t know about this process
• Power back to people can start village to village
o Civic associations for villages
o There needs to be better collaboration
• Instead of developers dictating where/what kind of development, the town should guide this
• CWMP is a reality but also an excuse for [not being proactive?]
30
• Issue of community engagement
o Some people not highly engaged, while some are, partly based on background, prior
experience and associations; some people are just too busy
• Grew up in town in France where there was a lot of community
• Issue of integration divided people, people started to be afraid, political
• Important to regain sense of community and communication
• Keep hearing that the Cape Cod Commission (CCC) dictates the process
• A lot of our priorities fall into the Community Systems
• We have two main stakeholders: people and the environment
o Every other system and priority should be in service to these two
• We heard in the first Visioning Workshop that development is happening reactively, rather than
proactively
o How can we be more proactive?
• Problem of Cape Cod Commission: We’re at risk if CCC can dictate which needs are important,
visioning process. Will our visioning last and be kept intact?
• [References her role on “Save Twin Brooks” organization]
• Born here, parents were born here, grandparents
• Problem: People with money coming to the Cape/Barnstable and deciding what is important for
the future
• What is important?
o History: villages – identity is part of our history
o Places to meet and talk, connect
Particularly for youth – how different things would be if youth had a place (ex:
Yarmouth)
See work done by Scott Fitzgerald in creating youth gathering places – fixing up
underused buildings for this
• Community engagement: communication important
o Commitment is a challenge due to timing of meetings, other needs
Poverty is a factor
o Where is the diversity at this meeting?
• I accidentally went to the Hyannis Youth and Community Center (in the rink) for this meeting,
and there was a meeting there
o But we need more spaces, familiar spaces for gathering
• Do individual villages have vision statements? Will they have one for this plan?
• Probably not
o Some civic associations don’t have many members, so hard to represent everyone in the
village
• Do the village associations ever convene/meet together?
31
• There is some interest in this
o Libraries can help coordinate this
• Key elements from 2010 Vision:
o Villages
o Preserving elements for future generations
History
Environment
Community